Standard Disclaimer!
Busy busy busy.that seems to be they way of things lately. I'm trying for a better job right now, summer courses, msts, and so much more. I'm sorry for the lack of updates but when I 'do' have free time I'm usually so drained I have no energy to devote to writing.
Its hard to spread time from work and play and necessity. Well I hope you bear with it and enjoy my continued stories.
Enough complaining! Time to make with the story.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
Out of Disaster Chapter 11 - Back Talk
"So how was the steak dinner?" Ritsuko said over a cup of coffee.
Pouring her own cup, Misato frowned slightly, "First off it was ramen not steak."
Smiling at her friend, "But you promised them a steak dinner if they succeeded with that dreadful plan of yours."
Not commenting on the insult she offered, "Do you think I have the money to afford that? To be honest I think they knew it wasn't really going to pan out," as she took her seat on the command deck.
'I bet they didn't think they'd survive that mission,' the doctor thought before catching an odd look on her friends face, "What else is on your mind?"
Looking but not really seeing, Misato spoke, "Rei, yesterday she actually went to the ramen stand with us. Is it me or is she acting differently?"
Hoping that Misato wouldn't have noticed the change in Rei until much later, Ritsuko gave her credit. "What makes you say she's acting differently?"
Leaning back in her chair and staring at the ceiling high above, "Its small things really. Things that if you didn't work with her as much as we do, you wouldn't catch."
Taking a sip of her now cold coffee, Ritsuko was intrigued, 'How much does Misato know about her changes.' Giving her the signal to continue she listened with peaking interest.
"At the stall the other night, she moved from her initial seat to be by Shinji. She seems more distracted as of late. I've even seen her reading and I think.I'm not sure but I think she was blushing at what it was."
Knowing the book that the blue haired girl was most likely reading, as she was the one to give it to her, Ritsuko was starting to worry. Rei was progressing along her projected plan faster than anticipated. "Anything else?"
Noting the doctor's sudden interest, Misato made a mental note to pay more attention to the current issue. "Remember the first test after Shinji left for his training?"
Finishing her drink, "It was the cross-synchronization test with her in Unit-01, how could I forget."
Leaning closer to Ritsuko and lowering her voice to insure only Ritsuko heard her; "She looked almost depressed when she heard Shinji was going to be gone."
Letting out a laugh, Ritsuko relaxed considerably, "That's it? You're worried that she looked depressed, she always looks depressed."
Fuming a bit, Misato wasn't really happy about being made fun of. For Rei to show any easily discernable emotion was a large change in her character. Such changes could be a sign of undocumented sources. "This is serious Rits! I think she may have a crush on Shinji."
Still in a good mood from Misato's 'observations' Ritsuko played along, "Oh no! Better put him in protective custody. Can't have a girl having a crush can we."
Misato was quickly loosing her happy demeanor. As Major of Nerv Tactical she was responsible for the pilots safety. She knew that Shinji would soon be, well she hoped, dating Shinobu so Rei's feelings would only result in her getting hurt. "But Shinji won't like her in the same way. She's so.different who knows what will happen if she gets rejected?"
'Ah, now to the heart of the matter,' Ritsuko schemed, "Maybe we should encourage the two to of them instead." Pausing to see the look of abstract confusion on Misato's face she continued, "Think about it from a military standpoint. What's better soldiers of same rank seeing each other or a civilian and a soldier?"
Shocked to hear her friend talk so coldly about emotions, "I won't order Shinji to stay away from Shinobu just for a more convenient solution to this problem." Suddenly losing her desire to talk to Ritsuko, Misato decided to check out the specks for the next tests.
Watching her friend leave, Ritsuko simply thought that Shinji wouldn't have a choice in the matter. 'That vacation worked better than I could have hoped it would. Unless something goes wrong, that doll will perform exactly like I want her too.'
-----------------
Walking to school after such a prolonged absence felt odd to Shinji, that and the fact he had been up since five a.m. practicing added to his sense of discomfort. Luckily Asuka, who seemed to be in a bit better mood now, was with him.
The pair hadn't really been allowed an extended talk as the angel attack and the following ramen banquet. But as they walked they started to catch up on what transpired during their three-week separation.
"Let me get this straight. You, Ikari Shinji, kissed Shinobu. Shinobu Maehara," Asuka's voice laden with as much disbelief as possible.
Shinji's realized at that moment that telling her wasn't the best idea he had, but he needed help. "Kinda, she was crying, I didn't know what to do.I just did it."
Her eyes lowering in skepticism, "You took advantage of her?"
"I don't think I did." he broke off as a few people seemed to be paying to close of attention to them. ".it was just.it just felt right, but she ran out of the room after."
Stomping her foot on the ground, "Of course she did! You probably stole her first kiss! I'd be disgusted if somebody stole mine!"
Looking at her, he smiled, "You mean you haven't been kissed yet?"
Stopping mid tirade, Asuka blushed, "I.this isn't about me and don't change the subject!"
The conversation lapsed into silence again until they reached the school courtyard, Shinji still sensing Asuka was apprehensive about being by him, and Asuka debating how she felt about Shinji kissing girls.
Shinji broke the silence first, "Could you talk to her for me? If she's as mad as you think she is.I don't think me talking about it would help."
"Only if you keep my virgin lips a secret," she added with a wink, "now tell me more about that Hinata place. It just doesn't sound possible, I mean flying turtles.how can a turtle fly!"
------------------
"So your son is back in Tokyo-3 and seems like he's not the same person," Kozo informed is one time student
Reviewing the video feed from the last battle, Gendo smirked, "Indeed it seems not. The third child was able to break the sound barrier with Unit- 01."
Leaning closer to him, "That's not what I meant. He was given a glimpse of a different type of life. We may lose some control over him. By shoving him off on that girl we may have lost a degree of leverage to use on him."
"I beg to differ. We have a tool to insure his actions, and after Akagi gets here, hopefully we'll have a way of getting Rei back in a usable state," noticing the look of uncertainty in the older man's face, Gendo continued, "The third has given us a pressure point to squeeze to insure his actions."
A chill ran down Kozo's body. He was again shown the true nature of Gendo. Before him sat not a man in a suit but a monster, willing to do anything and everything it needed to achieve its goal. "You'd use that child."
"I'd hold the gun to her head myself to insure he acts when the time is necessary. Let us hope that we don't have to resort to such.acts however."
The pair's discussion was abruptly halted as the twin doors creaked open and the lye form of Ritsuko Akagi sauntered over to them. Holding her manila folder in her hand she set her game face on. This upcoming conversation wasn't going to be the easiest, but she would succeed.
Assuming his usual pose at his desk, Gendo prompted the doctor, "What is your report."
"Pilot Ayanami's sync test with Unit-01 proves that the dummy plug can be successfully used," the blond said as ordered.
The two men waited for the woman to continue, but when she didn't Kozo was the one to speak, "And of the pilot herself, did you find a way to cleanse her of her budding feelings for Pilot Ikari?"
Handing the folder over for inspection, Ritsuko gave a brief synopsis of her findings, "Aside from a complete memory wipe, rendering her completely useless, there is no way to remove her feelings or emotions for the third."
Flipping through a few pages of the report, Gendo was slightly irritated, "Doctor, tell me why I don't have you put in the brig as of right now? After the time she spent as my ward, you were to keep her in a usable state. Does this look like a usable state?"
Fear gripped her, its cold hand surrounding her heart. She hadn't even thought that he would dispose of her this quickly. Sure she'd have her revenge anyway but what good is it if she couldn't see it. Her voice breaking, "The Magi, Maya's not competent enough.the tests.I.I can keep trying."
"Yes you will keep trying." Gendo said with no hint of emotion. Flipping through a few more pages, "The problem is momentarily taken care of with the outside party. But we know eventually Tokyo-3 will most likely be rendered uninhabitable by non-Nerv personnel."
Noting the unabashed fear on Ritsuko's face, Kozo felt the need to speak, "You are truly needed Akagi-kun, but we can't have Rei.otherwise occupied when the time arises."
Closing the file, "You are dismissed doctor."
Ritsuko noted how Gendo, the bastard that had such a strong hold on her heart, gave her his minute signal to meet him after his shift. She tried to feel repulsed at being nothing but a sex toy for the man.but she couldn't help but hope that no matter how poorly he treated her that he had 'some' love in his heart for her.
She gathered her things and left the men in the office.
As the door shut, the men looked at each other again. Kozo shook his head softly, "She is plotting something."
"Obviously, but whatever it is, we will learn of it before she can do anything," pausing to push the button on his intercom, "Send in agent Kaji."
--------------------
Touji and Kensuke were thrilled to have their third back. School just seemed a little less interesting without Shinji around to torment, and observe. As he walked into the room the pair assaulted him and drug him off to the usual gathering of desks. Then the questioning began.
Shinji informed them about most of what happened over his three-week absence to which they replied. "I HATE YOU!"
Cringing back from his friends' explosive dialogue, "What did I do?"
Waving a finger in front of Shinji's face, Kensuke informed him of exactly what he did wrong, "You stayed in an ALL-GIRL'S dorm for three weeks. ALL GIRLS!"
Fighting back his hormones and losing, Touji asked, "Did you see anything?"
Remembering his fainting spell with Mitsumi, Shinji quickly shook his head no. He didn't need them to know he passed out over such a thing.
Kensuke spared a moment to look across the room to where the girl trio was situated. "So how's things with Shinobu now?"
Touji, being his normal oblivious self, didn't notice how Shinji's shoulders seemed to slump at the words. Elbowing the now sulking Ikari, Touji asked, "Get in any make-out sessions with your new girlfriend?"
Blushing at the memory of Shinobu's lips, Shinji lowered his head, "Not really."
Being one that could tell when Shinji was holding back something, Kensuke tried to get more information from his friend. Taking a few moments to get Touji to calm down, Kensuke asked what Shinji meant by 'not really.'
His voice low so that only his friends could hear, "Well it was towards the end of my training.she came to talk to me and she started crying. She asked if I liked anybody. I was holding her and."
"Few days ago.that's bout the time we saw." Touji's voice was cut short as Kensuke smacked him on the backside of his head.
Kensuke actions did more to arouse Shinji's attention than Touji's words. "Did something happen here while I was gone?"
Giving a few moments to curse Touji and all his to-be children, Kensuke leaned forward, "Its just a rumor really."
Rubbing the slightly sore spot on his head, Touji continued the verbal recount of the schoolroom gossip. "Well we didn't see it, but we heard Shinobu and Ayanami got into it a few days ago."
"Shinobu and Rei.what?" Shinji said as he looked and found Rei's seat empty.
Taking up where Touji left off, Kensuke finished with, "Like we said, we didn't see it. Just a few days ago during lunch we saw Shinobu running into the room crying. She didn't say why and then at the end of the day the rumor started."
'What would Shinobu and Rei fight.about.It couldn't be.' Shinji tried to shake the suspicion that it was him that the girls were fighting over, passing it off as merely male ego.
The trio of girls' conversation was at that moment going over a very different topic.
With a smile so bright it could be seen by the blind, Hikari was hard pressed to conceal her happiness, "He kissed you? He actually did?"
This situation wasn't something new to Shinobu at this point. Over the past three weeks her two friends were constantly asking her how things were going between them. Her reports that he was training or asleep hardly kept interest for long however.
Waving her hands franticly in a vain attempt to keep others from hearing, Shinobu spastically reacted, answering Hikari's question.
Asuka stepped in at this point, "So what went wrong?"
Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, "I messed it up, that's what happened."
Now this intrigued the redhead, after hearing both sides claim to have caused the failure of the 'first-kiss' she wanted the full account. "How could you have messed up? He did something perverted didn't he?"
"No, I did," she admitted and hung her head in shame. "After the incident," both girls were still trying to figure out what happened, as Shinobu didn't tell them about her confrontation with Rei. "I talked to him.things got confusing then I realized he was kissing me."
Hikari glanced over at the boy in question, "So he actually made the first move. I would have never suspected Shinji-kun would."
"I knew it! He took advantage of you," was the German's reply, not that she really believed it.
"I wanted him to.its just I lost my head. I was.was." Asuka and Hikari had to wait a few moments as Shinobu lost herself to her extreme reactions before the pressed her to continue. With great reluctance she continued, "After I knew what was happening.I tried to take it a little bit further."
In unison the pair asked with great interest, "And then?"
Her eyes slowly filling with water, "The kiss stopped, I must have seemed like a girl with loose morals or something.I ran from the room."
Asuka let out a hearty laugh and gained the full attention of the petit girl before her, "Shinobu, you don't have anything to worry about. He thinks you see 'him' as the bad one." Mentally Asuka chided herself for also adding to Shinji's feelings of blame.
"Really! He doesn't hate me?" Shinobu asked, eyes wide. And they stayed that way when Tama-chan burst out of her bag. The hot spring turtle had hidden in her satchel for the ride, and the astonishment of the entire class.
-------------
The morning class was a fiasco. Tama-chan's sudden appearance and aerial performance did much to disrupt class. Even when she took her perch on Shinji's head, refusing to leave it, the class kept their eyes firmly on her. Shinji wished he could have melted into his desk to avoid the attention.
As the thrill of flying and apparently mewing turtles died down, Shinji found himself drifting off to sleep. His mind wafted over the past few encounters in his life. His meeting with Shinobu, the angels, the kiss with Rei, and finally his kiss with Shinobu flashed past his closed eyelids. With much grace and civility he planted his face on his desk as his chin slipped off his hand.
The class got a good laugh, and Hikari announced the lunch break. With Tama- chan still on his head, Shinji darted out of the room to 'their' tree to avoid any further embarrassment. Shinobu watched his flight with indecision, sure Asuka said he wasn't mad at her, but did she really know?
"Go get him girl!" Hikari said from behind her adding a gentle push.
Shinobu looked at her friends prodding her on, amazed that even Asuka seemed to be encouraging her, "That baka most likely is waiting for you. Go talk to him, make him understand," flexing her biceps for emphasis.
Her smile growing, Shinobu nodded and rushed off to try and smooth out the misunderstanding with Shinji. Asuka quickly turned to Hikari.
"You know we have to follow her right?"
"Asuka, why should we follow her? Isn't this a private moment?"
Tapping her foot to impatiently, Asuka retorted with, "That's exactly why we go. I want proof. If I don't see them talk I won't believe them that the kiss actually happened."
Hikari's eyebrow rose, "You just want to see them kiss again don't you?" Hikari quickly ran out of the room being chased by a fuming German.
-------------
Unpacking his bento, Shinji partook in one of his patented heavy sighs. He was hoping Shinobu would show up, but doubted it. 'After my kissing her, I bet she's upset.' Taking Tama-chan in his hands, smiling at the mewing turtle, he wondered why she came to the school.
"Mind if I eat with you?"
Turning his focus away from the turtle to the voice, Shinji nodded dumbly, "If you want."
'He seems really depressed, if what Asuka-san said was right he.he could actually,' Shinobu thought as she sat down next to the boy. She repressed the giggle that tempted to erupt from her thanks to Shinji's odd continence.
"Shinji, could you actually look at me for a second?"
Obeying the voice, Shinji actually focused on the face, "SHINOBU!"
Now she laughed, "Did you expect somebody else Shinji?"
"No.I just thought you'd be upset with me.I stole your first kiss," his head dropping again.
Taking Tama-chan in her hands, Shinobu shook her head, "Actually Shinji, Tama-chan here stole my first kiss."
The offending turtle mewed and flew back to Shinji's head, who simply pointed at his head in astonishment.
"Yeah, Tama-chan. Did.did you think I was upset with you?"
Turning to face her completely, "Aren't you? You ran from the room."
A blush spreading across her face, "Actually Shinji, I thought I upset you. That's why I ran. I thought I pushed things to far. I mean.were not really dating so." The look that she was giving Shinji resulted in his slowly leaning closer to her.
"Technically weren't.not but.I.if you." his voice breaking off as he lost his thoughts in Shinobu's face, which was getting closer to his. The two simply lapsed into silence as they inched closer to one another. Eyes drawing closed they both knew that as of now they weren't simply friends they were something more, what that was exactly was still unclear.
Just as they were about to initiate contact they both felt a jerk. They both opened their eyes and let out the breath they were both holding, they didn't expect what they saw. Tama-chan.
The hot spring turtle had an almost jovial look to her as she separated the pair. Her front flippers lying smack-dab on Shinobu's forehead. A second disruption occurred from behind the tree.
"Dammit!"
"Asuka?" the young pair said in unison.
Hikari sprawled out from behind the tree, "I think its time to make a hasty retreat!"
Watching the duo of spies run away, both Shinji and Shinobu let out a laugh and began to enjoy their lunch.
----------------
Shinji again found himself watching Shinobu board her train. They both had odd feelings on their minds. They knew they crossed a line at lunch. They were no longer simply friends, but the actual definition of their relationship was unclear.
Her voice laden with uncertainty, "Um.Shinji, can I ask you something?"
Noting she only had about five minutes to board her train, he nodded.
'She said he couldn't be involved with a girl outside of Nerv.and that she kissed him, that she loved him, but.I have to know.' Shinobu thought as she gathered all the courage she could muster, "How do you feel about me?"
A lump formed in Shinji's throat, he knew he liked her, but could he say it he didn't know. 'I have to take a chance if I mess this up I could regret it forever. I'm tired of running away.' Taking Shinobu's hand in his, "I like you Shinobu, very much."
Her arm's seemed to just appear around his waist, she hugged him so fast. The tension suddenly gone, Shinobu let go a very happy sigh, "I like you too.Shinji-chan."
'Chan.did she just call me chan! I.like the sound of that.' he smiled at her and felt his chest lighten. It was a good day. "You'll miss your train if you don't go now."
Releasing her hold on him, she paused a moment to give him a light peck on the cheek, "Talk you to tomorrow."
Shinji waved at Shinobu's departing train, until it was out of sight. As he made his decent from the podium his cel-phone rang. Answering it as quickly as he could he was greeted by Misato's voice.
"Um.Shinji could you come to Nerv asap? You have a.um.test to perform."
Shinji wasn't used to Misato's voice being anything but certain, "Should I get Asuka?"
"No, it'll be just you, so hurry up ok?" Misato lied. 'Those two would never do this if they knew the others would be there. Ritsuko what were you thinking having a nude test for those synthetic bodies!'
"Sure thing," his voice still suffering from the after glow of the moment he just shared with Shinobu. Hanging up his phone and changing his heading, Shinji wondered why Misato sounded so off during their talk.
---------------
Ritsuko looked at the monitors with a sense of detachment. Her mind was replying the last few moments shared in Gendo's bed. Not entirely happy moments, but she could lie to herself, tell herself that he loved her. And by lying to herself, she doubted herself and the plan she had set.
Before her, Ayanami Rei was undergoing her normal battery of tests. Only Ritsuko knew exactly how much Rei had changed. She was the one to see to it. The deeper recesses of her mind knew that it was only a matter of time before Gendo discarded her like the trash she felt like. That feeling was what pushed her forward the need for revenge after the pleasure was gone.
Returning to reality, "Rei, you know Shinji has started going back to school right?" Ritsuko noted that Rei's heart rate had increased, much to her enjoyment.
The pale girl's voice hiding a hint of joy, "I was not informed of that."
"And he'll be at the test today. Why don't you talk to him afterward?"
"Would that be appropriate?"
Trying not to laugh at the, to her, pathetic creature before her, "After you put your cloths back on."
Nodding in understanding, Rei voiced a concern of hers, "Akagi-san, what if he doesn't feel the same for me. After the kiss he didn't say his feelings."
"Any man can be made to love you, if you keep trying. No matter what the circumstances may be. You-just have to keep trying," Ritsuko said, mainly to provoke Rei into action, and partially to herself.
Rei remained silent for the last bout of testing, her mind was fully focused on one thing, Shinji Ikari. 'I hope we can kiss again, I hope we can proceed to the next step of the courting ritual as well.' A very faint touch of crimson dwelt on her face as the recounted a few of the books Akagi had lent her. 'He did kiss me, he didn't say it was unpleasant so logically he enjoyed it so he should enjoy it again.'
-----------
So as Rei prepared for the nights test, a certain boy heavily weighing on her mind, the other pilots arrived separately at Nerv, finding notes in their lockers to head to the sync chamber, but without their plug-suits.
Asuka, who had arrived ten minutes before Shinji, wasn't very happy at the idea of being nude during her next sync test, but was glad she was to do it alone.
When Shinji arrived, he experienced the same feeling, but a touch higher as he had yet to actually speak to Rei. The enigma the girl presented didn't speak much during at the ramen stall. She did however insist on sitting by him.
As he followed the last few lines of Misato's note and stepped onto a platform, clad in only his birthday suit, something in his mind awoke again. 'What about Rei? She said she liked me too.'
The platform started to rise as Shinji contemplated his current state in life. 'Shinobu likes me.and I like her. Rei likes me and I won't lie to myself I like her as well.'
"Why can't my life be simple?" he asked to himself as the platform came to a rest and the door before him opened. 'After tomorrow I maybe dating Shinobu.but I can't help but think about Rei. She told me that before she met me.she had nothing. Can I condemn her to go back to that?'
The door opened and Shinji beheld the long corridor that he had to walk across. 'Thank Kami-sama I have to do it alone.'
Sadly to the poor Ikari's dismay he heard a voice not two feet away from him.
"Well here I am, just like you wanted, Buck-Naked."
"ASUKA?!"
"Shinji? You said I was going to be by myself Misato!"
Listening over the intercom, Misato realized that maybe honesty was the best policy. However the pilots discomfort was quickly ignored as the test began and the battle against the next angel quickly began.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
Well another chapter done!
Hope you liked it. I know it's not what I said it was going to be, but I think this worked out better.
Tama-chan.Kami-sama only knows if that thing is really a boy or a girl, both claims are made. I believe everybody is within character restraints. As for Ritsuko, I'm sure you're all starting to see something of her plan.oh well if not keep reading then ^_^
Reviews/comments/questions are all enjoyed. Oh and as a special bonus a few weeks a side-store should be out detailing the missing weeks. Hope you enjoy.
Ja Mata
Zentrodie zentrodie@secondimpact.com www.darkscribes.org
Omake removed due to Fanfiction.net formatting problems (
Busy busy busy.that seems to be they way of things lately. I'm trying for a better job right now, summer courses, msts, and so much more. I'm sorry for the lack of updates but when I 'do' have free time I'm usually so drained I have no energy to devote to writing.
Its hard to spread time from work and play and necessity. Well I hope you bear with it and enjoy my continued stories.
Enough complaining! Time to make with the story.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
Out of Disaster Chapter 11 - Back Talk
"So how was the steak dinner?" Ritsuko said over a cup of coffee.
Pouring her own cup, Misato frowned slightly, "First off it was ramen not steak."
Smiling at her friend, "But you promised them a steak dinner if they succeeded with that dreadful plan of yours."
Not commenting on the insult she offered, "Do you think I have the money to afford that? To be honest I think they knew it wasn't really going to pan out," as she took her seat on the command deck.
'I bet they didn't think they'd survive that mission,' the doctor thought before catching an odd look on her friends face, "What else is on your mind?"
Looking but not really seeing, Misato spoke, "Rei, yesterday she actually went to the ramen stand with us. Is it me or is she acting differently?"
Hoping that Misato wouldn't have noticed the change in Rei until much later, Ritsuko gave her credit. "What makes you say she's acting differently?"
Leaning back in her chair and staring at the ceiling high above, "Its small things really. Things that if you didn't work with her as much as we do, you wouldn't catch."
Taking a sip of her now cold coffee, Ritsuko was intrigued, 'How much does Misato know about her changes.' Giving her the signal to continue she listened with peaking interest.
"At the stall the other night, she moved from her initial seat to be by Shinji. She seems more distracted as of late. I've even seen her reading and I think.I'm not sure but I think she was blushing at what it was."
Knowing the book that the blue haired girl was most likely reading, as she was the one to give it to her, Ritsuko was starting to worry. Rei was progressing along her projected plan faster than anticipated. "Anything else?"
Noting the doctor's sudden interest, Misato made a mental note to pay more attention to the current issue. "Remember the first test after Shinji left for his training?"
Finishing her drink, "It was the cross-synchronization test with her in Unit-01, how could I forget."
Leaning closer to Ritsuko and lowering her voice to insure only Ritsuko heard her; "She looked almost depressed when she heard Shinji was going to be gone."
Letting out a laugh, Ritsuko relaxed considerably, "That's it? You're worried that she looked depressed, she always looks depressed."
Fuming a bit, Misato wasn't really happy about being made fun of. For Rei to show any easily discernable emotion was a large change in her character. Such changes could be a sign of undocumented sources. "This is serious Rits! I think she may have a crush on Shinji."
Still in a good mood from Misato's 'observations' Ritsuko played along, "Oh no! Better put him in protective custody. Can't have a girl having a crush can we."
Misato was quickly loosing her happy demeanor. As Major of Nerv Tactical she was responsible for the pilots safety. She knew that Shinji would soon be, well she hoped, dating Shinobu so Rei's feelings would only result in her getting hurt. "But Shinji won't like her in the same way. She's so.different who knows what will happen if she gets rejected?"
'Ah, now to the heart of the matter,' Ritsuko schemed, "Maybe we should encourage the two to of them instead." Pausing to see the look of abstract confusion on Misato's face she continued, "Think about it from a military standpoint. What's better soldiers of same rank seeing each other or a civilian and a soldier?"
Shocked to hear her friend talk so coldly about emotions, "I won't order Shinji to stay away from Shinobu just for a more convenient solution to this problem." Suddenly losing her desire to talk to Ritsuko, Misato decided to check out the specks for the next tests.
Watching her friend leave, Ritsuko simply thought that Shinji wouldn't have a choice in the matter. 'That vacation worked better than I could have hoped it would. Unless something goes wrong, that doll will perform exactly like I want her too.'
-----------------
Walking to school after such a prolonged absence felt odd to Shinji, that and the fact he had been up since five a.m. practicing added to his sense of discomfort. Luckily Asuka, who seemed to be in a bit better mood now, was with him.
The pair hadn't really been allowed an extended talk as the angel attack and the following ramen banquet. But as they walked they started to catch up on what transpired during their three-week separation.
"Let me get this straight. You, Ikari Shinji, kissed Shinobu. Shinobu Maehara," Asuka's voice laden with as much disbelief as possible.
Shinji's realized at that moment that telling her wasn't the best idea he had, but he needed help. "Kinda, she was crying, I didn't know what to do.I just did it."
Her eyes lowering in skepticism, "You took advantage of her?"
"I don't think I did." he broke off as a few people seemed to be paying to close of attention to them. ".it was just.it just felt right, but she ran out of the room after."
Stomping her foot on the ground, "Of course she did! You probably stole her first kiss! I'd be disgusted if somebody stole mine!"
Looking at her, he smiled, "You mean you haven't been kissed yet?"
Stopping mid tirade, Asuka blushed, "I.this isn't about me and don't change the subject!"
The conversation lapsed into silence again until they reached the school courtyard, Shinji still sensing Asuka was apprehensive about being by him, and Asuka debating how she felt about Shinji kissing girls.
Shinji broke the silence first, "Could you talk to her for me? If she's as mad as you think she is.I don't think me talking about it would help."
"Only if you keep my virgin lips a secret," she added with a wink, "now tell me more about that Hinata place. It just doesn't sound possible, I mean flying turtles.how can a turtle fly!"
------------------
"So your son is back in Tokyo-3 and seems like he's not the same person," Kozo informed is one time student
Reviewing the video feed from the last battle, Gendo smirked, "Indeed it seems not. The third child was able to break the sound barrier with Unit- 01."
Leaning closer to him, "That's not what I meant. He was given a glimpse of a different type of life. We may lose some control over him. By shoving him off on that girl we may have lost a degree of leverage to use on him."
"I beg to differ. We have a tool to insure his actions, and after Akagi gets here, hopefully we'll have a way of getting Rei back in a usable state," noticing the look of uncertainty in the older man's face, Gendo continued, "The third has given us a pressure point to squeeze to insure his actions."
A chill ran down Kozo's body. He was again shown the true nature of Gendo. Before him sat not a man in a suit but a monster, willing to do anything and everything it needed to achieve its goal. "You'd use that child."
"I'd hold the gun to her head myself to insure he acts when the time is necessary. Let us hope that we don't have to resort to such.acts however."
The pair's discussion was abruptly halted as the twin doors creaked open and the lye form of Ritsuko Akagi sauntered over to them. Holding her manila folder in her hand she set her game face on. This upcoming conversation wasn't going to be the easiest, but she would succeed.
Assuming his usual pose at his desk, Gendo prompted the doctor, "What is your report."
"Pilot Ayanami's sync test with Unit-01 proves that the dummy plug can be successfully used," the blond said as ordered.
The two men waited for the woman to continue, but when she didn't Kozo was the one to speak, "And of the pilot herself, did you find a way to cleanse her of her budding feelings for Pilot Ikari?"
Handing the folder over for inspection, Ritsuko gave a brief synopsis of her findings, "Aside from a complete memory wipe, rendering her completely useless, there is no way to remove her feelings or emotions for the third."
Flipping through a few pages of the report, Gendo was slightly irritated, "Doctor, tell me why I don't have you put in the brig as of right now? After the time she spent as my ward, you were to keep her in a usable state. Does this look like a usable state?"
Fear gripped her, its cold hand surrounding her heart. She hadn't even thought that he would dispose of her this quickly. Sure she'd have her revenge anyway but what good is it if she couldn't see it. Her voice breaking, "The Magi, Maya's not competent enough.the tests.I.I can keep trying."
"Yes you will keep trying." Gendo said with no hint of emotion. Flipping through a few more pages, "The problem is momentarily taken care of with the outside party. But we know eventually Tokyo-3 will most likely be rendered uninhabitable by non-Nerv personnel."
Noting the unabashed fear on Ritsuko's face, Kozo felt the need to speak, "You are truly needed Akagi-kun, but we can't have Rei.otherwise occupied when the time arises."
Closing the file, "You are dismissed doctor."
Ritsuko noted how Gendo, the bastard that had such a strong hold on her heart, gave her his minute signal to meet him after his shift. She tried to feel repulsed at being nothing but a sex toy for the man.but she couldn't help but hope that no matter how poorly he treated her that he had 'some' love in his heart for her.
She gathered her things and left the men in the office.
As the door shut, the men looked at each other again. Kozo shook his head softly, "She is plotting something."
"Obviously, but whatever it is, we will learn of it before she can do anything," pausing to push the button on his intercom, "Send in agent Kaji."
--------------------
Touji and Kensuke were thrilled to have their third back. School just seemed a little less interesting without Shinji around to torment, and observe. As he walked into the room the pair assaulted him and drug him off to the usual gathering of desks. Then the questioning began.
Shinji informed them about most of what happened over his three-week absence to which they replied. "I HATE YOU!"
Cringing back from his friends' explosive dialogue, "What did I do?"
Waving a finger in front of Shinji's face, Kensuke informed him of exactly what he did wrong, "You stayed in an ALL-GIRL'S dorm for three weeks. ALL GIRLS!"
Fighting back his hormones and losing, Touji asked, "Did you see anything?"
Remembering his fainting spell with Mitsumi, Shinji quickly shook his head no. He didn't need them to know he passed out over such a thing.
Kensuke spared a moment to look across the room to where the girl trio was situated. "So how's things with Shinobu now?"
Touji, being his normal oblivious self, didn't notice how Shinji's shoulders seemed to slump at the words. Elbowing the now sulking Ikari, Touji asked, "Get in any make-out sessions with your new girlfriend?"
Blushing at the memory of Shinobu's lips, Shinji lowered his head, "Not really."
Being one that could tell when Shinji was holding back something, Kensuke tried to get more information from his friend. Taking a few moments to get Touji to calm down, Kensuke asked what Shinji meant by 'not really.'
His voice low so that only his friends could hear, "Well it was towards the end of my training.she came to talk to me and she started crying. She asked if I liked anybody. I was holding her and."
"Few days ago.that's bout the time we saw." Touji's voice was cut short as Kensuke smacked him on the backside of his head.
Kensuke actions did more to arouse Shinji's attention than Touji's words. "Did something happen here while I was gone?"
Giving a few moments to curse Touji and all his to-be children, Kensuke leaned forward, "Its just a rumor really."
Rubbing the slightly sore spot on his head, Touji continued the verbal recount of the schoolroom gossip. "Well we didn't see it, but we heard Shinobu and Ayanami got into it a few days ago."
"Shinobu and Rei.what?" Shinji said as he looked and found Rei's seat empty.
Taking up where Touji left off, Kensuke finished with, "Like we said, we didn't see it. Just a few days ago during lunch we saw Shinobu running into the room crying. She didn't say why and then at the end of the day the rumor started."
'What would Shinobu and Rei fight.about.It couldn't be.' Shinji tried to shake the suspicion that it was him that the girls were fighting over, passing it off as merely male ego.
The trio of girls' conversation was at that moment going over a very different topic.
With a smile so bright it could be seen by the blind, Hikari was hard pressed to conceal her happiness, "He kissed you? He actually did?"
This situation wasn't something new to Shinobu at this point. Over the past three weeks her two friends were constantly asking her how things were going between them. Her reports that he was training or asleep hardly kept interest for long however.
Waving her hands franticly in a vain attempt to keep others from hearing, Shinobu spastically reacted, answering Hikari's question.
Asuka stepped in at this point, "So what went wrong?"
Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself, "I messed it up, that's what happened."
Now this intrigued the redhead, after hearing both sides claim to have caused the failure of the 'first-kiss' she wanted the full account. "How could you have messed up? He did something perverted didn't he?"
"No, I did," she admitted and hung her head in shame. "After the incident," both girls were still trying to figure out what happened, as Shinobu didn't tell them about her confrontation with Rei. "I talked to him.things got confusing then I realized he was kissing me."
Hikari glanced over at the boy in question, "So he actually made the first move. I would have never suspected Shinji-kun would."
"I knew it! He took advantage of you," was the German's reply, not that she really believed it.
"I wanted him to.its just I lost my head. I was.was." Asuka and Hikari had to wait a few moments as Shinobu lost herself to her extreme reactions before the pressed her to continue. With great reluctance she continued, "After I knew what was happening.I tried to take it a little bit further."
In unison the pair asked with great interest, "And then?"
Her eyes slowly filling with water, "The kiss stopped, I must have seemed like a girl with loose morals or something.I ran from the room."
Asuka let out a hearty laugh and gained the full attention of the petit girl before her, "Shinobu, you don't have anything to worry about. He thinks you see 'him' as the bad one." Mentally Asuka chided herself for also adding to Shinji's feelings of blame.
"Really! He doesn't hate me?" Shinobu asked, eyes wide. And they stayed that way when Tama-chan burst out of her bag. The hot spring turtle had hidden in her satchel for the ride, and the astonishment of the entire class.
-------------
The morning class was a fiasco. Tama-chan's sudden appearance and aerial performance did much to disrupt class. Even when she took her perch on Shinji's head, refusing to leave it, the class kept their eyes firmly on her. Shinji wished he could have melted into his desk to avoid the attention.
As the thrill of flying and apparently mewing turtles died down, Shinji found himself drifting off to sleep. His mind wafted over the past few encounters in his life. His meeting with Shinobu, the angels, the kiss with Rei, and finally his kiss with Shinobu flashed past his closed eyelids. With much grace and civility he planted his face on his desk as his chin slipped off his hand.
The class got a good laugh, and Hikari announced the lunch break. With Tama- chan still on his head, Shinji darted out of the room to 'their' tree to avoid any further embarrassment. Shinobu watched his flight with indecision, sure Asuka said he wasn't mad at her, but did she really know?
"Go get him girl!" Hikari said from behind her adding a gentle push.
Shinobu looked at her friends prodding her on, amazed that even Asuka seemed to be encouraging her, "That baka most likely is waiting for you. Go talk to him, make him understand," flexing her biceps for emphasis.
Her smile growing, Shinobu nodded and rushed off to try and smooth out the misunderstanding with Shinji. Asuka quickly turned to Hikari.
"You know we have to follow her right?"
"Asuka, why should we follow her? Isn't this a private moment?"
Tapping her foot to impatiently, Asuka retorted with, "That's exactly why we go. I want proof. If I don't see them talk I won't believe them that the kiss actually happened."
Hikari's eyebrow rose, "You just want to see them kiss again don't you?" Hikari quickly ran out of the room being chased by a fuming German.
-------------
Unpacking his bento, Shinji partook in one of his patented heavy sighs. He was hoping Shinobu would show up, but doubted it. 'After my kissing her, I bet she's upset.' Taking Tama-chan in his hands, smiling at the mewing turtle, he wondered why she came to the school.
"Mind if I eat with you?"
Turning his focus away from the turtle to the voice, Shinji nodded dumbly, "If you want."
'He seems really depressed, if what Asuka-san said was right he.he could actually,' Shinobu thought as she sat down next to the boy. She repressed the giggle that tempted to erupt from her thanks to Shinji's odd continence.
"Shinji, could you actually look at me for a second?"
Obeying the voice, Shinji actually focused on the face, "SHINOBU!"
Now she laughed, "Did you expect somebody else Shinji?"
"No.I just thought you'd be upset with me.I stole your first kiss," his head dropping again.
Taking Tama-chan in her hands, Shinobu shook her head, "Actually Shinji, Tama-chan here stole my first kiss."
The offending turtle mewed and flew back to Shinji's head, who simply pointed at his head in astonishment.
"Yeah, Tama-chan. Did.did you think I was upset with you?"
Turning to face her completely, "Aren't you? You ran from the room."
A blush spreading across her face, "Actually Shinji, I thought I upset you. That's why I ran. I thought I pushed things to far. I mean.were not really dating so." The look that she was giving Shinji resulted in his slowly leaning closer to her.
"Technically weren't.not but.I.if you." his voice breaking off as he lost his thoughts in Shinobu's face, which was getting closer to his. The two simply lapsed into silence as they inched closer to one another. Eyes drawing closed they both knew that as of now they weren't simply friends they were something more, what that was exactly was still unclear.
Just as they were about to initiate contact they both felt a jerk. They both opened their eyes and let out the breath they were both holding, they didn't expect what they saw. Tama-chan.
The hot spring turtle had an almost jovial look to her as she separated the pair. Her front flippers lying smack-dab on Shinobu's forehead. A second disruption occurred from behind the tree.
"Dammit!"
"Asuka?" the young pair said in unison.
Hikari sprawled out from behind the tree, "I think its time to make a hasty retreat!"
Watching the duo of spies run away, both Shinji and Shinobu let out a laugh and began to enjoy their lunch.
----------------
Shinji again found himself watching Shinobu board her train. They both had odd feelings on their minds. They knew they crossed a line at lunch. They were no longer simply friends, but the actual definition of their relationship was unclear.
Her voice laden with uncertainty, "Um.Shinji, can I ask you something?"
Noting she only had about five minutes to board her train, he nodded.
'She said he couldn't be involved with a girl outside of Nerv.and that she kissed him, that she loved him, but.I have to know.' Shinobu thought as she gathered all the courage she could muster, "How do you feel about me?"
A lump formed in Shinji's throat, he knew he liked her, but could he say it he didn't know. 'I have to take a chance if I mess this up I could regret it forever. I'm tired of running away.' Taking Shinobu's hand in his, "I like you Shinobu, very much."
Her arm's seemed to just appear around his waist, she hugged him so fast. The tension suddenly gone, Shinobu let go a very happy sigh, "I like you too.Shinji-chan."
'Chan.did she just call me chan! I.like the sound of that.' he smiled at her and felt his chest lighten. It was a good day. "You'll miss your train if you don't go now."
Releasing her hold on him, she paused a moment to give him a light peck on the cheek, "Talk you to tomorrow."
Shinji waved at Shinobu's departing train, until it was out of sight. As he made his decent from the podium his cel-phone rang. Answering it as quickly as he could he was greeted by Misato's voice.
"Um.Shinji could you come to Nerv asap? You have a.um.test to perform."
Shinji wasn't used to Misato's voice being anything but certain, "Should I get Asuka?"
"No, it'll be just you, so hurry up ok?" Misato lied. 'Those two would never do this if they knew the others would be there. Ritsuko what were you thinking having a nude test for those synthetic bodies!'
"Sure thing," his voice still suffering from the after glow of the moment he just shared with Shinobu. Hanging up his phone and changing his heading, Shinji wondered why Misato sounded so off during their talk.
---------------
Ritsuko looked at the monitors with a sense of detachment. Her mind was replying the last few moments shared in Gendo's bed. Not entirely happy moments, but she could lie to herself, tell herself that he loved her. And by lying to herself, she doubted herself and the plan she had set.
Before her, Ayanami Rei was undergoing her normal battery of tests. Only Ritsuko knew exactly how much Rei had changed. She was the one to see to it. The deeper recesses of her mind knew that it was only a matter of time before Gendo discarded her like the trash she felt like. That feeling was what pushed her forward the need for revenge after the pleasure was gone.
Returning to reality, "Rei, you know Shinji has started going back to school right?" Ritsuko noted that Rei's heart rate had increased, much to her enjoyment.
The pale girl's voice hiding a hint of joy, "I was not informed of that."
"And he'll be at the test today. Why don't you talk to him afterward?"
"Would that be appropriate?"
Trying not to laugh at the, to her, pathetic creature before her, "After you put your cloths back on."
Nodding in understanding, Rei voiced a concern of hers, "Akagi-san, what if he doesn't feel the same for me. After the kiss he didn't say his feelings."
"Any man can be made to love you, if you keep trying. No matter what the circumstances may be. You-just have to keep trying," Ritsuko said, mainly to provoke Rei into action, and partially to herself.
Rei remained silent for the last bout of testing, her mind was fully focused on one thing, Shinji Ikari. 'I hope we can kiss again, I hope we can proceed to the next step of the courting ritual as well.' A very faint touch of crimson dwelt on her face as the recounted a few of the books Akagi had lent her. 'He did kiss me, he didn't say it was unpleasant so logically he enjoyed it so he should enjoy it again.'
-----------
So as Rei prepared for the nights test, a certain boy heavily weighing on her mind, the other pilots arrived separately at Nerv, finding notes in their lockers to head to the sync chamber, but without their plug-suits.
Asuka, who had arrived ten minutes before Shinji, wasn't very happy at the idea of being nude during her next sync test, but was glad she was to do it alone.
When Shinji arrived, he experienced the same feeling, but a touch higher as he had yet to actually speak to Rei. The enigma the girl presented didn't speak much during at the ramen stall. She did however insist on sitting by him.
As he followed the last few lines of Misato's note and stepped onto a platform, clad in only his birthday suit, something in his mind awoke again. 'What about Rei? She said she liked me too.'
The platform started to rise as Shinji contemplated his current state in life. 'Shinobu likes me.and I like her. Rei likes me and I won't lie to myself I like her as well.'
"Why can't my life be simple?" he asked to himself as the platform came to a rest and the door before him opened. 'After tomorrow I maybe dating Shinobu.but I can't help but think about Rei. She told me that before she met me.she had nothing. Can I condemn her to go back to that?'
The door opened and Shinji beheld the long corridor that he had to walk across. 'Thank Kami-sama I have to do it alone.'
Sadly to the poor Ikari's dismay he heard a voice not two feet away from him.
"Well here I am, just like you wanted, Buck-Naked."
"ASUKA?!"
"Shinji? You said I was going to be by myself Misato!"
Listening over the intercom, Misato realized that maybe honesty was the best policy. However the pilots discomfort was quickly ignored as the test began and the battle against the next angel quickly began.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----
Well another chapter done!
Hope you liked it. I know it's not what I said it was going to be, but I think this worked out better.
Tama-chan.Kami-sama only knows if that thing is really a boy or a girl, both claims are made. I believe everybody is within character restraints. As for Ritsuko, I'm sure you're all starting to see something of her plan.oh well if not keep reading then ^_^
Reviews/comments/questions are all enjoyed. Oh and as a special bonus a few weeks a side-store should be out detailing the missing weeks. Hope you enjoy.
Ja Mata
Zentrodie zentrodie@secondimpact.com www.darkscribes.org
Omake removed due to Fanfiction.net formatting problems (