I think the signs were there all time, if you looked for them. I played my music loud in NERV, when Gendo wasn't around, of course, and he'd cringe every time. That ultra-sonic hearing of his must have been something else, even then. 'Course, he was always something. Wrote a song about him once. Just for kicks, you know? Want to hear it? Huh? Wait no! Come back! Was it something I said?

---Shigeru Aoba

Chapter 5- Friendship and Discovery

The next morning Shinji Ikari woke up early as he tended to do. He quickly got cleaned up and dressed and prepared to make breakfast. As soon as he stepped into the living room he stopped. It had only been 2 days gone and already the living room was a wasteland.

"Well if there is one advantage to being a freak" Then like a whirlwind he went to work and in a blink of an eye he was done "Cleaning up doesn't take too long."

He quickly prepared Pen-pen's meal just in time to wince at Misato's whoop of joy at the first beer of the morning and then made Breakfast for the two of them.

"Misato... I just want to apologize about worrying you the last 2 days. I just.."

Misato interrupted him "I am disappointed in the fact you ran away. I am glad you came home on your own. One more day I would have sent Section 2 after you. Just don't do it again and please if you feel the need like you need to get away just talk to me next time. I just want what's best for you ok."

Shinji looked downcast and just stared at his plate "Sorry"

"Don't look so glum kid. You're home and you're safe and that's what matters." She turned to her pet who was just finishing his meal and called him over. Pen waddled up to her and she took him into her lap. "You see Pen-pen here and you listen good here." Shinji nodded in the affirmative "He was being used as an experiment where I used to work. They were through with him. I took him in to keep him from being put to sleep." She paused for a moment to let that sink in. "You know why I took in this useless greedy bird?"

"Pity?"

"Part of it was that I'll admit but... I've always lived alone. I just thought that it would be nice to have someone to come home to. I'm not the kind of person to just take in someone just for my job or out of sympathy."

Shinji looked up with a small glint of hope in his eyes. "I just thought it'd be nice to have a family." She stood up still holding her pet and walked around the table as Shinji stood up. He sobbed for a moment and she embraced him and pen-pen both in a soft hug.

"Thank you Misato."

She looked him in the eye. "No. Thank you Shin-chan"

"Just one question."

"Shoot."

"What they do to Pen?"

"I think intelligence argumentation. They mostly worked with mice though. They thought they had a winner one time but he just ended up with a big head." Shinji was about to ask where she worked but then they heard the doorbell ring.

Misato placed Pen-pen down and went to answer the door as Shinji composed himself. As she opened it she was glad to see who was there. "Shinji its for you"

"Me? Who would come to see me?" He quickly came to the door and was surprised to see Touji and Kensuke there waiting for him with smiles on their faces. "Suzuhara. Aida, what are you guys doing here?"

Kensuke spoke up while Touji just looked down at his feet "We came to see if you were coming to school today."

"Oh... Ya I guess I am"

"Well go get your stuff and we'll walk together"

"Ok"

Misato smiled as Shinji went to get his backpack and go to school with his new friends.

Kensuke then asked Misato "Ma'am Is Shinji going in to NERV today?"

"No he won't. Why?"

Shinji returned just as Kensuke replied "Well I just wanted to know if it was okay if he went to the arcade with us this afternoon after school." Shinji looked at Misato once more with a hopeful look on his face. She returned his pleading look with a stern one for a moment to make him sweat but then broke into a radiant smile. "Yeah I think it'll be all right. Go have fun with your friends Shin-chan but be home by 7 ok."

"Yes Ma'am."


"So Unit 00 will be ready for a second attempt to activate soon and Rei should be fully recovered by then."

Dr. Akagi had just finished completing her report on the condition of the First Child and her Evangelion to Commander Ikari and Sub-commander Fuyutsuki.

Gendo pushed up his glasses "Very Well Doctor. Have you finished your analysis of the DNA sample?"

"Yes and I am glad we were able to even take a sample. Soon we won't be able to place a needle in him. His development seems to be astonishing."

"I see. Is there any degradation in his cellular structure?"

"No it in fact it seems to be the opposite. His DNA seems to be well... perfect. It is easily the best example of genetic manipulation I have ever seen. He is in perfect shape if not better than perfect. I have to know Commander how long has he been like this?"

Gendo smugly smirked "Since before he was born."

Ritsuko gawked for a moment "This changes everything."

"This changes nothing."

Ritsuko raised an eyebrow "But what about the scenario? This can not be a part of the scenario."

"Only the old men's. Mine is going exactly as planned. Shinji is merely a means to an end. If that is all Doctor you are dismissed."


Berlin-2

Asuka Soryu was not a happy girl. She was tired, sweaty and more than a little annoyed. Unfortunately for her she couldn't find a solution to the problem. What was the problem you wonder? Well in this case it was one Kaji Ryouji. Most of the time in her mind he was quite the opposite but right now he was target number one.

"VERDAMMEN SIE ES why can't you stay still so I can hit you."

"Simple my dear miss Soryu. If I made it easy for you to hit me it wouldn't be training."

The second child chosen to be an Evangelion pilot was clad in a red t-shirt and sweatpants and trying to desperately to hit Kaji with a kick or punch but any time she got close he would seem to dance around her attacks easily.

"You need to calm down Asuka or you won't be able to focus properly."

"I AM FOCUSED!"

"No you're not. You're aggravated and letting it get to you." With that he got low and swept her legs out from under her knocking her butt onto the mats. "And if you think I'm a hard teacher you should have seen how I was trained" He shuddered for a moment and allowed her to get up. "Remember kiddo how you fight should be clean and efficient. No movement wasted."

She stood still and took a couple of deep breaths to clam herself. Then she once again began her attack. This time Kaji didn't dodge but blocked. He replied with a punch that she countered.

"Very Good Asuka. Now we really begin your training."

The Two practiced far into the night.


Misato was coming home after a long days work and a quick stop to pick up a dinner for her and her ward. To celebrate his return you see.

She was just getting to the elevator door when she heard a voice behind her. "Excuse me are you Capt. Katsuragi?" Misato turned around and met the gaze of an older bald gentleman carrying a red and blue duffle bag.

"Can I help you?"

"I just need to talk to you for a moment."

She got a worried look "About what?"

"About Shinji actually."

Misato's eyes narrowed "What do you want with Shinji?"

"Nothing currently. Please don't let me hold you up we can continue in."

Misato cautiously walked inside the building the man following. "So you were saying?"

"Captain you may have noticed that the Third Child is... special."

"Of course he's Special."

The man looked like he was searching for the correct words "He carries a burden you know of course."

"You obviously know it and once the angels are gone he can have a chance to live his own life."

"I doubt it. He is chosen to carry a great burden for the rest of his days."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean he has gifts."

The Captain stopped at her door "What kind of gifts?" She opened the door and allowed him in.

"You are aware of the term Metahuman are you not Captain?"

"Are you sayin..." she was interrupted.

"In a matter of speaking yes, but his case is rather special."

"His gifts have already begun to manifest and more shall sooner or later."

In her mind certain things began to click into place. "You know what's happening to him."

"Yes I do and you're about to."

Misato stood before the older man, and gasped when he shoved a blue and red duffle bag in her arms. "Give this to him when he's ready."

"What is it?" Misato asked curiously.

Misato carefully unzipped the bag with a trembling hand, but what she saw in the bag made her drop it in shock, "Are you …trying to tell me … he's … he's gonna be?"

The old man gave a small smile and a nod causing Misato's hand to come to her mouth "I knew he was special but... oh my god..."


Meanwhile at a nearby arcade Shinji was getting acquainted with his two new friends. Shinji was enjoying a drink while his friends were trash talking each other while playing a fighting game.

"See that? Huh? huh? You can't hit me! You can't hit me! You can't hit me! HEY! YOU HIT ME!!!" Shinji noticed that Touji was a very emotional person.

"I'm sorry you were saying. Don't worry I'm just gonna take you to school." Unfortunately for Kensuke his boasting was too soon as Touji won. "Awe man. Hey let's hit the laser tag next!" Shinji also quickly discovered that the smallest of them was an Otaku of all things military or closely related to it.

Touji frowned "I dunno... we did that a lot last week and I'm a bit tired of it."

"Oh come on." Kensuke turned to Shinji "Hey Shinji you haven't played Laser Tag here yet right"

"Uhhh. No can't say that I have."

"Well then we must introduce him to our favorite time killer."

Touji smirked at his oldest friend "You mean your favorite."

Shinji stood up from the stool he was sitting on "Well to be honest its getting close to 7 and Misato wanted me home by then."

All three nodded and started walking toward the door. Kensuke bumped into a rather odd looking person dressed apparently like a clown and quickly apologized to him When Touji made a comment" So I guess you're already whipped by her then huh?"

Shinji gawked at the otaku "It's not like that.... That's just not right man."

Kensuke just laughed "Don't worry about it Shinji that's just his jealous side showing, and since he's busting your chops that means you're now one of us."

"Really?"

Touji shook his head "If I didn't know any better I'd swear you never had any friend before."

Shinji's head drooped "Well to be honest I really didn't."

Kensuke patted his new friend on the back "Well you do now."

The boys walked along talking about nothing and everything as friends are wont to do when Shinji noticed something. "Hey guys."

"Yes" they chorused.

"I think we're being followed."

"Oh come on" Kensuke laughed then glanced behind them "Oh crap."

Touji then looked back "Maybe it's just in your head guys."

Shinji began to walk faster as his friends did the same "Then why are you speeding up?"

Touji replied "Why are you?"

"Discretion is the better part of valor" internally he had a different reason "I could get out of this in one piece but I can't risk them getting hurt or finding out."

"Um guys" Kensuke squeaked "I hate to be the bearer of bad news but that's the guy I bumped into back at the arcade and I think I just saw a knife."

Shinji looked back "I didn't see a knife"

"Not the guy behind us. The one in front of us." Both Shinji and Touji then looked ahead and saw another thug like individual smiling wickedly also dressed like a clown, brandishing a rather large and most likely illegal blade.

Touji stopped "I got an idea. Follow me." Touji then sprinted down a nearby alleyway with both his friends following. Shinji started to catch up with Touji but Kensuke was never particularly athletically inclined and failed to keep up with his speedier friends. That didn't however keep him from not running as fast as he could. He liked his hide intact after all. Unfortunately fate seemed to have it in for the poor lad and he tripped over a small rock and crashed hard into the ground.

"This just isn't my day" then he heard laugher behind him

"Well its about to get a lot worse." Kensuke groaned and then turned over only to look down the barrel of a rather large pistol.

"Why are you doing this?" Kensuke asked fearfully

"Cuz its fun." The clown then cocked the hammer back with an audible click "So tell me kid. You ever dance with the devil in the pale moon light?"

Fusionblaster: Well I got to have fun with the boys and showed that Gendo indeed does know about Shinji's gifts and its part of his plans. Didn't get any fanservice in though. Sorry about that but I hope the cliffhanger works. C. Cowboy: for those disappointed with the lack of fansurvice, don't worry, everyone's favorite perverted Tennesseen has a few ideas cooked up for next chapter enjoy and review!