Problem Eighteen: Why is there a Spy in the Fruit Loops?
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"Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn, damn..."Asuka sits in her seat mumbling to herself, looking over to Mana Kirishima who sits and giggles as she and Shinji work on a packet. She can't help but stare off at them as this girl has seemingly come crashing down out of no where and has grabbed the reins of everyone's world. She brought out of thought as Rei takes her hand. She turns and smiles to her well aware she cannot see such a sight.
"Fifty Two..." With a little sigh, Rei turns to Asuka. 'Why do I feel happy...'
She feels Asuka arm move to the paper and begins to write down the answer Rei gave her she follows her hand movement unable to shake the feeling she has not felt in a long time. With out the view of her window to let her pass her time thinking of philosophy all she has is Asuka's hand to tell where she is. So many thoughts still clutter Rei's head, thoughts of another.
Touji and Kensuke sit in the back working in their group, well in a group at least. Kensuke's camera sits on his desk focused on Mana. He stares off at the girl who seems to have Shinji rapped around her little finger. "Man it stinks in here..."
Not one to understand Kensuke's thick sarcasm Touji looks to his friend. "I don't smell anything."
With a sarcastic sigh, Kensuke points to the happy little couple of Shinji and Mana. "The 'love' in the air cant you feel it."
"What..."
Rolling his eyes at his friend Kensuke places his head on his desk. "I can see what's happening, and they don't have a clue."
"Who?"
"Apparently neither does you..." Seeing that Touji is not understanding what he's saying he hits him in the back of the head, before grabbing it and pointing in the direction of Mana. "The new Chick and Shinji!"
"Oh..."
The only other student who pays attention to Kensuke's out burst is Yukari who chews on her pencil as she stares at Shinji. 'Its okay, Shinji has only shown a pigment other then red since she walked in. She's only called him cute fifty two times, hugged him twelve times and grabbed his hand six... Seven times.' Yukari snaps the pencil in her mouth and stands up.
"I can't stand it!" Everyone looks to Yukari with even the attention of Shinji and Mana. "You are making no sense! I do not understand you, any of you!"
The young girl runs out of the classroom, after a few seconds the class returns to their work.
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Far from Tokyo 3, in the city of Kyoko Ryoji Kaji storms down a city street in one of the many ruined districts of the city, he comes up on a homeless old woman. Kaji is not deterred as he takes the woman off the ground by her shirt. He spins her into a wall holding her off her feet Drawing a Socom 45 cal. Pistol, and putts it under her chin. Intern he feels the cold steel of a weapon strike his chest. He looks down to see this old woman is packing the same gun.
"Why the hell did you go over my head!"
With a smirk, the woman stares down at Kaji. "Call it inner Agency rivalry..." Her answer does not please Kaji as he pushes on his gun. Seeing that Kaji isn't happy she puts away her gun in a gesture of good faith. "Look, this wasn't RONIN call the JSIA sent her in..." This is much better to hear as Kaji lets the woman put her feet down. After taking, a breath of fresh air with out a gun to her neck the woman looks to Kaji. "We just found out yesterday that they would be sending in a agent."
With a heavy sigh, Kaji puts away his weapon, and steps to the side giving his comrade time to move. "Who the hell is she, I want to know why!"
"The JDIA wanted intelligence on the pilots." The woman begins to walk by Kaji as she speaks. "Since the Zero child appearance they felt that we were slaking."
Kaji shakes his head as he rubs his temples. "The Japanese Defence Intelligence Agency has no place in NERV, that is up to us." He begins to follow the old woman. "They just cant send in any agent..."
"They sent one of their 'Savior pilots." The woman sits on a stoop and pulls out a cigarette. "Lieutenant Mana Kirishima, age fourteen..."
"Kirishima..." Kaji looks up as he has heard that name before. "Isn't she one of those Marionette Soldiers?"
The woman nods as she taps off a cherry from her cigarette. "Yea, Fourth Generation, I have her documentation would you like to look."
Kaji sees a Menlo folder on the stoop and picks it up looking over the sheet in side. "Mana Kirishima... Training, weapons, Hand to hand, surveillance... Transferred to the JSSDF Savior program along side fell Soldier... Shit!" The Woman sigh as Kaji shakes his head. "Her Two fellow pilots just went rouge! Their the ones that attacked last night!"
She nods her head as she takes her final drag of her cigarette. "So far the JDIA feel she has not turned but there is a chance that she will."
"Are they going to pull her out!"
"And have NERV's watch dogs sniffing around." With a hiss the woman stands back up taking the folder. "JDIA has put her under our command feeling that she might feel sympathetic to her comrades cause and turn on them."
Crossing his arms Kaji looks down the ally way. "Typical, JDIA would dump their shit on us..."
"Oh no..." With a chuckle, the woman points to Kaji. "You, they dumped the shit on you..."
"What!" Kaji point up in the air in anger. "What the hell do they think I am? It took me a month to pull of the Power stunt and now I have to baby sit a test tube baby!"
"Have fun..." The woman walks off taking her small cart.
Kaji rolls his eyes as he sits on the stoop. "This is a problem..."
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The school day ends like any other, and the pilots go off to NERV for a round of tests. Yukari seems to be quieter then usual as she stares down Shinji. Rei is being led by Asuka and they lead the group."Hey, Brother..." Yukari speaks with a somber expression as she comes up on Shinji. "What do you think of Kirishima..."
"Oh, Mana... She's great..."
Asuka gives a small growl and Yukari slumps seeing her plan to hook Asuka and Shinji up in pieces. Rei however could care less of what Shinji said. 'She called him Brother... She called him family.'
Before Yukari can finish her thought, she stops with the strong feeling of being watched. She continues to walk since Asuka is paying no attention; Shinji is wondering around like a love struck idiot and Rei, well can't see anything. So she takes this time to fallback and watch from afar as the rest of the pilots go inside Central Dogma. Shinji is last to enter but he is surprised as he hears Mana's voice behind him.
"Shinji..."
Shinji looks to see Mana behind him and his face returns to its shade of Red. "Mana... I kinda have to go to work..."
The boy turns back and slides his card through the slot opening the door. Before he enters, Mana comes from behind and raps her arms around him obviously pressing her chest against his back. Shinji is frozen in place, as Mana whispers in his ear. "Are you hiding something from me?"
With Mana still rapped around him he puts his card away trying his best not to pass out. "Nothing at all... I will see you tomorrow..."
With a smile, Mana whispers into Shinji's ear. "Maybe sooner then you think."
Shinji goes into Central dogma watching Mana until the doors closed shut. With no one in sight, Mana begins to play with a card in her hand. Yukari who has seen the transpiring events watches from behind a corner. She looks to see the card, that Mana is twiddling in between her fingers is Shinji's ID card. Mana stops to look at the picture, Yukari watches as she blushes.
"Shinji Ikari... You are so cute..."
After a second of making sure the coast is clear, Mana slides Shinji's card through the slot opening the doors to Central Dogma. She goes in with out a care in the world, and unknown that Yukari has discovered the girl's secret.
"You clever little girl..." Yukari comes out from her hiding spot. "My oh my, she's a little Spy..."
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With the Prowess of a gymnast Mana Kirishima makes her way past the wondering patrols of NERV security, CCTV cameras, and with Shinji's ID card she makes her way into the Pilots section. Once there she goes to the girl's locker room to hear only silence. Once inside she sticks to the wall doing her best to remain still as she scans the room for security cameras. With the connivance that NERV respects the pilots privacy Mana is undetected in her movement as she goes to a locker marked 'Asuka Langley Souyu' She pulls out some lock picks and fiddles with the lock until she cracks it open. Once open she opens her school bag and places a clean plug suit still in its rapper in her bag. She also pulls hair from a brush. She does the same to Rei and Yukari's locker. Once done she pulls out a rag and wipes down everything she touched. Then she goes back into the hallway and prowls her way to Shinji's locker room. Once inside she goes to see that Shinji does not have a lock, and she begins takes a clean plug suit and then stops as she stares into the locker.
"Why cant I get you out of my head..." Mana pulls out a sheet of paper and writes a note for Shinji once down she puts up in his locker and smiles. "I really do like you..."
With her thoughts out of her head, she goes back to her duties, wipes down Shinji's locker, and shuts it. To her surprise Yukari is in her plug suit leaning up against the locker beside Shinji's with her arms crossed her gaze has an almost evil stare as she looks at Mana. "Hello..."
The response Yukari is given is not expected as Mana goes for a spin kick to the head. With the agility only a cat could have, Yukari jumps to dodge the kick she spins and lands on all fours away from Mana. Just as she stands Mana has closed the distance and swings a punch, Yukari dodges as she steps to the side.
"Don't Spy angry..."
Mana speed increases as she finally grapples Yukari's arm and flips her over her shoulder. Once on the ground Yukari kicks up just in time as for Mana goes to knock her out. Seeing that the little red head means business Yukari decides to block Mana's next kick. In addition, she retaliates with a Kick of her own, however Mana back flips out of the way. Yukari closes the distance and goes to grapple Mana as she punches. She spins her arm behind her back and then twists it for pain compliance.
"Your good..." Not able to give up Mana kicks Yukari in the groin, this forces her to let go as she gabs her body in pain. "Cheap shot..."
With a running jump, kick Mana knocks Yukari into a locker. The attack wasn't as effective as Yukari bounces back and runs at Yukari like a cat jumping over four kicks as she goes into the air and after a flip she lands on top of Mana taking her to the ground. Mounted and having the girls arms pinned to the side Yukari smiles. "What's up..."
"I'm sorry..." Mana does her best to get out but Yukari hold the advantage. "How did you know?"
With a like, hearted chuckle Yukari gives her answer. "I saw your palming trick on Shinji... It was nice of you to give it back."
"Who else knows?"
"Just me..." Yukari looks around the room before continuing. "If you don't beat me up I will keep it that way."
Nodding her head in compliance, Yukari slowly lets Mana go. They both remain sitting on the floor Mana sits up and straightens her uniform. "Why aren't you going to report me?"
Rubbing her shoulder on were she was kicked Yukari answers with a sound of pain in her voice. "Well, I don't like NERV that much..."
"Really..." Mana leans in. "Why?"
"Well..." Still making sure she was not seriously hurt, Yukari spins her arm. "For one, they treat us pilots like shit, and second they want to end the world."
"What... How do you know this!"
With a sad sigh, Yukari looks to her feet. "I wish I knew... I awoke knowing this... I know so much about NERV and it is all bad..." Seeing that Yukari is about the cry, Mana places her hand on her shoulder. "I know more about NERV then I know about my self... All I know is that I am a clone of some kind, so is Rei..." Being reminded of her heritage Yukari curls into a ball resting her head on her knees. "The Commander of this base is playing NERV and the world for fools."
"That's Shinji's dad right..."
Yukari nods her head as she rubs her eyes. "You know a lot..."
With a reluctant smile, Mana looks away. "Well, I guess not enough..."
Not paying attention Yukari doesn't take notice of Mana pulling something from her bag. "Trust me knowing this much sucks..."
"Miss Ayanami..."
Yukari shakes her head as she laughs at her name. "Please Yukari is fine..."
"Yukari..." Nodding her head, Yukari turns to look at Mana who is frowning. "I'm sorry..."
Before Yukari can ask for what Mana sprays a mist into her face from a small bottle. At first, it chokes her as she grabs her neck in pain. Gasping for air, she looks up to see Mana standing as with her rag out wiping her hands. Her vision begins to tunnel as she falls to the ground.
"Clever little spy..."
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"Meow!!!"
The screech of a cat desperate for attention awakes Yukari. At first, she doesn't realize where she's at but it doesn't take long before she remembered her encounter. She flies out of bed to see it late in the day. The fact that she's in her bed stumps her as she looks around her room to see Servo on her stomach.
"Servo... how did I get home..."
"I carried you..."
Yukari looks to see Misato looking at her sincerity as she sits beside her bed. With a sigh of relief, Misato takes Yukari's hand. "Are you feeling any better."
At first Yukari does not know how to respond to the question as she studies her room. "I think so, what happened."
"Asuka and Rei found you passed out in the girls locker room." Misato leans in as she parts Yukari's hair. "Ritsuko said that you had a seizer judging by your injuries."
It is then Yukari feel her arm to find a bruise has formed where Mana kicked her. 'She dragged me back to the girls side, that was nice of her.' She then sits up taking her cat into her arms petting him. "Misato..."
With a smile, Misato nods her head. "Yes..."
"Thanks for taking care of me..."
"Oh, its no problem..." Misato leans back and looks to the door. "You and Shinji, have been a real treat, I'm glad that I'm your guardian."
Not really, think on what she's doing Yukari allows her weight to shift so she falls into Misato's lap. Once there, she grasps her guardian's arm. "I'm glad to..."
"Now only if I could ring in Shinji..." Misato rubs Yukari's back and neck as she lets her rest in her lap. "That boy seems to be all over the place... At first I thought he liked Asuka, but now theirs another..."
Reminded of Mana, Yukari looks up to Misato with a worried look. "Do I have to go to school tomorrow..."
Misato's laughter stops Yukari in mid sentence. "Tomorrow is Election Day, there is no school tomorrow."
'That's good...' Yukari closes her eyes as she begins to feel sleepy. 'I can figure out what to do with her then...'
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The next morning comes to Yukari and the groggy, I just been knocked out, feeling is gone. With her cat sleeping next to, her she pets him as she gets out of bed. With a simple cat stretch the yellow-eyed Yukari stands and goes out to get, some much needed food. She walks in to the kitchen to a shocking sight. She at first only point in disbelief as she sees Mana, in her school Uniform sitting beside Shinji they both talk and laugh not noticing the clone standing in front of them. Trying to find words to say, Yukari notices that Mana is eating her Fruit Loops."WHY IS THERE A SPY IN THE FRUIT LOOPS?!"
Shinji nearly spits out his toast Yukari yelled so laud. He turns to Yukari then Mana and smiles. "Umm... Mana didn't know we didn't have school today... I saw her walking there and I invited her in to..." Shinji tries not to take notice as Yukari rushes over to him and places her hand on his forehead. "Come in since their no school."
"Are you dieing!" Yukari slams her hands on the table spilling Shinji's juice. "Are you deafly ill!"
Looking around not sure on why Yukari is upset, Shinji tries to answer. "No... Why are you being so rude to Mana..."
For the life of Yukari she is unable to answer the question, she wasn't expecting Shinji to even say it. 'You stood up for her...' With her mind back on an unsolved problem, she looks around franticly. 'Misato must be at NERV, Damn it why cant I solve this! This Love, it has to be this love, why cant I love, I don't understand, why cant I love!' She turns to see Mana with servo in her hands petting him. Servo purrs seeing that Mana has longer fingernails and Yukari does not. "Traitor!"
Both stare at Yukari as she runs out of the apartment upset. Shinji stands to go after her but the juice begins to hit the floor and he is forced to clean up the mess, with Mana more then willing to help.
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Only a floor down from Misato's apartment Asuka sits in the kitchen a simple cup of water in front of her. Not being much of a cook, and fighting off her inability to sleep as been hard for her. So much has happened in such a little time, never could she imagine that she would be in the state she's in right now. With her thought bouncing on one subject to the next, she stares up at the ceiling as she slowly pulls out her sync clips."What's the point of this..."
She looks down at her self to find that she's dressed for the day even if it was almost noon. Her nails polished, she wears a freshly pressed pleated blue skirt and a collared sleeveless blouse. The only reason she had to go out was if there was an Angel attack.
"Its not like I have any Friends... other then Rei..."
She slowly gets up and goes to what she feels is all she has. Asuka piers into Rei's room to see she is still asleep, the innocent of such a troubled girl sends a chill up her spine. She goes inside and prowls to the bedside of Rei. She looks down at the girl dropping her sync clips. The inability to sleep is catching up on the strong willed Asuka; her barriers as falling apart and she cant help but slowly whimper as she looks at Rei.
"And.. And..." Sniff. "I couldn't even protect you..."
Guilt is all Asuka feels at first as she goes to her knees. This guilt is replaced with a need to be held. In response, Asuka raps her arms around herself trying her best to consul her self but this does not work her minds needs the touch of another.
"Rei..."
She places her hand on the girl's cheek the warmth of Rei's skin races Asuka's heartbeat. The warmth is just like the kindness and sanity Rei has brought to her world, Rei is never troubled over who friends with who. Her only adversary is her sister, but that is more of an annoyance then anything else. 'If it wasn't for that brat...' Asuka smiles a little as she brushes Rei's hair with her hand. 'We might have never become friends...' As if Rei had healing properties, Asuka moves closer to her as she watches her breath.
"As long as we are together, I will never be alone..."
With her head, hovering over Rei's Asuka makes a tearful smile as she slowly leans in kissing Rei on the lips. It is not a kiss of passion, but that of love, the love of someone who has stood by your side, the love of someone you would never betray. This kiss only lasts for a couple of seconds. When finished Asuka tucks Rei in and walks out of her room.
For Rei however, she was awake the entire time and she now stares at the ceiling with a rush of feelings never felt before. Never has she been kissed, never has she felt the love of another. She debates on if it was right to not alert her friend that she was awake, her own fear that Asuka would leave stopped her. She stares in to her own silent darkness, the Red orbs still dominate her eyes. Slowly she touches her lips as her face turns a shade of red and her heart races.
"I have never been touched like that... I have never been loved like that..."
She feels around to discover Asuka left her sync clips. She takes hold of them and brings them to her nose. She mess the pleasant perfume Asuka wears and smiles at the keepsake she holds.
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Asuka has made her way back out to the living room, after a quick search to see only election coverage on she turns off the TV and goes to her balcony. After nearly two hours of peaceful silence the sound of someone smashing into her door startles her. She turns and goes inside wondering what the hell happen. Once she gets to her front door she opens it to see Yukari, still in her pajamas panting and gasping for air. With no response at first Asuka shuts the door and goes to walk away only to her the sound of a body meeting a steel door. With a reluctant, sigh Asuka goes back and opens up the door. To see Yukari again rubbing her head in pain gasping for air. Once again Asuka goes to shut it but Yukari grabs Asuka foot and jams the door with it."Ahhh!" Asuka pulls her foot out and begins to hop around in pain. She notices Yukari crawling into her hallway so she closes the door jamming both of Yukari's feet. She screams out in pain before the door automatically opens back up and she pulls her feet in
"Baka!" Asuka hops into the Kitchen and goes to the fridge to pull out ice. She takes a seat to see Yukari crawling into the Kitchen. "What the hell is your malfunction!"
With a worried look, Yukari sits up a bit and stares up to Asuka. "I'm so sorry, but..." Not in the mood to fight or even yell, Asuka raps the ice in a rag and goes over to Yukari who seems to be bleeding at the shins from the door closing on her. She places the ice on Yukari's wound just before hitting her in the back of the head.
Catching Asuka in a good mood seems like the only good thing that has happened for Yukari today. She blushes at Asuka as she rolls up her pant to expose the wound. "Thank you..." Asuka does not answer all she does is hold Yukari's leg as she applies Ice to the wound. "I'm sorry for the intrusion, but I don't know were else I could go..."
"Please..." Asuka mutter as she stands and begins to rummage through a cabinet for a bandage. "What can stop the great Yukari Ayanami from ruining my or her sisters life."
Her words seem to hurt Yukari as she looks down in shame. "Look, I Know I haven't been the best with you but I need help..."
Finding what she needs Asuka goes back to Yukari as she bandages her wounds. "That's a understatement of the year! Why should I help you..."
"Because if you don't..." Yukari looks at Asuka in duress and pain. "Shinji will fall for Kirishima!"
It takes a second to remember whom Yukari is even taking about. "The new girl, please... why should I care."
Seeing the lie Asuka just gave, Yukari grabs Asuka's arm to have her look at her. "I might not be able to understand what I see, or feel what you feel but you love him."
All Asuka can do is blush but quickly punishes Yukari for such a comment. "That's stupid, why would I love that pathetic Loser..."
"You are the same..." Yukari's zones out as information flows from her head. "Kyoko, he is just like you, he is meant for you, I see it in your eyes... you are..."
"Shut up!"
Asuka slaps Yukari across the face. She stands up and rushes to the balcony to clear her head. Still on the ground Yukari looks to see Rei standing in the doorway. She bows her head, as Rei makes her way to Asuka, able to navigate her way through trial and error. Once Rei feels the breeze of the out side all around her she stops and looks forward.
"Asuka..." She doesn't get a response, but she feels her presence. "Asuka, I don't know what to do or say... I don't even know my self anymore, I have never wanted anything till know..."
Such words bring tears to both Asuka and Yukari as Rei continues to speak her mind. "I want... I want you to be happy..."
A Rei stop speaking as Asuka gives her a hug, Rei hugs back happy to feel her friend in her arms. The separate and Asuka takes Rei and walking her into the kitchen. Yukari looks up at both of them seeing that Asuka has a strange smirk on her face.
"Alright Zero, say I..."
Yukari finishes Asuka sentence seeing that she's unwilling. "Love him..."
"Whatever... what can we do..."
"Well..." Yukari begins to ponder for a second as she forms a plan. With a snap of her fingers she points to the air with a cry of Joy. "I think I can kill five birds with one stone..."
Unsure on what to do, Asuka looks as Yukari draws in the air. "How do you kill five birds with one stone, and what are the five birds?"
"Good question..." Yukari gives a devilish grin. "I will show you..."
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Next Problem... How do you kill five birds with one stone...
