Disclaimer – see chapter 1.

Homecoming

Part 2 – Stray Cat Strut

By Random1377

Silence prevailed. Butts shifted uncomfortably in seats. Glances were exchanged. Nervous coughs were uttered. And if Kyoko Zeppelin Souryu had the faintest clue that she was the source of the anxiety in the small briefing room, she made absolutely no sign.

"Mmm," she hummed appreciatively, "this coffee is really good!"

"Thanks," Misato mumbled, eyeing the woman as she fiddled with her own mug, "Kaji made it."

Kyoko turned her sky-blue eyes on the man in question, smiling warmly as she raised her mug to him in salute. "Excellent brew, young man."

Though his hands were laced behind in head in a careful display of casualness, Kaji's eyes were bright and hungry with curiosity as he regarded the newcomer to the NERV installation… though perhaps newcomer was the wrong word, as she had been there longer than everyone currently in the room.

"Young man, eh?" he laughed, "that's one I don't get very often."

Looking the slightest bit catty, Misato added, "And you're only four years older, right? Or was it five?"

Kyoko clucked her tongue, dropping Asuka a wink. "A lady never tells her true age," she pointed out dryly, "besides which, I am technically seven years older than I look due to my… unique circumstance."

She took a sip of her coffee, watching Misato over the rim of her mug as the operations director considered this detail.

"So," she said after another moment of quiet, "what are we waiting for, again?"

"The Commander," the woman named Maya said uncertainly when no one else seemed willing to answer the question… for the fifth time.

Kyoko yawned expansively. "But we've been here forever," she complained, "does he even know where we – Asuka, sit up dear."

Asuka, who had been slowly shrinking away from the woman for at least five minutes, froze like a deer caught in a pair of headlights, her back unconsciously straightening as she stared down at the table in front of her.

"Yes ma'am."

"Yes mother."

"…yes mother."

Misato could not help but be amazed by Asuka's behavior. Since the retrieval from the entry plug, and the sketchy details of her mother's spontaneous reappearance, the Second Child had been remarkably subdued, shooting the elder Souryu confused, surreptitious glances as they were collected and sequestered in the thirtieth level's conference room to await Commander Ikari's arrival. As far as Misato could see, Asuka was wary of the woman sitting next to her – which was not that surprising, considering how the woman had died.

Though can you call that death? Misato wondered as Kyoko happily sipped her coffee. She's here now… I can see her, touch her, interact with her, Hell, I could make out with her if I liked women – but she was buried years ago. How is she even here?

After a few more moments of quiet, the door to the conference room slid open and Ritsuko strode in, moving to the head of the table as she spoke. "Sorry to keep you all waiting," she said briskly. "The commander will be along in a minute, but I wanted to give everyone a rundown on-"

"Oh my."

Ritsuko blinked, looking up from the clipboard she had been reviewing as Kyoko covered her mouth in surprise.

"You're Naoko's little girl, aren't you?"

All eyes were on the blonde as she looked back to her clipboard, seemingly at a loss for words. Finally, she mumbled, simply, "Yes, ma'am."

Again, Kyoko seemed unaware of the discomfort all around her. "How is she? The last time I saw her, she was working on a trio of supercomputers – very advanced stuff… called them the MAGI, if I remember correctly, named them after the three wise men that-"

"She's… passed away, Misses Souryu," Ritsuko cut in calmly. "I would prefer not to talk about it right now, as there are more pressing issues."

Kyoko frowned. "Passed away?" she echoed. "How sad. My condolences."

"Er, thank you. Now, can you please describe to me how you exited Evangelion Unit 02's core? It is critical that we recover the boy who took your place."

Looking rather dreamy, Kyoko said, "No."

Ritsuko looked up from her clipboard. "I'm sorry…?" she said uncertainly. "No you won't tell me how you got out of the core, or no we don't need to recover our other pilot?"

"Both, actually," Kyoko said simply, seeming to enjoy the incredulity of those around her. "I can't tell you how I got out of the core, and, well, I'm sorry to say this – but I'm not going back."

Into the stunned silence, Gendou made his appearance, walking unhurriedly around to the seat Ritsuko was standing next to and settling into it as if entirely expecting everyone to be gawking at the recovered scientist. Behind him, looking completely unfazed by the silence – or anything else – Rei entered the room, taking the empty seat across from Kyoko and proceeding to rest her chin in her palm and stare at an empty patch of wall across the room from her.

"Souryu."

"Well hello, Rokubungi," Kyoko said lightly. "How've you been?"

The Commander's lips thinned. "It's Ikari."

Kyoko took a sip of her coffee. "Not to me."

Frowning, Misato reassessed the other woman's sharp, attentive eyes. Not playing anymore, are we? she thought astutely. Ok, she's either crazy as a loon… or she has a hell of a game face. Or maybe it's both…?

Turning her attention to Rei, and dismissing Gendou entirely, Kyoko said, "Excuse me, miss, but I didn't catch your name."

"Rei," the First said quietly. "Rei Ayanami."

"Ayanami, huh?" Kyoko grinned. "Well, Miss Ayanami… you are the spitting image of a very good friend of mine, Yui Ikari."

Continuing to stare at the wall, Rei murmured, "So I understand."

"Ahem," Gendou cleared his throat. "We have an unusual situation," he said bluntly. "Doctor Akagi, what are your initial findings on Unit 02 and Misses Souryu?"

Closing her mouth, which had dropped open at Kyoko's undisguised lack of respect for the Commander, Ritsuko said, "I umm, well… the MAGI confirm that Unit 02 is holding a soul… so it's reasonable to assume Shinji's still in there – and after taking a blood sample and matching it against genetic records, they have determined that this is, indeed… Kyoko Souryu."

Kyoko raised her mug to the table in general. "Kanpai!" she shouted. "Did you hear that, everyone? I'm me! Drink up!"

"Your levity is unappreciated," Gendou said coldly.

"By you, anyway," Kyoko countered, "though you never had much of a sense of humor, Rokubungi."

"It's Ikari."

"Not to me."

"How did you get out?" Gendou demanded.

"Don't remember," Kyoko said breezily. "Sorry. Everything past 2006 is just bits and pieces… and this evening is a total blur."

"Unit 01's pilot is trapped in your place," the Commander said, his tone dripping with warning as he folded his hands in front of his face. "There is no backup – it is imperative that you return to Unit 02's core immediately, so-"

Kyoko's voice was merry as she cut in, "I think not, Rokunbungi – I've been in there for seven years… it's someone else's turn for a while."

"It's Ikari."

"Not to m-e."

"Souryu, I'm warning you-"

"This isn't productive," Ritsuko interjected quickly. "Commander, the MAGI are still working on their analysis of the events leading to this… situation." She checked her watch. "It's two forty-five… we're all tired… and this conversation is just leading in circles. I recommend that we call it a night and come back in the morning."

"I don't care what time it is," Gendou rumbled, shooting daggers at Kyoko with his eyes, "Unit 02's viability must be tested immediately. As it stands… we have no defense – or is that detail eluding you, Doctor?" As Ritsuko paled, Gendou concluded, "Misses Souryu will be checked into a hotel with full Section Two escort, while the Second Child will be placed back into Unit 02 for-"

Asuka's head whipped up. "Not a chance!" she cried, blushing as all eyes fell to her, but trying to maintain her brave façade as she added, "There's no way you're getting me back in there!"

Gendou rose to his feet. "You will do as you are ordered, pilot," he said dangerously.

To everyone's surprise, Kyoko also rose to her feet, and while her demeanor was nowhere near as intimidating as the Commander's, her words seemed to weigh just as much as his.

"Don't talk to my daughter like that, Rokubungi."

Abruptly she smiled, patting Asuka affectionately on the head.

"Would you be a dear and sync with Unit 02?" she said, sounding as if she was asking nothing more demanding than having the redhead clean her room. "It is rather important, liebchen, and we'll have plenty of time to talk tomorrow."

Asuka, Misato decided, did not look as if she was excited at the prospect of talking to her mother.

God I feel sorry for her, she thought suddenly, her heart going out to the confused Child as her petrified eyes scanned the room for a savior. She's had to live for herself for seven years, and now her mother – her DEAD mother – is back, acting like nothing happened and talking about hanging out and… oo… bad choice of words.

Clearing her throat, Misato said, "I'll oversee the synchronization, Commander, and when it's done… Asuka can stay the night at my place. It is her first night in town, after all, and we've known each other for a while – I think it would be best if she could stay with someone she is familiar with."

"Agreed," Gendou said, sounding as if Asuka's sleeping arrangements were no more important to him than the mud he had stepped in earlier in the evening. "Rei."

"Yes, Commander?"

"You will escort Misses Souryu to her hotel and act as her guide until someone else can be appointed."

"Yes, Commander."

Everyone exchanged glances at this odd arrangement, but no one questioned the Commander's orders.

"Dismissed."

"I'll see you in the morning, liebchen," Kyoko said, pulling Asuka into a tight hug before she could escape, "do your best, ja?"

"J-ja," Asuka stammered, practically running out of the room after Misato.

"I'm sure we'll talk again soon, Rokubungi."

"Count on it, Souryu… and the name is Ikari."

Kyoko bowed politely and made her way out of the room, eyeing Kaji with open appreciation as she cast one final, "Not to me," over her shoulder.

As the others filed out, Rei remained seated, waiting until the door clicked closed to turn her attention to the Commander.

"Rei."

"Yes, sir?"

Gendou walked slowly around the table, putting his hand on Rei's shoulder as he whispered, "You understand that this woman is a potential threat to the scenario, correct?"

Nodding, Rei replied, "Yes, sir. According to the records you gave me, she was psychologically unstable, ultimately taking her own life after suffering from psychosis induced by her direct contact experiment."

"Very concise," Gendou said approvingly. "So you understand why I have placed you with her."

Again, Rei nodded. "To observe her and ensure that she does not endanger your goals."

Gendou reached into his pocket. "Do not leave her side," he said firmly, pressing something made of hard plastic into Rei's palm, "and if she becomes… unreasonable, you are to incapacitate her, understood? Under no circumstance is she to be sanctioned. We need to recover Unit 01's pilot at all cost, and she is the key."

Accepting the tazer without question, Rei answered, "Understood, sir."

As the First made her exit, Gendou's composed features finally collapsed into a mask of rage. That woman, he thought furiously, I never could stand her! How is it that she managed to free herself? Oh, I'll be watching you very closely, Misses Souryu, and you WILL be returning to Unit 02, even if I have to shove you in there myself! I will not have my plans diverted!

( 0 0 0 )

Asuka sat perfectly still in the entry plug, pretending that she was not terrified beyond the capacity for rational thought.

Mama… the word echoed in her frazzled mind, Mama…

Unpleasant memories, long submerged in Asuka's thoughts, surfaced and wreaked havoc with her emotions. A doll… an empty smile… a bare, dangling foot – nothing associated with the word 'mother' was good in her mind.

"Are you ready?"

Asuka had to swallow several times before she could respond to Misato's softly spoken question.

"No," she said quietly, "I don't want to do this, Misato…"

Misato's face appeared in a small window in Unit 02's control panel. "I know you don't," she said soothingly, "but it's important, Asuka… the Commander wasn't lying about that. Right now, you are our only hope. Unit 00 is still under repair, Unit 01 only starts for Shinji… we need you here, Asuka, do you understand?"

Asuka shifted in her seat. "Of course I understand," she said bitterly, "I'm not stupid, you know – but this thing ate Ikari! Would you want to be in here?"

"I would if I could," Misato said honestly, "for a lot of reasons."

Taking a deep breath, Asuka muttered, "Let's just get this over with."

"Yeah."

"Hey Misato…?"

"Hmm?"

There was a long, uncomfortable silence.

"Is Kaji good in bed?"

"What?"

When Asuka spoke next, Misato could tell the redhead was smiling. "Come on," she cajoled, "you can tell me – I'm about to die, after all."

Misato bit her lip. "You won't die," she said firmly, nodding to Maya to begin the synchronization experiment. "Here we go."

Asuka closed her eyes as the first stage connection was made, trying her best to believe that she was not going to be swallowed whole by the hulking behemoth she was strapped into. Everything is riding on me, she told herself firmly, I can't fail – I won't fail! God, what am I thinking? That… woman is getting under my skin. I'm tougher than this! I don't need her! …I don't.

"Stage two," Misato announced over the comm system. "Still ok?"

"Fantastic," Asuka said dryly, "let's do this."

"Roger that. Oh, and Asuka?"

"Hmm?"

"He is."

Asuka laughed, but it was short-lived as Maya announced, "Third stage neural connection in five… four… three… two – absolute borderline!"

Asuka held her breath as the entry plug flashed through the colors of the rainbow, finally settling on an image of the pribnow box, with Misato's concerned face staring through the glass.

"Asuka," the woman was saying, "everything ok?"

"Umm, looks like it," Asuka said cautiously, flexing Unit 02's fingers a bit, "it… feels a little different than before, but I'm not breaking into component atoms or anything… am I?"

Misato laughed with relief. "No," she sighed, "everything seems to be working just fine."

Letting out a breath she was not aware she was holding, Asuka leaned her head back in the seat and closed her eyes. "Regular sync test, right?" she said shakily.

"Right."

"Man, I wish I could take a nap or somethi-"

"Asuka…?"

The redhead's eyes snapped open.

"Anything wrong?" Misato asked over the comm. system.

"Er, no," Asuka said with a little frown, "no, just… thought I heard something."

Shaking her head, Asuka leaned back in the seat… but after a few more minutes of silence, she distinctly heard, "Asuka… can you hear me…?"

Glancing from side to side, Asuka said, "Hey Misato?"

"Hmm?"

"You guys aren't… picking anything up on internal speakers are you?"

Misato frowned. "Umm, no… why?"

"Nothing, nothing," Asuka said quickly, afraid they might think she was starting to go crazy if she told them she could hear voices in the plug… and more afraid that she might actually be crazy than anything else.

"Ok… should only be a few more minutes."

Asuka nodded, idly tapping her fingers on the control yoke for a moment before making up her mind.

"Shinji," she whispered, pitching her voice too low for the audio pickups, "Shinji… is that you?"

Her eyes went wide as she realized that the voice she was hearing was not ringing in her ears, but directly in her mind.

"…y-yeah."

( 0 0 0 )

"Mmmaahhh!" Kyoko yawned, stretching her arms up over her head as she emerged from the hotel's bathroom, "There's nothing like a good shower after seven years in a giant bioroid, know what I mean?"

Rei ignored her… or pretended to, anyway, keeping her eyes directed out the window as the older woman toweled her hair dry. The tazer was heavy and uncomfortable against the small of Rei's back, but she did not fidget or squirm – that might give her away. Instead, she simply watched Kyoko's reflection in the window and tried to determine if the woman's behavior was 'suspicious.'

In all honesty, she did not like this assignment – it left too much to her own discretion. She was an unabashed order-taker, uncomfortable making her own decisions if she did not have to, and the definition of what did or did not constitute suspiciousness was a little too broad for Rei's liking.

"Hey," Kyoko called, "let's go out!"

How unfortunate that boisterous was not synonymous with suspicious, Rei mused.

The Souryu woman would have been unconscious hours ago.

"We were directed to stay in a hotel," she pointed out softly.

"No," Kyoko corrected, picking up the phone, "we were directed to check in to a hotel – Rokubungi never said we had to stay here."

Rei pursed her lips.

Leave it to this woman to find a loophole in the Commander's orders.

"Room service?" she heard Kyoko say into the phone, "Do you have a clothing shop? You do? Excellent! Bring me one of everything from the woman's section in a size two, and one of everything from your young ladies section in a size… oh… nine, I suppose, I may need to have a smaller size, I really don't know how big my companion is. Yes, I know what time it is – I'll pay extra. No, thank you."

Unable to remain silent, Rei whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Getting us clothes," Kyoko said happily, "can't make the scene in a towel or a hand-me-down NERV jumper, now can I? And no bar is going to let you in wearing that school getup."

"Bar?" Rei echoed, finally raising her head, "I cannot go to a bar… it is the middle of the night, and I am underage."

Kyoko smiled. "There are bars that are open all night, and they'll let you in," she said confidently. "You look old enough – or you will in a nice dress and a little makeup."

"I cannot-"

"Guess I'll go alone then," Kyoko cut in airily.

Rei slowly closed her mouth. Her orders had been clear – do not leave Souryu's side.

"…I will go."

Is this unreasonable behavior? she wondered dismally. No… unfortunately I don't think this qualifies.

"Let's see your strut."

Blinking, Rei looked up. "Pardon?"

"Your strut," Kyoko said clearly, "you know, your, 'look at me' walk."

"I… do not understand."

Putting a hand on her hip, Kyoko slowly crossed the room… and Rei noticed that this was a decidedly different gait than the one she normally used. Her hips rolled slightly from side to side and she seemed to glide rather than walk, her feet practically floating above the floor until she was standing next to Rei's chair.

"No matter what, you've got to strut," Kyoko said, sounding as if she was quoting a movie line. "Let me see how you walk, Miss Ayanami."

"I would rather not," Rei said bluntly. "I will accompany you, but-"

"Oh please," Kyoko laughed, grabbing Rei's hand and pulling her to her feet, "you don't have to be ashamed if you don't know how to do it. Here, I'll show you."

Rei's eyes widened as the older woman spun her around and put her hands on Rei's waist.

"You've just got to put a little dip in your hip," Kyoko said impishly, "swing that cute little butt a little – make the guys notice."

Completely taken aback as the older woman pushed down on her right hip to illustrate her point, Rei mumbled, "I do not think I am capable of-"

"How old are you anyway?" Kyoko cut in, shifting pressure from one of Rei's hips to the other and moving her other hand away.

Pulling away from the older woman, Rei said, "I am in my fourteenth year, the same as Pilot Souryu."

"No," Kyoko said, her tone losing all of its playful quality, "I mean your real age."

Rei felt a chill work through her as Kyoko's arm slid easily around her upper chest.

In her hand, less than five inches from Rei's eyes, was the tazer, slipped deftly from inside the back of her skirt while Rei was distracted by Kyoko's other hand.

Time stood still as Kyoko whispered, "Based on your behavior and development, and the length of time I was in Unit 02, I'd guess you're about seven, am I right?"

"I do not know what you are talk-"

"I worked on your project, you know," Kyoko cut in quietly, "it was still incomplete when I was absorbed, but we were awfully close. So I guess, in a very abstract sort of way… maybe more than to my own child, considering the hours I put in, I'm your mother, too." She sighed, patting Rei's hip lightly as she hefted the tazer. "You know exactly what you are, don't you?" she murmured sadly. "You're not scared of me one little bit… because you know they'll replace you in a second if I killed you."

Seeing no reason to deny this, Rei simply replied, "Yes… though the Commander will not be pleased if I am harmed."

Kyoko snorted derisively. "He's a blowhard," she muttered, "Always has been." Slowly, she let Rei go, popping the tazer open and pulling the batteries out before dropping it in the garbage can.

There was a knock at the door.

Both women ignored it.

"What are your intentions?"

Kyoko smiled softly. "You know my intentions," she said quietly. "I intend to go out to a bar, have a little too much to drink, flirt with a few guys, come back here, and throw up. Rather like your Captain Katsuragi, I'd think, though she has a place of her own to puke in. After that… well, we'll just have to see now, won't we? I've been cooped up a long time, Miss Ayanami. I plan to live a little."

Rei glanced over her shoulder as the knock was repeated.

"Are you coming with me?"

Turning back to face the older woman, Rei found her serious expression replaced with her usual, playful smile. "You are… not as you seem," Rei observed quietly.

Heading towards the door, Kyoko whispered, "No one is, Miss Ayanami… now will you be joining me this evening, or will I be hitting the town on my own?"

Considering Kyoko for a moment, Rei gave a minute shrug. "I have been ordered to remain with you," she pointed out coolly.

"Seems like such a poor reason to go to a bar," Kyoko sighed. "Oh well, at least I'll have company. Now let's pick out some clothes."

Thoughtfully, Rei accompanied her to the door, staring with amazement as a cadre of hotel employees rolled in the biggest selection of clothes she had ever seen, and while she was not entirely caught up in Kyoko's energy, she was swept up in the frantic pace the woman set, trying on outfit after outfit as Kyoko clapped or booed, until she ended up winded and flushed, but dressed in a gorgeous, midnight blue evening dress with sheer material where the shoulders and upper chest should have been.

So dressed, she followed Kyoko – who wore a red version of the same dress – out into the night, refusing to admit that she was, in spite of her strict orders to watch the woman like a hawk… starting to enjoy herself.

Continued…

Author's notes: Nothing to note really, except that they never say what Kyoko did for Gehrin past being involved with Unit 02, so I feel perfectly comfortable having her dabbling in EVA and a few other projects. Besides – what's better than Rei in an evening dress at a bar, eh? EH?

Didn't have a pre-reader on this chapter, either.

Feedback is always welcome on any site with reviewing capabilities, or by e-mailing me directly at random1377(at-sign)yahoo(dot) com.