Misato blinked.
"I what?"
"You have Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia," Ritsuko enunciated, not quite sure exactly how much clearer she could make it. She glanced to her colleague for support. Namika hadn't moved. Her eyes were focused intently on Misato's face.
They're not kidding, Misato thought.
"Okay," she said, mustering the strength to speak calmly, "what do I do now?"
The doctor in Namika took over. "We start you on chemotherapy immediately, preferably by the end of this week," she said, "and we put you on a strict regimen of what you can eat and what you can't. You'll still need to limit what you do for the next two weeks, don't forget. I also want to start interferon therapy, which will slow the reproduction of leukemic cells. If all else fails, we'll try a bone marrow transplant."
Misato looked so stunned that Ritsuko reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. "Remember that you're in good hands, Misato. Namika's not going to let anything happen to you. She's not going to let you die."
The Major smiled then. "Yeah, Miki, who tripped over the power cord and broke all of Professor Nakamura's test tubes in the dark."
Namika blushed, remembering the scolding she had earned herself that unfortunate day.
"I'll find you a pair of crutches for the next few days," she said, changing the topic hastily. I'll arrange with Gendo to work out a compromise so that you can still work at NERV."
"Why is it that he gives into everything you ask for?" Ritsuko muttered.
Namika shrugged. "He likes his employees alive. Misato, I expect you want to speak with Commander Ikari—I'll see you back here in about an hour?"
"Yes."
= = = = = = =
Misato hardly noticed where she was going as she strode out of the hospital, scattering patients and staff alike. The twin doors slid open just in time; had they done so a moment later, she would have slammed into them. She marched back toward the Geofront and came a stop just before the last door. Fear and anger mingled inside her troubled mind, as she paused with one hand on the doorknob. Her hips throbbed with pain.
Miki's made a mistake. I feel perfectly fine.
But even as she mulled over the furious thoughts, the coughing began. Misato hung onto the doorknob with one hand and clamped the other over her mouth. Where are those crutches Miki promised? When the spasms finally subsided, she remained bent over, clinging to the door for balance. Misato felt a strange creeping sensation down her spine. Someone was watching her.
She whirled around to find Rei, standing quietly a short distance away. Her expressionless face betrayed nothing, but Misato easily guessed her mission from the crutches she held.
"Mi—Dr. Ishiyama asked you to bring those, Rei?"
"Yes." She held them out. Misato took them from her hands.
"Thanks."
She nodded, just a simple gesture of acceptance. Misato didn't notice, however; she was busy adjusting the crutches to fit her height. Rei watched quietly, as she had not yet been given permission to leave. The Major leaned against the door, her knuckles already white from gripping the wooden handles.
"Surely all hell will break loose after I tell Asuka and Shinji..."
Rei contemplated this comment. Unlike what most people who knew her might expect, she liked Misato. The Major had never treated her like an object, nor harbored feelings of loathing towards her. She simply didn't know very much about the First, and Rei liked it that way.
Once, in the earlier days of Nerv, before Shinji and Asuka had come, Rei had been roughly ushered into the changing rooms for an urgent sync test. She jumped into her plug suit and hurried out, wondering about the persistent clanking sound that followed her. The young Rei had stood facing Dr. Akagi, with The Commander facing her left side. She chanced a glance at him and saw that his lips had formed an unpleasant line. Had she displeased him, somehow?
"Rei," Dr. Akagi had gestured, rather frostily, "your plug suit."
To her dismay, the girl realized that in her rush, she had failed to zip up her suit properly. The zipper was not pulled up all the way and caused the metal-lined sides to gnash against each other. Rei had reached behind her to fix the mistake—Dr. Akagi was in a rush—but the zipper got caught in her hair, and she could not see it since it was in the back—
"Let me help you with that." Misato had stepped forward smartly and freed the zipper. She zipped it up and, away from Ritsuko and Gendo's glances, patted Rei gently on the back. Rei had barely nodded and hurried away. It was not her place to stay, after all.
Hastily, Rei drew herself out of one of the few memories she treasured.
She had already heard the diagnosis from Dr. Akagi and Dr. Ishiyama earlier, but did not know exactly what it meant. Rei made a mental note to look it up, perhaps the next time her class was shuffled to the school library. However, there were things to take care of here, and Rei made a decision.
"Major Katsuragi?" Her voice was soft and delicate, and for a moment she suspected the Major had not heard. When Misato slowly looked up at her, Rei suddenly reconsidered, and finally decided to stay with her initial choice. "I will tell Pilot Ikari and Pilot Sorhyu."
Have I gone too far? Will Major Katsuragi let me?
To her relief, Misato smiled gratefully. "I would appreciate that, Rei." She repositioned the crutches and gingerly made her way off towards her place behind Makoto's chair. "Thank you."
Rei nodded.
= = = = = = =
She took the train for a short distance, and walked a bit afterwards to reach the building containing the Katsuragi apartment. While she knew that The Commander probably wouldn't mind her actions—he never cared what went on in Misato's apartment, as long as all three pilots could still pilot—Rei could not shake off the feeling of uneasiness. She was a bit concerned; after all, this was the first time she had extended such an offer, much less carried it out. But Misato had looked so thankful that the First Child almost smiled.
She rang the doorbell.
"Can you get it, Asuka?"
"Get it yourself!"
"I'm in the bathroom!"
"THEN HURRY UP!"
Rei waited patiently for Shinji to come to the door.
"Oh, Ayanami." He quickly stepped aside. "Come on in. Sorry... I was in the bathroom."
"I heard," she replied flatly. Shinji blushed.
Asuka marched out a moment later, dressed in a rather revealing blue dress that clashed horribly with her hair. "Where's my dinner, Third Child?"
"Erm... I... haven't made it... yet..."
"BAKA! I told you that I was going shopping with Hikari at six! Now I'll have to call her and cancel! And what is Wondergirl doing here?"
"I came to speak to you and Pilot Ikari."
Asuka blinked, picking up the subtle difference. "'I came to speak'? Not 'I was ordered to speak'? That's quite an achievement, Wondergirl, but whatever it is, it'll have to wait until this BAKA gets my dinner done. Now, I'm off to call Hikari."
Shinji winced at the death glare he received and hurried to the kitchen. "Why don't you stay for dinner, Ayanami?"
"Would it not be awkward for you and Pilot Sorhyu?"
"No, no it wouldn't," Shinji insisted, as he took out pots and pans. Rei watched interestedly as he removed some celery and carrots from the refrigerator and began to peel them. He needed neither cookbook nor measuring instruments—the skills were embedded in his hands and the recipes in his head. "You said you had something to tell us, Ayanami?"
"It would better for Pilot Sorhyu to be present as well," Rei replied smoothly. Shinji nodded acceptingly and turned back to the food. Asuka's angry shouts were clearly audible from her bedroom, and neither wanted to rouse her any further. The Third Child set some water to boil and dropped the sliced vegetables into the pot when bubbles began breaking on the surface.
"Erm... do you want something to do?" Shinji asked awkwardly. "You look kind of bored standing there."
"I would be happy to help, but I am afraid that you must show me what to do."
Under his directions, Rei washed her hands and found herself a large bowl and mixing spoon while he got out the cornmeal and flour. Shinji added those two ingredients along with salt and sugar and other powdered things she didn't recognize, followed by milk. Her job was to stir, and she did so emphatically. Shinji glanced at his watch and decided that there was time for another corn-related recipe, and began blending similar ingredients beside the quiet girl. That silence was interrupted when the Second came in.
"What are YOU doing in the kitchen, Wondergirl?!" she screeched. "I don't intend to eat anything that's been touched by your hands! They're probably sticky with LCL!"
Shinji blanched, but Rei was calm. She slowly set the spoon on the table, and held up both hands with their palms facing out, so that Asuka could see that there was no LCL. Asuka snorted, and Rei retracted her arms, heading for the sink. "If it will please you, Pilot Sorhyu, I will wash my hands again."
Asuka had temporarily run out of insults. It was rather hard to win an argument with someone who did not argue, so she instead turned to Shinji.
"Hikari is coming at seven to pick me up, so you'd better have dinner ready at six-thirty. That gives you... forty minutes." Asuka turned and flounced out of the kitchen.
"Sorry," Shinji mumbled.
"It does not matter." Rei gave the batter a final stir. "What should I do next?"
He found her a metal tray and spread some baking sheets across the surface. Rei brushed them with butter as Shinji spooned out the batter, forming small round circles. When those had been inserted into the oven, he poured his bowl of batter into two identical bread pans and set them to bake.
Rei set the table. Never did she go to such lengths for a meal when she ate alone at home. There was no one to share it with, no one to see her eat. She ate whatever was available wherever she wished to eat, usually on her bed or sitting on the floor. When Asuka strode in for the third time since Rei had arrived, the table was neatly set and Shinji was bringing over steaming bowls of food.
Asuka chose her customary seat and Shinji chose one as far away as possible, leaving Rei to sit between them. Without preamble they ate.
She had learned to observe people quietly without attracting their attention, and Rei exercised this skill now as she waited for the correct moment to break her news. It would be better done before Major Katsuragi came home, and she didn't quite know when that would be. Rei glanced at Shinji, who was timidly taking small bites of his cornbread. She looked in the other direction. Asuka was wolfing down bites of vegetable, probably in a rush so that she could ready herself for shopping.
Rei turned back to her own plate and took a bite of the corn cookies she had helped to make. They were buttery and crispy, and melted in her mouth. She reached for another one, and her hand collided with Asuka's.
"Move it, Wondergirl," she snapped, and Rei obeyed.
Her copper hair flashed in the light as she tossed it back and bit into the cookie. "Didn't you have something to say?"
"Yes," Rei agreed
"Well then, get it over with."
Rei hesitated a moment, trying to decide on the best way to word what she had to say. She was concerned mainly for the Third Child, who after all was much closer to Misato than Asuka. She had promised to protect him, and she knew that this news would wound him.
"Well?"
The Second was getting impatient. Rei decided to be direct.
"Major Katsuragi has Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia."
Shinji dropped his bread, and dove under the table to get it. When he reappeared, his face was white as paper. "How—what—how can that be possible? She's not going to...to..."
His gaze settled on Asuka, who looked perfectly calm and composed... and as Rei noted, her face bore not a hint of surprise.
"You knew?!" Shinji exclaimed.
"Well, wasn't it obvious?" Asuka retorted, but her voice quivered slightly.
"Why didn't you say something?"
"What was I supposed to say? 'Hey Misato, you know, it's kind of obvious that you've got leukemia'?"
There was an uncomfortable pause. He knew what leukemia was. They all did. It was cancer of the blood marrow.
"So what comes next?" Shinji asked fearfully.
"I do not know," Rei replied truthfully. But Asuka had some sort of an idea.
"Chemotherapy, perhaps a bone marrow transplant, but surgery's not really an option," she recited, holding up a finger for each treatment. She dropped her hands in exasperation at the incomprehensive expressions on Shinji and Rei's faces. "Oh come on. Don't tell me you don't know anything about how leukemia is treated."
"Is she coming home tonight?" Shinji asked.
"I don't think so."
Shinji surveyed the table and wondered if his cooking was suitable for a person with leukemia to eat on a daily basis. If she was going to be hospitalized for a long time, perhaps he could bring her some food. He knew from experience that hospital food was not exactly fine cuisine.
The doorbell rang.
= = = = = = =
Namika wanted her hospitalized for the night.
What joy. She had not stayed overnight in a hospital since—well, since they found her after the Second Impact.
Only this time they were showered her constantly with well-meaning advice: she needed to be careful of what she ate and make sure that she got enough nutrition—she was not to eat any of her own cooking, Ritsuko had advised—oh, and regular sleep became a necessity. Namika was eager to start chemotherapy immediately, and Misato was not looking forward to the side effects. She fingered her long purple hair wistfully. It would be hard to lose it, but Namika could not guarantee her that that wouldn't happen.
She was feeling calmer about her diagnosis now. Miki and Ritsuko had fairly high hopes—after all, who could tell before the treatments began? Miki had brought her a wheelchair, which annoyed Misato: surely the doctor could see that she was getting along fine on crutches. Ritsuko pointed out that the soreness would peak in the next few days, and she would not want to have to walk her way down to the bathroom, which was halfway down the hallway.
They wheeled her to a much larger room containing only one bed and a large window that covered most of the far wall. Everything was white, and so brightly clean that it hurt her eyes. Misato got into bed and stared wistfully outside at the blooming gardens while Miki set up a flat-paneled television screen, hanging from the corner of the ceiling.
"There's already a TV in here," Misato pointed out.
"This one's only got one channel," Ritsuko explained, "and you'll be able to see exactly what's going on in the Geofront. Besides, should an angel attack while you're being hospitalized, we'll be able to hear everything you're saying, much like the way we can hear the pilots during a mission. That way you can direct the operation from bed." Ritsuko picked up a small remote on Misato's bedside table and pressed a button. The screen flashed to life. "Maya? Can you hear us?"
"Yes, Sempai," came Maya's voice, slightly altered by the machine. She turned around to face them and waved. "How is Major Katsuragi doing?"
"She's fine. Just testing the system." Ritsuko shut it off. "You can just keep it off at all times unless we call you to turn it in."
Misato was beginning to get suspicious at all the accommodations. "Just how long do you think I'll be in here?"
Ritsuko and Miki exchanged a nervous glance. Misato got annoyed and temporarily lost it. "Damn it, I'm tired of being lied to. Am I going to die or not?"
"No," Miki said emphatically, "and I mean that, Misato. But we don't want you going home tonight partly because we don't want you bothered by the Second Child and more importantly, we don't want you eating any of your own cooking."
"All right." She mulled over the situation. "Can I call Shinji?"
Miki went to fetch her cell phone, which was still sitting in the recovering room with the rest of Misato's belongings. Ritsuko took the opportunity to sit down by her side.
"Shinji and Asuka don't know yet, huh?" she asked quietly.
Misato looked away. "I sent Rei to tell them."
That wasn't right, she thought, as Ritsuko nodded. I didn't send her. Rei offered. It wouldn't make a difference with anyone else, but Rei...
"I wonder how they'll fare tonight without you being there," Ritsuko remarked, a smile creeping onto her face. "I imagine Shinji will be cooking... Asuka will be displeased with whatever it is he makes...and Rei will just sit there in the middle and not comment. Oh, and Pen-pen will finish up your share of beer."
"You know us too well," Misato muttered, cracking a smile. Miki reappeared with the cell phone, and Ritsuko backed out of the room to give her some privacy.
= = = = = = =
"Hello?"
"Shin-chan?"
"Misato-san!" Shinji's voice broke with relief as he sank into the squashy couch, relieved that Asuka was not here to witness his "unmanly" behavior. Her voice was strained and did not hide the tension and exhaustion she was feeling, despite her best efforts.
On the other end, Misato smiled wanly. She fingered the folded edge of her blanket, holding it in place with her thumb and middle finger while running the side of her index finger over, back and forth. "How're you faring alone with Asuka?" She smiled to herself, wishing she could be there to see his blush.
"I-i-its not just Asuka! Ayanami was here earlier. She stayed for dinner."
Very Rei-like to be punctual, Misato thought. "She told you?"
"Yes."
There was a short pause.
"But Asuka knew already."
"How?" Misato exclaimed, surprised. How could Asuka have known? And why... why hadn't she said anything?
"I don't know," Shinji replied, sounding terribly depressed. Misato hated that tone of voice, and tried to cheer him up.
"Hey," she pressed urgently, "I don't know how you survived all those hospital visits on the stuff they serve here. Can you bring me some of your cooking?"
He brightened then. "Of course."
"How's Asuka?"
"She went out shopping with Hikari."
"And Rei?"
"Ayanami went home shortly after dinner."
Pause.
"Misato-san?"
"Hmm?"
"When will you be coming home?"
"I'll be back by tomorrow. Don't worry about me, just don't get yourself killed by Asuka, all right?"
"...all right..."
He didn't sound very convinced, Misato thought, a frown settling on her face. She slid down farther in bed until her toes touched the smooth wooden bedpost and sent a faint sensation of pain through her body.
I wish they'd paint the walls a different color, she thought, before drifting off to sleep.
= = = = = = =
Nozomi would love that bento, Hikari thought, bending close to admire it through the windowpane. The box was shaped like a bird and divided into small sections—the head for rice, and the others for fish and vegetables and other Japanese delicacies. Hikari checked her purse. It would be a wonderful birthday present for her sister; after all, her old box was getting old and worn.
"Asuka, I'm going in here for a minute," she called. The redhead was facing away from her, hands clasped behind her back, her weight balanced on one foot while she tapped the other impatiently on the concrete sidewalk. "Hey, Asuka?"
"Yeah, yeah, go ahead, I'm listening."
Hikari shook her head and didn't question further. If Asuka wanted to tell her about it, she would. She looked through the store's supply of bentos and chose a blue one.
"Thank you," she said to the storekeeper, and came out. Asuka was waiting for her, and seemed eager to keep moving. Hikari looked down at her purchases. So far she had bought a pair of twin ribbons for her hair, a pair of chopsticks for Kodama, and the bento for Nozomi.
Asuka's hands were still empty.
"It isn't like you to windowshop so much," Hikari commented. Asuka was not at all a frugal shopper, and Hikari had spent long hours poring over clothes, debating whether or not Kaji would find it attractive.
The redhead blushed slightly, lowering her head, and Hikari decided to joke a bit with her. "It's not about Ikari-kun, is it?"
Asuka whirled around, her empty hands clenching into fists. "NO! It has NOTHING to do with that—that—baka—it's just..."
Hikari backed away, having never seen such anger directed at her—and especially not from Asuka. Her face was furrowed in anger—anger and frustration, Hikari thought, a quick apology dangling off the tip of her tongue, until Asuka's brows smoothed out and her livid expression slowly faded. Her hands unclenched and went limp as she closed her eyes, and a moment passed before Hikari recognized the look as one of hopelessness.
"Hikari..." Asuka whispered, "Misato has leukemia."
Instinctively Hikari gasped, pressing her hands to her mouth before realizing that that was not the reaction Asuka would have liked to see. "Oh, Asuka... but she'll be all right, won't she?"
Asuka glanced down the street.
Nobody noticed the two schoolgirls standing on the sidewalk. There were huge crowds of businessmen dressed in fancy suits, recently freed from their offices, heading out for a drink with their friends. A young mother led her child out of a shop while the boy cried and flailed his arms angrily, apparently disappointed that his mother wouldn't buy him the toy he wanted. Asuka drew in her skirt as they passed.
"Sorry," she apologized.
Asuka nodded and looked back up. The clouds were darkening. It was time for a summer storm.
"I don't know..."
It was unlike Asuka to be so indecisive and vulnerable, Hikari thought. She took the lead, looping her arm firmly around Asuka's. They walked down the street and avoided crowded areas. Perhaps she was being selfish, Hikari thought, but she didn't know this Asuka, and the new girl scared her. I want the old Asuka back!
She noticed a dress that Asuka was sure to like and dragged her inside.
"Try it on!" she urged. The skirt was pleated and the top half consisted of a v-shaped neckline and long sleeves. The entire garment was dyed a passionate shade of maroon.
Asuka was reluctant. "It's summer... and this thing has long sleeves."
"Oh, that would look just lovely on you!" the salesperson gushed, swooping down on them. "You certainly can't make a decision until you've tried it on! Go on, the fitting room is just over there." She placed an arm around the redhead's shoulder and led her over, showed her in, and pulled the curtain shut behind her.
"And what can I help you with?" she asked Hikari.
"Nothing," Hikari replied quickly. "I'll just wait for her." She gestured toward the curtain.
I don't need a dress right now, Asuka thought. She tugged on the zipper of her school uniform. It was stuck in her hair and refused to move either up or down. Asuka ripped out the offending strands and tried again. The back of her dress split neatly into two sides.
This is more like something Misato would wear.
The thought made her anxious again. For all the indifference she showed toward her commander, Asuka had grown to care. All the shields and barriers she had set up against the Japanese world—she was German, for goodness's sake—Misato had gently broken through all of them. Her drunkenness, her lack of appropriate clothing... what would we do without Misato? Asuka slid into the dress and tied the straps at her shoulders.
"Are you done?" Hikari called.
"Yeah, give me a minute."
Asuka stepped out and obligingly twirled. The skirt fluttered about like butterfly wings and came back to a rest around her legs.
"Oh, it's just lovely," the saleslady gasped, clutching her hands together. "Do come over here and look in the mirror."
"It does look very nice, Asuka," Hikari added.
It'd look nicer on Misato.
"It's a little big," she commented, pinching in the sides.
Maybe I should get it as a Christmas present for her.
"I can fix that," Hikari pressed.
If she's still alive then.
"No," Asuka ground out, "no, I don't want it." She tuned out all the protests and closed her eyes. I don't want to be reminded of Misato every time I wear it. Damn it, why do I EVEN CARE?!
"Shame," she heard someone say, "it looks rather nice on you."
The voice was masculine... and familiar...
... "Mr. Kaji!" Hikari exclaimed.
She opened her eyes to see him directly behind her in the mirror. Asuka knew immediately from his easy, nonchalant smile that he didn't yet know about Misato. She smiled too, not wanting him to see how upset she was.
Kaji swept Hikari up into a big bear hug before putting her down again. "You really should get it," he assured Asuka. "It brings out the color of your hair even more than it usually does."
She loved compliments from Kaji more than anyone else. Compliments from boys her age were a waste of her time. But then again...he couldn't know about Misato, or he wouldn't be making that sort of comment.
"No," she heard herself say, "I really don't think I'm going to get it."
They went for ice cream afterwards in a small outdoor café, shielded from the pouring rain by a large tri-colored umbrella. Asuka had strawberry and Hikari chose vanilla, while Kaji ordered a large chocolate cone for himself. Kaji pulled over another chair and wiped it dry, and the three seated themselves around the round table.
"You remember the time we brought ice cream on a summer boat ride in Germany?" Kaji reminded her, biting into his ice cream. He studied the dent for some time, while Asuka looked confused. "When you decided to take some out at noon and all that was left was chocolate syrup?"
"And I got it all over my hands," Asuka remembered then, cracking a small smile.
"Now, you're not getting out of telling the rest of the story," Kaji grinned. "Go on, tell Hikari what you did next."
"Kaji!" Asuka shouted, blushing, but Kaji simply laughed and managed to lean out of her reach while she attempted to cover his mouth.
"What happened?" Hikari asked, rather enjoying herself.
"She tried to get a napkin to wipe her hands off, and in getting up f—mmph!—ell over onto me, got choc—ouch!—chocolate handprints all over my shirt, and tipped the boat over."
Hikari giggled.
"Okay, okay, you can get off of me now... people are beginning to stare."
Asuka noted (with satisfaction) two pink handprints on the front of his shirt. She had rather liked doing that.
The table fell back into silence. Kaji finished his ice cream first, despite having eaten more than both of the girls put together. Hikari finished next and let her spoon fall to the ceramic bowl with a soft clang.
"Hey, this isn't like you," Kaji commented, watching Asuka stab her remaining ice cream with a spoon and flip it over. "Haven't you beat up any guys in school recently, or broken another swimming record, the last six of which were set by none other than the famous Sorhyu Asuka Langley?"
"Seven," she corrected him.
"All right, seven then." He watched, waiting for a response.
On any occasion Asuka would probably have laughed and thrown her arms around him, but today she only flipped the ice cream one last time and sighed. It was almost all melted. "Hey, Kaji... you haven't heard about Misato yet, have you?"
"Drunk again?"
"No." She held her voice steady. "She has leukemia."
Hikari watched dreadfully as Kaji froze.
"You can't be serious," he insisted, but a moment later shook his head. "No, it all makes sense. The bruising, the collapsing, the not being able to breathe..."
Asuka watched him, hating every moment of it. This was not the Kaji she knew, the one who liked to joke around and annoy Misato by occasionally hinting of Ritsuko. Kaji was not smiling. He had temporarily hidden his face in his hands, but a moment later he was looking up again.
"Mr. Kaji?" Hikari ventured tentatively. He looked at her and smiled.
"She'll be fine," he reassured them. "Come on, think about the things Katsuragi has survived. Second Impact," he began, counting on his fingers. "Numerous Angel attacks. Enough alcohol to kill anyone several times over. Her own cooking.
"And living with you, of course," he teased, elbowing Asuka. "A bit of cancer is nothing compared to that."
"HEY!"
Hikari had to laugh despite the seriousness of the situation. "Do you think there's anything we can do for her?"
Kaji grinned. "Bring her a meal once in awhile. I've heard from Shinji that hospital food is the only thing that can rival Katsuragi's cooking."
= = = = = = =
She woke sometime in the night after a series of fitful dreams, ranging from Second Impact to the dirty laundry at home. At least Shinji would take care of the latter.
Misato looked around her, disliking the unfamiliar room. Just one night, she told herself. Then I can go home. The room was dark and silent, save for the humming machines and their eerie green lights. Green is good, Misato thought humorlessly to herself. Don't turn red on me.
There was a bit of light streaming in from the hallway, and she used it to look for a clock.
They put two TV's in here, but no clock!?
Her cell phone should have the time.
Misato felt around blindly on the table for it. The tiny machine slipped through her fingers and smashed on the tiled floor with a loud clatter.
"Damn it..."
There were voices outside her door now. At least one belonged to a female. Although she didn't know why, Misato felt as if she had broken some invisible rule by being awake, and drew the blankets up to her nose.
It's cold, she thought, as the voices died away, followed by a set of clicking noises that could only be high heels. Ritsuko, or maybe Miki? Her doorknob creaked, sending shivers of fear down her spine. She could have cried out in relief as the dark shadow opened her door, looked outside, and quickly shut it behind him. She recognized him instantly.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
"I wanted to come see you, but Rit-chan had to be all bossy and not let me in. And then Namika shows up and—"
Misato put a finger to his lips to silence him. "It's way past visitor's hours, you know," she whispered. "But I'm glad you came."
"It's only two in the morning." She could tell by his silhouette that he was grinning. Kaji leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.
"How'd you find out?"
"Asuka. Ran into her while shopping."
"I can't really see you and Asuka shopping in the same store," she replied dryly.
Kaji snickered.
"Is there anything you want me to do for you?"
"Shinji and Asuka will be fine," she said thoughtfully, "they've survived the night without me before—and Shinji will tend to Pen-pen."
"I'm talking about you, not them."
"Then no."
The door opened and Misato shaded her eyes from the sudden flow of light. Namika stepped in and in angry shouts, demanded that Kaji leave at once.
"All right, all right, I'm going. Stop yelling—you don't want to wake up the rest of your patients, do you?" He held up his hands in a mock don't-shoot-me pose, and at the doorway gave Misato a salute. Fuming, Namika pushed him out.
Misato smiled happily. The next thing she saw was the sunrise.
= = = = = = =
"Good morning, Asuka."
"Hey," she muttered, which was a nice improvement from "BAKA, where's my breakfast!?", and went into the bathroom. Shinji shrugged and continued making pancakes, setting aside a large batch to bring to the hospital for Misato.
She's coming home today, Shinji thought, flipping the last of Asuka's pancakes onto her plate. He found the butter and cut three perfect slices to match the golden stack. I should ask Ritsuko what I should cook for her.
In another room of the Katsuragi apartment, Asuka found her favorite comb—a present from Kaji, when she had first been selected as an Eva pilot—and drew it slowly through the long copper locks, watching herself in the mirror. How proud she was of that hair, that lustrous color...
"Asuka," Shinji called, "your breakfast's ready."
"Coming!"
She didn't show up until fifteen minutes later, however; by then her pancakes were cold and Shinji was already done with his. Misato's were tied up in a large cloth napkin. Asuka sighed.
"Couldn't you have reheated them?!"
"S-sorry..."
Shinji managed to escape Asuka's frustration for the time being by slipping into Misato's room and sliding the door shut behind him. He could at least neaten up her room and make it semi-suitable for living when she came home.
Her bed was unmade, the blanket lying halfway across the room and her pillow at the other end. Dirty laundry—or maybe it was clean, he really couldn't tell—covered the floor. Shinji had taken only one step when something sharp and metallic found its way into the sole of his foot. He bent down to see that it was an earring; the back piece was nowhere to be found. Slowly, his eyes came back to the bed, or what was left of it.
That's a place to begin, Shinji thought, and folded her blanket into a neat pile before stacking the pillow on top. As for the clothes...Shinji picked up a wad of material and quickly dropped it upon realizing what a revealing, translucent piece it was. He glanced cautiously toward the closed door, shuddering at the thought of what Asuka would do to him if she found that in his hands. The Third Child glanced back at it. Surely he had time to take just a tiny glimpse... it wouldn't take more than a second... no, he'd better not get caught with that. Shinji tossed it into the overflowing laundry basket beside the door. When the floor was once again visible, he returned his attention to the earring.
He'd never paid any attention to earrings before. They were just... well, they were those little dangling things that hung from girls' ears. Shinji ran his finger over the smooth white pearl. He couldn't imagine having two holes in his ears. Despite all the physical damage he had sustained over the months from piloting Eva—holes in his ears did not sound like fun. Shinji dropped the earring onto the dresser top and instinctively covered his ears.
The door slid open behind him.
"What now, baka? And—"Asuka's face developed a funny expression when he turned around. "Did you just stab yourself in both ears?"
"No," protested Shinji, feeling rather foolish as he lowered his hands.
Asuka blinked.
"Well then, hurry up," she snapped, and slammed the door. It bounced open again upon hitting the wall, and Shinji followed quietly.
They argued all the way to Nerv. Asuka told Shinji he ought to walk with his back straight, and Shinji muttered a comment about Asuka's back being so woodenly straight that he could iron clothes on it. This drew the fury of the Second Child, who immediately smacked him in the back of the head and complained in a loud voice about the repulsive feeling that his hair left on her hand. Shinji, who was temporarily at a loss for things to say, called a truce until they boarded the train. The old man on his left side snored loudly and shifted position so that he was nearly leaning on the Third Child, who leaned toward Asuka in a domino-like fashion.
"ECCHI! GET AWAY FROM ME!"
She pushed Shinji away with all the strength she had. That force not only knocked Shinji back where he belonged, it knocked him off his chair—along with the old man who had been peacefully sleeping.
"S-s-sorry..." Shinji groaned, awkwardly climbing off of the old man and clutching Misato's pancakes to his chest with one hand.
"Damn kids," the man grumbled. A moment later he was asleep again.
"You're staining your shirt," Asuka pointed out.
Shinji let out a groan as he lifted up Misato's pancakes and noticed that the grease had indeed left a large oily stain on his shirt. A young child who had watched the whole escapade pointed at him and laughed. The Third Child shrank inwardly into his seat.
"She probably wouldn't even be alive if it wasn't for us," Asuka muttered out of the corner of her mouth. Shinji looked up, surprised at the unexpected support.
Fifteen minutes later they tumbled out of the train and made their way to the Geofront, where Ritsuko was waiting. Her eyes came to rest on the dark spot on Shinji's shirt; Shinji, feeling compelled to say something, quickly asked, "Shall we go change into our plugsuits?"
"Not yet," Ritsuko said, and Maya gently shifted her sitting position.
"Where's Misato?" Asuka asked. "Isn't she coming home today?"
Ritsuko hesitated for a moment. "No, she's not."
Shinji's heart sank.
"As a matter of fact, that's what I need to speak to you about. Major Katsuragi may not be 'coming home' for quite a while," Ritsuko explained, and waited for a moment to gauge the expression of the pilots. Shinji simply looked heartbroken, while Asuka appeared shocked. "Therefore... we need to place the two of you with a temporary guardian until she is healthy enough to return."
Until, Shinji's brain reminded him. Not If. That means she'll be okay.
Asuka mulled over this for a while. "Who?"
Ritsuko made a jabbing gesture over her shoulder. "Maya."
= = = = = = =
"What do you mean I can't go home today?!"
Namika sighed and drew the blanket back over her indignant patient. "Really, Misato, you're worse than some of the children I've had to treat. Look—the sooner you get better, the sooner you can go home."
"What about Shinji and Asuka?"
"They're being relocated."
"Relocated?!"
"Calm down!" Namika studied the panel of jagged green lines, a definite frown settling in on her face. "I promise you, Ritsuko won't put them anywhere that you wouldn't approve of. And you three can go back to living on beer and instant food as soon as you're up to it."
"Relocated... like Eva units," Misato growled. Namika ignored the comment and handed her a pill. "What's that?"
"Chemotherapy."
"Oh."
She took it with a glass of water while Namika watched.
"Do you want the Geofront TV on?" she asked quietly, trying to be as understanding as she could. "At least you'll be able to see them."
"And have them see me in this condition? Hell no." Misato sighed and almost choked back a tear. "This is so frustrating. I want to be home with Shinji and Asuka and Pen-pen. I'm sorry I spent so much time drunk and neglecting them when I had the time."
Shigeru poked his head in at that moment, breaking the spell. "Dr. Ishiyama? Shinji sent these down for Misato. He said that they were for breakfast, and that he was sorry they were a bit late, and that he was also sorry they were rather squashed."
Misato had to smile at Shinji's thoughtfulness. Namika, however, looked thoughtful. "Shigeru, may I see that?"
He handed her the greasy napkin with a bow. The doctor untied the simple knot and the soft fragrance of buttered pancakes drifted out. Misato inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, almost imagining that she was back home. She was snapped back into reality when Namika stood up—with the pancakes—and made no effort to give them to her.
"Sorry, Misato, but this really isn't the sort of thing you should be eating now," Namika told her quietly. The look of disappointment on the Major's face was almost too much for her to bear and she turned away. "I'll bring you something to read in a few minutes...to...take away some of the boredom."
But Misato was already facing the opposite wall, not meeting her gaze.
= = = = = = =
"Yes, with Maya," Ritsuko said sternly, since Maya's cheeks were beginning to color after Asuka loudly voiced her disagreements.
"That's ridiculous! Shinji and I have gotten along fine plenty of times in the past without Misato! Right, Shinji?"
Shinji thought of what had happened that morning. "Well—"
Asuka kicked him. "Point is, we don't need a guardian to look after us! Besides, why hasn't Wondergirl been assigned one all this time?"
"Go ask The Commander about that," Ritsuko returned coldly. Maya's cheeks were nearly flaming by now, and she looked as if she would like nothing better than to run and hide under the desk. "We'll only be running one sync test today. After that, you'll be heading back to Misato's apartment to pack up whatever you need for an unlimited stay at Maya's house."
"This is ridiculous," Asuka growled.
But it didn't really sink in until she came out of the LCL-filled plug and saw two large trucks waiting outside of the Geofront, each with the NERV logo splashed across their sides.
"Does it look like enough to bring all your things?" Ritsuko came up behind her with a cup of coffee. "Go on, get in, they'll drive you over back to Misato's and over to Maya's after you load them up."
"Fine. But I'm not sitting next to that baka." Asuka surveyed the two trucks and chose the one to her right. "You take that one." She jabbed a finger to the left.
Shinji sighed resignedly and climbed into the passenger's seat.
Maya came to Ritsuko's side. "Do you really think it will work out, Sempai?"
"Oh, I expect so."
= = = = = = =
"NERV has provided extra beds and furniture," Ritsuko informed them. Her voice came blaring out of the speakerphone, occasionally resulting in a high-pitched squeal. "So all you need are your clothes and any personal items."
Shinji surveyed his room and couldn't imagine what he needed to bring. His entire wardrobe filled up only one cardboard box—and that was with his SDAT and school materials added. I wonder what Maya's home looks like? The Third Child picked up his box and exited his room.
It was his turn to be shocked.
He couldn't quite make it out of his room. Several dozen large cardboard boxes had been stacked between his room and the apartment door. From behind them he heard Asuka's voice, no doubt directing the agents to carry her boxes out to the truck.
"Asuka?" he called.
"What do you want?" One of the boxes shifted slightly, just enough so that Asuka's angry face peeped out at him.
"What is all this stuff?!"
"Oh, my clothes, my hair things, my books, my school materials, my photo albums from Germany..." Asuka counted them on her fingers. Shinji shifted uncomfortably. "Just sit and wait until they finish loading! It won't take that long!"
Fifteen minutes later, Asuka's wall had finally disappeared and Shinji crossed the threshold out of Misato's apartment. No agents came to help him, so he carried his box downstairs alone, only to see that the backs of both trucks were shut and secured.
"B-but..." he stuttered.
"Sorry, kid," the driver shrugged. "We ran out of room."
He climbed into the front seat, followed by Pen-pen.
Having no choices left, Shinji sat in the passenger seat with his box on his lap. Being one of those large cardboard boxes originally used to hold a well-sized microwave oven, it blocked most of his view. Consequently the Third Child, who had quite been looking forward to the ride, was unable to see anything and had no idea where they were when the trucks stopped.
= = = = = = =
Maya lived alone in a second-story apartment not far from the Geofront. It was small but cozy, and she liked it that way. The apartment contained five rooms in total—two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a sitting room. She used the spare bedroom only when Ritsuko happened to be working late and stayed overnight at her home (her own house was much farther away) but now that would be Shinji's temporary room. She and Asuka, being the two females, would share her bedroom. NERV had taken care of all expenses for her, and now there were two identical beds squeezed into Maya's tiny bedroom.
She had hurried home to tidy things up while the pilots packed, and was now sitting on a faded green couch, sipping tea to calm herself. Her gaze fell on the family heirloom, a china vase her mother had passed down to her only a few weeks before her untimely death. Maya felt a twinge of loneliness and looked away. It would be nice to be living with other human beings again.
She heard a faint humming that grew louder and louder before stopping outside her window, followed by the loud demands of the Second Child. Maya opened the door to her balcony and exited, slowly making her way down the stairs.
Please, don't let me have made a mistake in bringing them here.
"Hello, Asuka," she smiled. "Can I help you with that?"
"Nope, I'm fine...where's my room?"
Maya showed her into their room. "Do you mind sharing with me?" she asked tentatively. Asuka let the box fall to the ground with a thud and stated that she didn't mind. But where could she put all her clothes? The remaining space in Maya's closet wouldn't hold twenty percent of her clothing.
Shinji's room, it turned out, was the next best place to put Asuka's things. The remainder of her clothes went into his closet, her hair things in a cabinet under the sink, and her memories of Germany remained in the box beside her pillow. Maya had already tripped over it twice.
She made tea for the pilots, hoping that it would help them settle in. Asuka sat opposing her, and Shinji sat between them. Pen-pen seated himself comfortably on the floor. Maya searched for a topic.
"Do... do you like my home?" she asked.
"It's very nice," Shinji commented, as if he were forced to say so.
Asuka considered the question. "It's not as big or as homelike as Misato's apartment," she said thoughtfully, and took a deep sip of tea. "But it's very cozy...and I like the color of the walls. Especially the blue of our room."
Maya smiled, relieved. She'd especially liked the fact that Asuka had commented on her walls. Unknown to her comrades at NERV, she loved color and had each room done in a different shade. Her own room was blue, while Shinji's was green. The bathroom curtains, towels, and rug came in varying shades of pink and red.
She smiled all through the evening, exceptionally happy that things had worked out nicely. Shinji helped her cook, and she was delighted to learn of several new techniques and recipes from him. Asuka remained in her room studying, explaining that she had to earn a one hundred on her next science test. Conversations were civil all through dinner. Ritsuko called around ten and Maya, beaming with excitement, told her the good news and invited her over the next day. The doctor readily agreed, since they were not expected at NERV tomorrow—it was Saturday.
Unfortunately, all was due to change the next morning.
Maya slept late, something she hardly ever did, and was awakened by a heavy textbook landing on her face. The impact instantly started a nosebleed; by the time her eyes were fully open, blood was streaming down her face.
"Damn it! Where is it?!"
Maya looked to her left and saw Asuka bending over a box with her legs slightly apart and throwing things over her shoulder. She ducked from a calculator and crawled over to the side for cover. The clock read 10:43. Ritsuko will be here any minute, Maya thought frantically. Another notebook came sailing her way and she ducked just in time.
"Ashuka--!"
Asuka made a strange movement that consisted of pivoting around the waist but not shifting her legs, so that she could see Maya. The poor girl's shirt was nearly soaked and she looked as if she had been drinking blood. The Second Child's eyes popped wide open before she ran out of the room, muttering something about towels.
The Third had gotten up before either of the females and seeing that neither was awake (or so he thought), had begun making breakfast. Surely Maya won't mind if I do a little cooking here; she didn't mind last night, and she actually has a refrigerator complete with vegetables and fruit...
Shinji flipped the second omelette onto a plate and began carrying the first two breakfasts toward the coffee table, stepping around the couch where Pen-pen lay fast asleep. At that moment Asuka came racing out of Maya's bedroom, and Shinji had a brief vision of red hair before he was knocked to the floor. Both plates smashed and one sizzling hot omelette landed on Pen-pen's stomach. The penguin let out a shriek and jumped up.
Maya managed to make her way out of her room just in time to see Pen-pen collide with the wooden shelf. Her precious china vase wobbled and fell, shattering on the floor.
And that was when Ritsuko strolled in, carrying a sack of oranges.
= = = = = = =
It occurred to Shinji that he had never seen Maya cry. Worried, angry, and panicked he had witnessed, but not tears. Yet here she sat, salty tears of hurt mingling with the blood, which continued to flow unchecked.
Ritsuko helped her to her feet and got her to the bathroom, closing the door behind her and leaving Asuka, Shinji, and Pen-pen outside. The penguin found some comfort in eating up the remains of the omelettes and Shinji busied himself with sweeping up the broken pieces of the vase. He hadn't known how much sentimental value it held for Maya, but now that it was gone he felt dreadfully guilty for his part in breaking it. Shinji sneaked a glance at Asuka. She had been watching him, but quickly looked away.
At least you have something to do, Asuka thought. Her hands were fumbling with each other, itching to find something with which to occupy themselves. Right now she was unneeded, and she couldn't see Maya ever wanting them inside her home again. The redhead crossed her legs, an uneasy expression coming over her face as she thought that Maya would certainly kick them out.
In the next room, Ritsuko kept the water running while Maya mopped unenthusiastically at her face.
"Do you think you can deal with them until we find another temporary home?" she asked.
"Y-you're going to move them?"
"Well, it doesn't particularly look like this is the best place for them ... or you, for that matter. Imagine if this happened during an Angel attack. We can't take such risks," Ritsuko told her quietly. Maya nodded imperceptibly and whispered an apology.
"Don't apologize," Ritsuko told her firmly. "And we'll keep this incident from the Major, all right?"
Maya nodded again. Ritsuko hugged her and stepped outside. Maya looked up in the mirror, hating the blotchiness of her face. As nice as it would be to live in peace, she would miss the one day of company she had spent with the pilots. The thought of the vase crept into her mind, and she strangled a sob in the towel. What was worse that she had failed in two of her most important duties: respecting the wishes of her long-gone mother, and protecting the interests of NERV.
= = = = = = =
Makoto offered to take them—a little too eagerly, Ritsuko thought, as she put down the phone. She had thought she'd heard a side comment from Shigeru about impressing Misato, but wasn't sure. Two teenagers and a penguin—no problem, Makoto had insisted. Bring them over anytime.
She went to visit Misato, whose spirits were quite low.
The Major was flipping through channels, alternating between live news and pre-Second-Impact movies. A yellowing copy of Daphne duMaurier's Rebecca lay on her bedside table, next to her cell phone. Ritsuko noted from the positioning of her bookmark that she had read through a good part of it.
"The world never changes, does it?" Misato sighed, turning off the news and lying back across her bed. "Robbery, murder, corruption the like. How depressing."
She looked away from Ritsuko's face and glanced out the window, where sunlight was streaming in—but didn't quite reach her bedside.
"How're Shinji and Asuka?" she asked.
"They're fine. They're moving in with Hyuga tomorrow."
"Really? I thought the plan was Maya."
Ritsuko hesitated. "It changed...without reason."
Misato chuckled. "That's just like Commander Ikari. I'm not surprised."
Ritsuko was relieved that Misato hadn't guessed the actual reason, and did not bother to defend The Commander. "How's Miki treating you?"
"She took away my pancakes," Misato grumbled, suddenly grumpy again, "and replaced it with this damn thing." She picked morosely at the IV running into her left arm.
"I'm sorry about that."
There was a pause in which both attempted to find something to say.
"Have you talked to Kaji recently?"
Ritsuko scowled. "Not since Namika and I had to kick him out of your room."
"He has a NERV card, so he can get in here pretty much anytime he wants. The only things between him and me are you and Miki."
"And we're stronger than any locked door," Ritsuko proclaimed, drawing a small smile from Misato.
Pause.
"Hey Ritsuko?"
"Mmhmm?"
"When do you think I can go home?"
Ritsuko hesitated. Technically, Misato could go home anytime now—for only a short period—and she'd have to inject herself everyday with interferon, which would get rid of her leukemic symptoms and replace them with flu-like effects ("Wonderful tradeoff, isn't it," Misato had replied sardonically). The trouble was that there was no one at home to take care of her. Shinji would be busy with school and NERV duties, and neither of the doctors favored leaving her with the Second. The best place, Namika kept arguing, was where she was now, where the doctors could keep a constant eye on her. Miki took care of all the shots herself.
"I don't know," she replied finally. "But I'll arrange for Asuka and Shinji and Rei to stop by after they finish testing once in awhile."
"All right."
Misato picked up her copy of Rebecca and read for some time while Ritsuko perused the latest data in a chair beside her. Less than fifteen minutes had passed before Misato drifted calmly off to sleep. Gently, Ritsuko removed the book from her hands, replaced the bookmark, and left the room.
When Misato woke hours later, there was a large glass vase of brilliantly colored flowers beside her and a card pressed under it, with her name machine-printed on the envelope. She wondered who would have bothered to hide his or her identity so carefully. The yellow lilies wafted their sweet scent toward her, and she took the time to bend one down to her nose before fumbling for the card. The envelope was unsealed.
Missed you—
Followed by a scribbled signature that was imprinted in Misato's mind.
The Major slid down in bed and pressed the letter against her chest, tears leaking out of the corners of her eyes.
She wondered how he'd managed to evade Ritsuko and Namika yet again.
= = = = = = =
"Is all that stuff really hers, or does some of it belong to the penguin?" Makoto asked, staring wide-eyed at the two truckloads. "There's no way all of this is going to fit in my apartment."
His place was even smaller than Maya's, and he'd made a credible effort to clean up what seemed like years' worth of laundry and food stains on the carpet. Ritsuko had surveyed the apartment ahead of time and decided that his bedroom—the only bedroom—would belong to Asuka. He and Shinji could share the main room. She drove the extra bed over from Maya's herself.
"It's...all...hers..." Shigeru ground out as he climbed the last few steps, balancing a large box between his hands.
Ritsuko left the two men in the apartment and stepped onto the balcony. Looking down from twenty-one stories up, the Second Child simply resembled a large ball of fire.
"Asuka," she called loudly. The girl tipped her head back to look up. "You can't bring all that stuff up here!"
"Why not? I—"
The rest of her words were carried away by the wind, which blew shut the balcony door behind her. Ritsuko waited for it to die down before shouting, "There isn't enough room!"
The wind started up again. The doctor sighed and whirled around, banging on the door. Makoto opened it for her. Some time later she arrived at the bottom of the building and ordered the agents to put down their boxes where they lay.
"Asuka, there's barely enough room up there for three people, let alone all your boxes. Ninety percent of this is going to have to go. You can travel back to Misato's to get whatever you want anytime, but all of this stuff is ridiculous."
Asuka growled and considered. The German souvenirs ended up going back, as did three quarters of her wardrobe. Still, that left seven hefty boxes to be carried up. Shinji, who had to carry only his box and Pen-pen's belongings (which consisted of his food bowl and a few cans of beer), was already on his way up. Ritsuko had agreed to bring over Pen-pen's refrigerator, since he had not liked the night on Maya's couch.
"Hi, Hyuga-san," Shinji ventured nervously.
"Hey, welcome to my home." Makoto spread his arms wide in a beckoning gesture. "Just clothes and stuff in there?"
"Yes."
Clothing became an issue again. As usual, Asuka's wardrobe (even trimmed down as it was) took up Makoto's entire closet. He and Shinji, finally deciding that they really didn't care if their clothes were wrinkled, decided to use cardboard boxes for the time being. Besides, it would save Shinji from having to unpack. They chose to place Pen-pen's food bowl in the kitchen.
It was dark by the time they were all fed and settled in. Shigeru and Ritsuko had stayed for dinner, and were getting ready to head back to their respective homes.
"Watch out for yourself," the doctor cautioned Makoto as she slipped her shoes on. "We don't want a reoccurrence of what happened to Maya."
"Hai!" Makoto saluted proudly. "We will be fine."
Ritsuko smiled and followed Shigeru out.
Shinji took the bed at Makoto's insistence, and the technician took the couch. Within moments he was fast asleep, but the Third Child lay wide awake with his hands folded behind his head.
Another unfamiliar ceiling, he thought gloomily. He flipped over onto his side and another thought occurred to him.
This bed smells like Asuka's shampoo.
= = = = = = =
"Do you really think he's all right?" Maya asked.
"Well, no one's heard from him since Saturday..." Ritsuko bent over to look at the screen and frowned at what she saw. "Although I'm sure Shinji would have called if something happened."
"He's quite late."
"I know." I should've called him this morning to check that he was still alive, Ritsuko thought.
Several minutes passed before Makoto Hyuga pushed open the door and sank heavily into his chair. Ritsuko noticed deep, dark circles under both eyes. There was a "hmph" from behind her, and she turned to see that the Second and Third Children were glaring daggers at each other.
"Are you getting along all right?" Ritsuko asked the technician.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah we're fine, we're—we're good."
Ritsuko raised her eyebrows.
Makoto blushed and quickly looked away, focusing on his computer panel. Ah damn it... what does this mean again? He rubbed his eyes and stared harder.
"Having trouble playing the Major's part?" Shigeru reached over and tapped the appropriate keys. The red screen disappeared.
"... no...well...you could say that..."
Ritsuko frowned and looked at The Commander's seat, today occupied by Fuyutsuki.
Something is wrong, she thought. Something's going to happen.
= = = = = = =
"You are sure it's here, right?"
"Well... I've never come here while being fully conscious..."
"Baka!" Asuka punched him. Shinji went flying into a door, which promptly rattled under his weight and set off a blaring alarm.
"Damn..."
Shinji sighed. He and Asuka continued making their way through the complicated hallways, the former rubbing the back of his head painfully. They rounded a corner and spotted a young brunette striding down the hallway. Her high heels clicked sharply over the sound of the alarm and the bottom of her white lab coat swished over her legs.
"Excuse me," Shinji whimpered, "where's the entrance to the hospital?"
She blinked. "This way."
They followed her for some distance before Asuka unplugged her ears long enough to ask the woman to shut off the alarm. She explained that that couldn't be done until the source of infiltration had been discovered, and Shinji quickly volunteered that information. Several minutes later all was silent, save for her heels.
"Who is she?" Asuka whispered to Shinji.
"I don't know..." The doors slid open to admit them.
There was no reception desk. After all, people did not call in to arrange an appointment here. Asuka looked around curiously, but Shinji kept following the brunette lady, not quite sure how she knew where they were headed—or if she did at all.
"She's in here." She held the door wide open, and Shinji heard someone cough.
"What is it, Miki?"
Asuka hesitated. Shinji placed a hand on her shoulder (this was the one time he wouldn't be killed for doing so) and gently steered her into the room.
Author's Notes: Hm... I really have nothing to say. Drop me and review and tell me how I'm doing.
