IMPORTANT NOTICE: PLEASE READ AUTHOR'S NOTE BELOW

Disclaimer: I don't own NGE, Gainax does, Hideaki Anno and that other American company called I forgot.

Title: Temptation Island Author: Scarabeye 3000 Chapter Seven: Day Five Time to Play the Game

Pre-reading done by DEMDEM

Room 403 – Children's room

Shinji awoke with a start; the scene last night was too much that he felt tired and immediately fell asleep on their soft bed. But somehow, when he was going to pry the two girls away from him. Upon which he grew accustomed to in the last few days, realized in fact that he couldn't even move his feet. Moving his hands more he heard a tingling of steel to steel and looked up to see his hands cuffed to the bed.

Groaning inside he shook his body with gentle force, causing the two girls cuddling him to rise slowly and look at him. "Well?" he looked up and motioned at his cuffs, " What are these for?"
Asuka stifled a yawn and stretched, "You were getting out of our reach every morning, so I borrowed some hand cuffs from Doctor Akagi."
Rei nodded beside her and kissed him in the cheek, "Good Morning, though it is unusual for a Doctor to have handcuffs. We did not press the matter further, but I must say that I am satisfied that you did not get away this morning."

The 2nd Child nodded and looked down to see something, "Oh Shinji, you have 'morning wood' again."

Shinji blushed madly, 'Oh no… '

"Hey Rei," Asuka's eyes glimmered mischievously, "Ever wonder what is his 'capacity'?"

The passive 1st Child nodded, "Though I have never had the chance, this might be a very good time to find out."
"No… wait- I… wait a minute," he sweats as Asuka starts to unbutton his shorts.

"HELP!"

Outside Misato heard Shinji's fleeting call for help as Kaji pulled her to one side.
"Where do you think you're going Misa-chan?"
"Oof! Let me go you pervert!" she said struggling, "Will you let me go? I just heard Shinji screaming help again."

"HELP!"
"Hmm," Kaji rubbed his chin, "Maybe you're right, let's peek in the Children's room ok?"

"Why do you sound excited Mr. Ryouji?" Misato leered, "This will not be a peep show ok!"
"Whatever you say," he said throwing away his hands up in defeat, "But wouldn't it be exciting… "

"Oh shut up… "

The door to Shinji's room flew open as Misato, since the vacation started to carry an extra key to all the children's rooms. Hearing the door flew open and the stomping of feet, Asuka hurriedly finished her work. What Misato saw made her gawk like a fish and her face drained of blood. Because there he was, Shinji half-naked in the middle of the bed cuffed and gagged wiggling to get out. With Asuka holding two candles and Rei on one side ready to whip-crack a whip.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU TWO!" Misato screamed.

"What?" Asuka said innocently, "We were just gonna have some fun with Shinji here."
Misato walked over to the bed and freed him; taking his shorts back Shinji dressed himself to be decent enough to face the other two adults.

"What do you mean 'what'?" the Major pointed at Shinji, "If he hadn't screamed and I hadn't barged in… Oh god, I could never imagine how many whip lashes he will have."
Rei came closer, "There is nothing wrong in our… present situation."

"Nothing wrong?" Misato said sarcastically then chuckled, "You and Asuka here were about to perform the S&M thing to Shinji here, now ask me what's 'nothing's wrong?'"

The 2nd Child chuckled behind them, "Well Rei, that worked nicely didn't it?"
"Yes, they have been quite riled up," the 1st Child nodded, "It was… fun."
Shinji stared dumb-founded, "You mean to tell me… "
"Yes," Asuka said, "We won't really do it Shinji, well… not until you're ready to do it though."

His blush evident on his face he headed for the bathroom for another morning session with his 'morning wood'. Meanwhile Misato turned and glared at the two girls, "You two will pay for that."
Asuka said nothing and instead handed the S&M equipment to Kaji, "Make her happy ok Kaji?" the 2nd Child winked and disappeared into the closet.

Though experienced, Kaji blushed at Asuka's statement. He didn't expected his former charge to act like that, more yet say something like that to him. He then focused his attention then to an even redder Misato.

"What are you looking at Kaji?"
He averted his gaze as Misato shoots him with lasers, "Nothing Misa-chan."
With nothing else to say, the Major huffed and walked out of the room. Kaji follows her out, but not before hiding the 'instruments' first for tonight he thought.

With the intrusion gone, Asuka then turns her head to Shinji. Whom I may add had vanished into the bathroom again, "Shinji!" she banged on the door, "Are you ruffling yourself again?" she added seductively later.

A strangled voice came from behind the door, "Be out in a minute!"

Satisfied Asuka smiled inwardly, "Such a shy boy."

Bureaucrap

Toji and Hikari were sitting sharing a table for two as our two new couple got up before every one else. They were already halfway through their breakfast as both enjoyed each other's company.

"How did you do it anyway?" Hikari asked as she popped another slice of sausage.

Toji shrugged, "I don't know, well, it was mostly Shinji and a friend's idea."

Somewhere, Jeff sneezed in front of his computer, "ACHOO! Damn, I hate flowers."

"Anyway Toji-chan," Hikari blushed, "Please do tell me how you manage to do it."

"It all started when Kensuke found out my feelings," he sighed, "A minute later it spreads out like wildfire."

"I never knew you were so… romantic."
This time it was Toji's time to blush, "Well, I'm not really romantic Inchou… I'm just… a little maybe."

Their heads turned as a loud voice was heard outside, it was Asuka and she was ranting again about some lost race. They came through the door of the restaurant and joined them, but as soon as Asuka sees Hikari and Toji together. She lets go of Shinji and pulls Hikari to one side.

"Hikari please answer me truthfully and honestly ok?"

Her friend looked at her oddly, "What do you mean Asuka?"

The 2nd Child took a deep breath, "Are you still a virgin?"

Hikari's eyes widened and even the roots of her hair turned red, "Of course I AM."

"Good," she sighed, "I thought you got ahead and got de-virginized before me."

"What?" Hikari gasped, "You mean to tell me you're planning something?"
Asuka smiled, "Not really..."

Her eyebrow raised a notch, "And who's the lucky guy… ah… I don't think I need to ask."

"Stop that, I don't even think he's ready," she took an unconscious look behind her and saw Shinji sitting near Toji while Rei ordered, "And I also think I'm not ready too."

"Well that's nice Asuka," Hikari breathed a sigh of relief, "Come on let's join them."

They all ate together in a friendly atmosphere until someone came up to them and cleared her throat.

"Eh-hem," Mana stood behind Shinji, the sound she made got the attention specially Asuka and Rei's, "I believe you two has something for me."
"What's she talking about Asuka?" Shinji asked in wonder, "Did something happen? What do you owe her?"

The 1st and 2nd Child's eyes met and spoke, "You."

"You? I mean… me?" the 3rd Child repeated, "Why me?"

"Remember the bet yesterday?" Shinji nodded, "Rei and I lost."

There was silence until Mana smiled and puts her hand on Shinji's shoulders, "I think we should go Shinji."

Frowning and without another word Shinji got up, much to Asuka and Rei's resistance. He pried the two off him gently and mouthed, "It's ok."

Taking Shinji's arm Mana looked back and grinned at the two Children, "See you later."

They were out of sight until Rei heaved a breath and a sudden draft of wind or force knocked down two passing-by customers to the floor. Asuka on the other hand was frowning and her hand shook with the tightening grip she's giving her fork. Realizing the friction in them Hikari chose that time to pull Toji away and slip by unnoticed.

"Let's go Toji," Hikari whispered, "I don't think they'll gonna calm down easily."
Toji nodded and accompanied Hikari as they passed the two girls staring at the door. Both girls saw their companions leave and they looked at each other knowingly.

"You thinking what I'm thinking Rei?"
The albino girl nodded, "Shall we Asuka?"

Her companion didn't spoke a word, but instead stood up and headed for the door. Both were headed for the path Shinji and Mana took a while ago. Meanwhile outside at the beach, Mana Kirishima took off her sandals and walked bare foot on the sand. Shinji quietly followed her, until the girl's voice reached his ears.

"You're awfully quite," her voice faint almost like a whisper, "Its ok… I know it's kind of like I'm forcing you to be with me."

Immediately shifting to a back-boned Shinji he comforted her, "No… umm… it's ok. I don't feel forced anyway." , 'Well that's not really true of course.'

"Oh come on," her face contorted and she pouted, "I can see it in your eyes."

"No really, it's… fine."

"Fine?" she frowned, "That's it? It's fine? I can't take this anymore, go now if you want to. I just… I just want someone to talk to."

"No, I insist that I stay," he said, "And I'm sorry… I know I'm very silent, but I guess I didn't get an 'A +' for my social communications class."

Mana looked at him and smiled a little, "That's ok, say want some ice cream? My treat."

He nodded and she took his arm as she led him away.

'Phase one is complete,' Mana thought happily, 'I never thought acting workshops were handy.'

50 feet away two sets of binoculars glimmered towards the retreating 3rd child and the spy. Asuka and Rei held the lenses close to their eyes as they observed or rather 'kept an eye' on the two for lets say 'any suspicious' behavior.

"I swear one wrong and 'misplaced' hand," Asuka's eyes turned to slits, "I will shave the head of that girl."

"Why not strangle her with an AT-Field?"

Her head snapped beside her, "Say what?"

Rei lets a single sweat trickle on the other side of her face, "Nothing."

Ice Cream Bar

"So Shinji," Mana smiled and lets her foot do the talking I mean touching, "Tell me about yourself."

He was uncomfortably sweating after feeling Mana's foot under the table and was a little bit shaking and squirming a bit. He was about to answer when he felt the feet go up to his groin, which caused his upped head to heat up.

'OH MY GOD!'

"Umm… well… uh… I'm Shinji Ikari; I go to Tokyo-30… I mean Tokyo-03 High School," he was still sweating beads as Mana smiled mischievously at him, "I like playing the cello and well… I pilot the Evangelion."

"What's your size?"
"M-m-m-m-my what?"

"Your size," Mana motion with her fingers, "What's your dress size?"

Shinji breathed a sigh of relief and cooled down a bit, "Whew!"

"Are you hot?"

"A-a-a-am I what?"
"Are you hot?" Mana cocked her head, "Not that kind of hot, I mean hot from the weather."
"No," he said shaking his head, "It feels kinda nice compared to Tokyo's climate."

"Oh really?"

Meanwhile five tables away Rei and Asuka were covering themselves with newspapers that have two holes bored in them. Peeping in the holes our two heroines are having the time of their lives spying on the two children.

"This is insane," Asuka hissed, "If only we didn't lose!"

"Keep your voice down Pilot Soryu," Rei whispered, "They might hear us, and our cover might be blown."

"All right Wondergirl," she said and peeped again at the hole she made, "Damn that Mana girl is one sick minx!"

All throughout the day Asuka and Rei trailed the 3rd Child and Mana. From every bar or restaurant, every store, even to the restrooms. Asuka and Rei always kept a maximum distance of 20 feet. Which miraculously didn't caught even the spy's alert eyes and clairvoyant senses.

"Hey Shinji," Mana said as they went up to their rooms, "Could you meet me at the Bureaucrap later?"
"What time?"

"Around 7 PM," Mana smiled and went inside her hotel room, "See you later Shinji."

Shinji nodded and waved, as soon as he got in front of his hotel room. He was about to slide the key in its swiping place when the door flew open and two sets of hands and arms pulled him rapidly in. The two hands also managed to throw him in the bed and pin him in it.

"Hey! What's going on here?" Shinji said as he protested and struggled to get free, "I have my rights!"

"Screw your rights!" Asuka heaved, "What happened?"

"I must press the issue," Rei also heaved, "I am also very much interested on what happened."

"You two know what happened!"

"What do you mean?" both girls cocked their head, "What are you talking about?"
"Oh come on," the 3rd Child rolled his eyes, "You were spying on us when we were at the beach, and you were also there at the ice cream bar."

The two was taken aback by his revelations, "How did you notice us?"
"Oh please," he stretched and managed to relax, "I know you for more than a year Asuka, and I tend to pick up on a few things."
"Like what?"

"Well, when you… umm…" he blushed not knowing what say, "Well… LOVE… oh god there it goes… someone, you do… some drastic things."

The 2nd Child raised her brow and grinned, "Oh, so you realize something… you realize I… well 'L' word you now."

He shrugged his shoulders, "Uh… that's… how should I say this… "

"What about me?" Rei's voice penetrated through his rational thinking, "Do you not feel my affection and love for you."

'That was direct and tactless,' Asuka thought, 'I'm losing ground with Wondergirl!'

"I love you too," Rei pouted a bit, "Do I not deserve your attention?"

"Oh man… " Shinji sighed.

Bureaucrap

Shinji Ikari sat alone on the lighted table as he waited for his 'date' with the girlfriend of steel. Just then the door's little bell signaled someone coming in, he strained his eyes to see who it was and his face lighted up to see someone familiar.

"Hey Jeff!" he raised his hands and waved, "What're you doing here?"

Jeff smiled, "Oh I came here to pick up the money my uncle is going to send to the mainland for Christine."

"So you're gonna follow her?"

"No," he sat down beside him, his figure silhouetted by his white shirt among the darkness of the place, "I'm gonna mail it, anyway what are you doing here?"

"I have a date."

"Oh, a date," the familiar face smiled a little, "Did you manage to choose now?"

"Not really," his face contorted in a frown, "I just can't decide… then suddenly this girl comes out of the blue and says she likes me… and… I'm so confused."

"Listen to me," Jeff nodded sagely, "Do you like the 3rd girl?"

Shinji nodded, "But I like her only as a friend."

"I know that, ok so choosing is still between the two right?" Shinji nodded, "Ok, whom do you think you are mostly comfortable. Whom do you think is the best choice, because whoever you choose."

"You must live with her for the rest of your life."

Shinji looked down still confused, "Could you not… encrypt it in words I can't understand."

"Ok to put it simply, why not 'time' choose what is right for you?"

"Time? How long?"

"Ah Shinji, 'time' takes a long 'time'. It maybe tomorrow, today, or next week, but keep in mind 'time' will always tell when the 'time' is right."

Shinji face-faulted, "I thought I asked you not to encrypt it."

"I don't know, I'm a young adult. Of course you can't understand me, adults are like that" Jeff smiled and stood up, "In any case, keep your self right and be gentle when the 'right time' comes."

"What do you mean right time?"

"Oh… " Jeff slyly smiled and turned his back, "You know what I mean. See you later dude! Oh wait… I mean 'Casanova'."

Vanishing into the backroom, Shinji finally realizes what he meant about the right time, "Jeff you stupid pervert," he murmured.

"Who's the stupid pervert?" a voice beside him he knew well, it was Mana.

"Oh just a friend I… wow," Shinji was speechless, Mana was wearing a white blouse cut low with a tantalizing view of her chest and just the right amount of dress to hide what must be hidden. Her hair was untied and she has a white scarf tied on her neck, she twirled at him as he looked appreciatively.

"What do you think?"
"I'm speechless… "

Mana slyly smiled, "Do you want the 'cut' to go lower?"

Shinji's blush got full throttle and he immediately looked down, "I'm sorry… I was impolite."
"No worries, I was kinda hoping you would notice."

"Ah, ok… so what do you want to eat?"

A waiter came up to them and smiled at Shinji, "So the usual?"
He nodded as the waiter looked at Mana, "Is there anything you need miss?"
"I'll have… "

"Really?"
"Yes, that's how the Evangelions work," he sighed, "Though it really hurts too when they also get hurt."

"So much is demanded from you, even your life," Mana looked at him appreciatively, "Now I think my respect for you just raised another three notches."

"No, it's nothing really. I guess, we're just doing our job."
"That's not what I can call a job; I mean your only 15 and… this."

Shinji smiled a little and sighed, "Yes, piloting seems hard for 15 year olds like us. And there is no immediate reward to it too."

"You are so nice, that's why I have fallen in love with you."

"What?"

Mana bit her lower lip, "I love you Shinji," she held Shinji's hand and tightened her grip.

"But Mana… I thought… "

"Yes, I love you… now I want you to be my boyfriend."

Shinji's eyes softened and softly spoke, "I also love you Mana, but only as a friend. Could you accept that?"

Mana frowned, "But why? I mean… are you picking me over them. I can share you!"

"You don't understand… I am not picking you over them. I only wanted you as a friend from the very start. And I want to be really honest with you; love can't be felt in just two days."

"You're sounding like an adult," Mana retreated to her chair, "I can't understand you."

"That's one of the curses of the Evangelion, we grow up too fast. Or we don't grow up at all."

Silence reigned for a long time until Mana sighed and stood up, "Come on, let's go."

He obliged and was about to take the way back to the hotel when they headed for the beach. To his surprise Mana sat down on the sand and looked at the pounding waves on the seashore. She looked at him and patted to the place behind her, he sat down and she immediately laid herself on him.

"I envy those two."

He kept his silence as Mana kept talking, "They have your love, your attention and everything else that I would have wanted from you."

"Whoever said life wasn't a bitch?"

Both children chuckled at Shinji's humor, "I guess I lost the game after all."

"We should head back now."

Both of them brushed themselves off and headed for their hotel rooms. As soon as Shinji closed his door Mana stepped outside and knocked on Kaji's door. The man opened it slightly and was surprised to see the young spy in there.

"Girlfriend of Steel? What are you doing here?"
"I failed my mission," was all she said and walked away.

Kaji's face hardened, "You know the consequences Mana. For Seele, failure is not an option."

"I know that, but I want another chance with him. But I haven't learned anything so far, and well he already declared our friendship."

"Did you get emotionally involved?"
Mana nodded slowly, "I guess I did."

Shaking his head he vanished from the door and came back with a compilation of folder in his hands, "Give this to Seele, I knew that you will fail."
"But how… why?"

'You said you wanted another chance, I'm just giving you your break. Now retreat and recollect your thoughts, I'm sure I'll see you again."

With a bow Kaji closed the door and left Mana outside tightly gripping the folders in her hands. A tear slid down her cheek as he looked up at the closed door, "Thank you Kaji."

She then walked away back into her room, and packed her bags. Back at his room Kaji sighed, "To be young and in love, so young shouldn't die so soon."

Suddenly there was a muffled voice in the other room, "Kaji! Untie me here!"

Back at Shinji's room he found his two lovers separated at the bed, leaving the space between them empty. He changed and slid over next to them, "I can't believe I just said that."

He closed his eyes and fell asleep, with his snoring evident Asuka and Rei's eyes opened. With hushed tones they examined his body, "Quickly Rei, find any 'kiss mark' or anything."
"I am looking; I am even looking for lipstick or something… like whip cream."

Minutes later and founding nothing the two heroines sighed. Stroking their love interest's hair they lay beside him and also closed their eyes. Outside Mana Kirishima slid a note under the door, and with a small smile on her lips he walked away from the hotel door.

To be continued

Author's note:

I am very sorry for this LONG DELAY because the holidays sneaked up on me and also my Hard Drive decided to FRY itself. Also done some charity works so that delayed the fixing of my hard drive and, that's it I've been quite busy and well sorry. Well two more updates!

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I would like the help of the fans to help me decide on what kind of ENDING you like or agree on. After all, this fic was made by an NGE fan for the entertainment of fellow fans right?

I will count the number of suggestions included in the reviews to help me decide somehow LOL. Anyway I STILL CAN'T DECIDE!

Thank you for reading,
Scarabeye 3000