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

Title: Temptation Island Author: Scarabeye 3000
Chapter Eight: Day Six a new player arrives

Pre-reading done by DEMDEM

Dos Palmas Hotel

Shinji's eyes fluttered open as the curtains filtered sunlight inside their hotel room. Shaking his arms and legs a bit to find out if he's cuffed again, hearing nothing he smiled satisfied and began to slowly pry the two girls off of him. Upon which he grew accustomed of this last few days here. Finally free he crawled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. However, as he walked towards the bathroom he saw something white near the door. His curiosity piqued him into heading there and taking it, turning it to the other side he saw his name scribbled on it.

"It's for me," he murmured as he read the sender's little note, "It's from Mana."

He took out the letter and read it,

Dear Shinji,

I'm sorry if you had to see this, but something big came up and I have to go suddenly. Though I would have wished to be with you for a longer period of time, it seems to me that fate is against us Shinji. I also want to say how I couldn't accept the fact that you don't like me the way I like you -wait a minute- that rhymes.

Sorry about that, I just don't want you to feel sad. It's just that I'm so envious of those two girls that get to be with you all the time.

Those two, having your undivided attention your light caress every night, with you holding them in your arms tightly. Sliding their nightgowns off every night and…

Shinji skipped the next few lines as he began to blush; the words Mana wrote were 'threading' dangerous waters. 'Why does everybody think I'm a pervert?' he thought to himself as he continued to read the letter.

I guess I'm blubbering again, anyway I hope we get to see each other again. This world is not as big as before so I have no doubt we can meet again. Just remember that for once in your life a girl like me came up ok? And Shinji, I love you.

Love Mana

P.S. Something to remember me by…

His brow furrowed as he felt another envelope that was inside the first one. He took it out and opened it, what he saw were pictures of him and Mana during 'their' date. However one picture is covered with a piece of paper. He cocked his head in wonder as he read the scribbled note in it.

P.P.S. Open this at the bathroom…

Ignoring the note he tore the paper anyway, he laid eyes on the photograph and his nose spurted blood. It was Mana's picture in her 'birthday suit' in full color.

"OH MY FREAKIN GOD!"

He screamed and ran towards the bathroom, slamming the door shut the two girls also shot up. Looking at each other they then looked towards the bathroom door, meeting each other's gazes once more they shrugged shoulders and laid back in bed.

Somewhere where members of Seele meet

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN NAGISA VANISHED!"

Keele Lorenz banged on his table furiously; apparently the recent report on his assets ticked him off.
"But that's all we have for now sir."

"I want detailed reports, do something!"
"Calm down Chairman," a member of Seele with a very long nose and rounded glasses peered down calmly, "We will have an explanation on this in just a moment."

Suddenly papers began pouring in as the reports arrived.

A few minutes later of reading, Chairman Keele Lorenz…

"IT'S STILL NOT HERE!"

"When will this guy die anyway?" one Seele member whispered to another, "We are still waiting for the other reports."

"It better be good," he calmed down somewhat as they waited, "Anyway, where is 'Girlfriend of Steel now?"

"She is currently inactive as of late, she is in one of our safe house in New York."

"Hmm, we should not waste our assets in inactive status like this," he rubbed his chin and sat up, "Activate the other 'Marduk Children', proceed with 'Project: Ryuveikan'."

"Understood sir."

One by one, all Seele's light turned off, only Keele Lorenz white light remained.
"Where are you 5th Child?"

Bureaucrap

A gray haired boy sat on one of the stools in the mini bar of the restaurant. A tall young man walked over to him and smiled.

"Hi, the name is Jeff. Do you need something to drink?"
"I would like to have a hot chocolate with a hint of cinnamon and a long straw please."

"Coming right up," the young man vanished as he mixed the order. Meanwhile the boy overheard a very noisy couple that was heading their way.

"Over my dead body Wonder doll!"

"I am not a doll."

"Oh sure," the fiery red-head shouted again, "But be prepared to cry 1st Child."

"Will you two quit it please? You both are attracting attention," Shinji pleaded.

"Oh I forgot you hate attention," Asuka smiled slyly and curled up to him, "Do you want my 'attention' instead?"

"Umm… - Hey Jeff!" Shinji escaped from an embarrassing predicament as his tropical friend appeared behind the bar, "How's business today?"

"Here you go," Jeff handed the gray-haired boy's order and faced Shinji, "Nice, say where's Toji and the others?"

"Sleeping."

"Oh, say I have something to give you," he then started searching for it under the bar's table, "Where the hell did I put it? Aha!"

He produced a flier and gave it to the 3rd Child, "There's a costume party tonight, why don't you and the others come?"

"Really," Shinji took the flyer from Jeff and skimmed it, "Asuka will love that – but wait – we don't have costumes. What a shame… its sounds nice to experience that once in a while though."

"Come to my house," Jeff reassured him, "I still got some costumes from last Halloween, so with a little modification I'm sure we can make something out of it."

"Thanks Jeff, you really can be handy sometimes."

"Yeah well," Jeff smiled and shrugged his shoulders out on impulse, "What can I say, sometimes I'm quite a handful."

"I'm sure you are, so anyway are the waiters ready?"

"Oh yes, I'll call one," the boy looked around and focused on a man standing outside a kitchen door, "OI! Andito na iyong customer natin! Halika na dito!"

The waiter heeded the call and walked over to where Shinji, Asuka and Rei were.

"What will you be having?"

"The usual Martin, and add that new chocolate frappe Jeff mixed."

The waiter jotted down their order, bowed and turned away. Shinji then showed the flier to Asuka and Rei.

"So this will happen tonight?" Asuka frowned, "But we didn't bring costumes with us."

"Problem solved," Shinji accepted their orders and took a sip of chocolate, "Jeff said he has a dozen costumes at his house. We can pick them up later."

At the bar the gray-haired boy with blue-eyes stared at Shinji then at the two girls then finally stared at Jeff. "You wouldn't happen to have anymore of those fliers would you?"

"Now that you mention it, there's still one here." Jeff reached down the bar's table and produced a piece of flier, "Here you go."

The boy pocketed the flier and left the bar, but not looking at Shinji one last time.

Meanwhile

Hikari Hokari lay on Toji's chest as her eyes opened for the first time that day. She can predict it was about 9 AM in the morning and Toji if he wakes up right now he'll be hungry. She was exceptionally happy, she wasn't pressured, and she's not obligated to be strict. In other words, she doesn't need to be a Class rep here. She knows she only needed to be Hikari, and would Toji notice it?

Toji Suzuhara lay down in bed with his eyes closed. Everyday since the time they did the 'serenade thing' with the others, the same time he was allowed to sleep in the bed. He would always wake up before Hikari woke up and emptied himself at the toilet. Then come back to bed in wait for Hikari to stand up and join her somewhere. Because for the last few years he had been blind, she only met the Class rep at his freshman years in Tokyo-03 High and he was still a snob then. Hell he didn't even noticed it till now that Hikari looked more beautiful without the pig-tail.

So both Hikari and Toji waited for each other to wake up. But since Toji is called 'the stomach' his own stomach betrayed him. The Class rep shot up as she heard the loud rumbling.

"Toji are you awake?" she asked surprised at her own actions. "I thought you were still sleeping."

"I woke up two hours ago, before the sun even came up," Toji grinned and scratched the back of his head, "Sorry, I think I'm really hungry for this to happen."

"That's ok, wait a minute – you said you were already awake two hours ago?" she stared at him through her brown eyes. "Why didn't you go down to eat something?"

"Well, because I – I hate it when you… uh… when you-u wake up alone." Toji stammered, "I don't want you to… uh… be lonely, Class rep. I don't want you to be… uh… sad."

It was stuttering, it was almost incoherent, but it was meaningful and the best thing she heard from Toji. She couldn't help but to blush and smile at the same time. And what probably pushed her to do something new and of course unexpectedly daring.

Hikari lunged and tackled Toji into a hug; even he was surprised that he didn't even resist the urge to match her strength. Instead he froze like he usually does in the presence of the Class rep, most especially in her arms.

"C-c-class rep! W-w-what are… y-y-you doing?" Toji's blushed as red as a summer tomato. "Wha- what is it… are you doing?"
"What does it look like Toji?" Hikari smiled serenely and brought her face inches to him, "I'm about to kiss you."

"K-k-k-kiss me?" Toji's nose dropped a minute of blood and his face rose to a deeper shade of red, his veins furiously conveying blood in his face. "Oh my god! Wait a minute!"

"Shhh… don't speak Toji, " Hikari reassured her stroking his usually smart hair slightly, "Listen to me Toji-kun, I am about to DEFY you."

"Hikari I – wait a minute… MPPHHHH!"

TILT

After a half a minute Hikari pulled away and saw, "Oh my god! Toji! Are you alright?"

Toji's eyes were blank, his mouth was open and he thankfully was breathing through blood spurted nose. But he had fainted unceremoniously in a girl's arm, examining him once more Hikari sighed, "It was just a 'good morning' kiss. What's wrong with that? And I thought he was pervert!"

Meanwhile

Shinji, Asuka and Rei stepped inside a one-story two bedroom home. There was a little bar on the right side, a sofa set on the left and a 21-inch flat TV in the middle of a large varnished cabinet/divider. Jeff stepped out of the kitchen and welcomed the Eva Children.

"Welcome to my little house, as you can see my mother used to live with me but now she lives with my younger brother in the mainland."

"You sure are neat," Asuka inspected the house and ran her finger over a table. "Even the table's are spotless, hmm… reminds me of someone I know."

Shinji swallowed a mouthful as he sat on the long chairs of the mini bar. The wooden furniture blended with the black and glass decorations of the house. There was also a cabinet above the bar that was stashed with all the liquor that you can think about.

"So uh Jeff, you live alone here?" Shinji asked timidly, he was scanning one of the pictures near the bar as the two girls looked around the living room.

"Yes, it's sometimes lonely, but my friends sometimes come over and we drink some wine and then watch movies. But mostly I'm at the beach, doing some work that I might get there."

"Do you not have anyone to 'bond' with?" Rei asked taking hold of Shinji's arms. "I must remind you that no man is an island."
"Well said Miss Ayanami, but my personal matters have been for me and me alone since I can remember."

"Understood."

"Anyway, Shinji, since you know where my house is now come back later with the guys. I can lend you some costumes, real good ones."

"All right Jeff, we'll see you later."

Shinji waved goodbye as the trio walked out of the small house. As they walked out a man came out from the back. "Jeff, is it wise that you… socialize with them?"

"Do not worry my friend; it is all for the best," Jeff smiled, "Do you want a chocolate frappe?"

Afternoon came and the Eva Children with Kensuke, Toji and Hikari came with them. As the other girls dressed in one room the boys have the other room for themselves.

"Are you sure that this divider can't be opened Jeff?" Toji pleaded. "Is there really no other way?"

"Yes, but if there's a way I gave the key to Asuka." Jeff grinned, "Just in case you and Kensuke tried something perverted."
"Aww man… "Kensuke pouted, "Kill joy."

"Anyway, is there any other suits left Jeff?" Shinji asked, "All I can find are women's costumes."

The three boys looked at Jeff expectantly as the young man smiled sheepishly, "Oops, I forgot… last Halloween. We cross-dressed."

"You got to be kidding me."

"No way! I'm not wearing any sissy costume!"

"Will it even fit?"

"Relax on the fit, look at me, I'm a big guy and it fits."

"Are you saying were skinny?"
"No I'm not," the young man shook his head, "And I'm not even thinking about it."
"But you were," Toji looked darkly.

Jeff smiled and chuckled, "You do look beautiful in a skirt."

"That does it!" Toji tackled Jeff in the bed as Shinji and Kensuke laughed. "So you think I'm gay huh?" Toji started to grapple Jeff, "You think I'm house-broken just like Shinji huh?"

"Hey! I am not house-broken!"

"Yeah right!" Asuka's voice came from behind the divider.

"You could at least defend me Asuka," the 3rd Child replied and turned to Toji, "You know he's turning blue."

"Oops! Sorry man," Toji lets go of his hammer-lock as Jeff lay gasping at his bed.

"I was just kidding man, but no… you have to get a hold of my neck! Damn it! You wear the mini skirt!"

"Aww man, I'm sorry."

Minutes later the girls are all sitting on the small living room as they waited for the boys to come out.

"And I always thought that boys dress more quickly," Asuka whined in her red-devil costume. "Will you boys hurry up?"

"Maybe they are having trouble getting some 'things' to fit." Rei was wearing a simple school girl costume. "They do have appendages."

Hikari blushed as she heard Rei, "Your so casual about it Rei."

"Anyway, the guys are taking so long. Hurry up will you!"

"Coming!" Shinji's voice came from behind the door.
"Hey Jeff!"

"Yes Toji?"
"Does this dress make me look fat?"

"Shut up."

Jeff steps out of the room wearing a ridiculously long wig and a fit blouse and a pleated skirt, "I present you, the cross-dressers of the month."

First, Kensuke comes out wearing a green blouse and a pig-tailed wig with a simple black skirt, she, I mean he is still wearing his glasses but he's smiling rather… naughtily. "Do we really have to parade all over town looking like this?"

"I present to you Miss Suzuhara," Jeff stifled a chuckle as Toji stepped out.

He was wearing a black fitting plastic dress that is cut short up above the knee. He is also wearing a curled and long blonde hair. In other words he looks like a…

"Damn it Jeff! I look like a 3rd class, cheap hooker!"

The girls except Rei stifled their laugh, "We can hold our lunch for Kensuke, but… damn! You went over the edge Toji."

"Yes I know, and I'm not gay if you're thinking about it."
"Amazing!" Asuka exclaimed excitedly, "And now you're a 3rd class, cheap hooker/psychic. You practically read my mind."
"Very funny Asuka," Toji said blandly.

"And now for the main event, Miss Shinji Ikari!"

And out stepped a girl wearing a blue sailor uniform, complete with the crown thing on the head. Everybody was speechless, even Rei was astonished, with Shinji wearing a blue wig he looked almost similar to Sailor Mercury. "Now that's what I call a transformation."

"Wow Shinji, you have better curves than Asuka."
"He does not!" the 2nd Child shouted, "It's not fair!"
Jeff chuckled, "Maybe it is true, being house-broken and all. Your hormones might have re-adjusted from being testosterones to being estrogen."

"It wasn't readjusted!" Shinji justified. "But…my god! The skirt is so short!"

"You're very familiar with your hormones Jeff?" Kensuke chimed in. "Aren't you going to be in trouble with that language?"
"Hey! I'm 20, I'm over the teen years." Jeff gathered everyone and led them outside. "So, shall we everyone? Ikuso!"

"You know Japanese?"
"I took Nippon go for a whole semester, but I'm kind of rusty with it."

"Oh."

Dos Palmas Beach Costume Party

Shinji's group entered the hall and almost everyone noticed them.

"I hate the attention the guys are giving me!" Shinji hissed to Jeff that was in front of him. As Asuka and Rei flanked him, some guys were staring at Shinji, hungrily. (Thinking about it sends shivers in my spine.)

They mingled with the crowd as a boy with gray hair watched and focused at Shinji from the shadows. Just then soft music began playing; it was a song from a post-2nd Impact band called River Maya. As the music started, the 2nd Child grinned devilishly as she grabbed Shinji/Sailor Mercury. But that didn't escape Rei's eyes as she also grabbed Shinji.

Meeting each other's gaze Asuka hissed, "Let go Wonder girl."
"I got him first."
"You two stop it, look… lets just dance if you want."

So without another word the trio danced, with Shinji holding each girl in each of his arms. Asuka being held in the left and Rei in the right they swayed at the voice of the band.

You're face

Lights up the sky on a highway

Someday you share your world with me someday

You mesmerize me without the lies

I try to fool my self to think I'd be all right

But I am losing all control

My mind my heart my body and my soul

Never in my life have I been more surer

So come on up to me and close the door

Nobody's made me feel this way before,

You're everything I wanted and more…

To speak or not to where to begin

The great dilemma's I'm finding myself in,

For all I know you only see me as a friend

I try to tell myself wake up fool, this fairytale's got to end

Never in my life have I been more surer

So come on up to me and close the door

Nobody's made me feel this way before,

You're everything I wanted and more…

Never in my life have I been more surer

So come on up to me and close the door

Nobody's made me feel this way before,

You're everything I wanted and more…

The song ended and they all walked into one side of the bar, as Asuka and Rei thanked Shinji and walked away to talk with Hikari, the gray haired boy seized his chance. "Hi, my name is… Nagisa, Kaworu Nagisa."

"My name is Shinji, and I'm a boy."
"I know," Kaworu smiled, "You look better as a girl."

Shinji blushed and tried to look calm, "So where's your date?"
"Date? Does everybody need someone?"
The 3rd Child shrugged his shoulders, "Don't know, but as one of my friends said no man is an island."
"Point taken, but Shinji… I must warn you."

His brow furrowed, "About what?"
"A man that is more powerful than your father, and Seele and all the government. He has played god in several worlds including this one."
"What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You will in time Shinji," Kaworu bowed and walked outside into the shadows. As soon as he vanished his two girls reappeared. "Who was that guy Shinji?"

"Don't know," he said shrugging his shoulders, "Want to dance more?"

Outside in the shadows, Kaworu Nagisa stood as a fellow party-goers stopped him, "You have told him too much Tabris."
"I know that Alpha, I am sorry. But I love him so much; promise me not to hurt him."
"You know me Tabris," the figure smiled, "He is precious to me as much as the others."
"Thank you very much Alpha."

"You may go back to Seele now."
Kaworu smiled serenely as he somehow vanished into thin air, but not looking back at the place where Shinji was. "We will meet again, Shinji Ikari."

The figure also went back to the party as he mingled with the crowd, and most especially with Shinji and the others.

To be continued

Author's note:

Thank you for the touching reviews, I am really grateful to some people who think I shouldn't obey others and of course the few others that were patient enough to wait. I was just asking for ideas on how to end this, because I can't think of an ending because as one review say there are many possibilities. Anyway, I already decided and well, be surprised at the last update.

Also, what is the real surname of Hikari? Hokari or Horaki. I'm so confused right now!

Ryuveikan: The name of the robot Mana used in the game 'Girlfriend of Steel'.

Thank you for reading,
Scarabeye 3000