Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
AN: Okay, okay, you win. After so many reviews for one chapter, I'm going to give you what you want. So here it is…
Chap. 2
"Hey Shinji. How are ya?"
Shinji blinked in surprise to see Misato sitting in the living room couch, the usual can of beer in her hand. "Misato? You're home early."
"Yep. I got a day off so I came back home." She remembered her conversation with Ritsuko and decided to start things off casually. "So where were you?"
"I was just out for a walk."
"Meet anyone special?" she teased.
Shinji however, didn't notice it at first, "I'm not sure. A man..."
Misato gave him a queer look and Shinji held up his hands, "No, no, he saved my life. I was crossing the street and a truck almost hit me."
Misato suddenly rushed to Shinji, examining him, "Oh god, are you alright?"
Shinji had to pry himself from Misato's hands, "I'm fine. I'm fine. He pulled me out of the way."
Misato gave a relieved breath, "Oh good." Switching back to teasing mode, "For a moment, I thought that you...came out of the closet or something."
"Misato!"
Misato smiled again, pleased that her teases were still having the desired effect on him as well as knowing that Shinji was still a healthy heterosexual male. It would be a shame to lose him like that. Especially since he's so cute.
"So who was he?"
Shinji thought back to the name, "His name was Qui-Gon. He was a nice guy."
She gave him another strange look, "Nice guy? Now that's high praise coming from you."
It was at that time that the door swung open, revealing one Asuka Langley Sohryu.
"I'm back." Then without skipping a beat, "Why isn't my dinner ready, baka?"
"Gomen."
"I come all the way to eat your food and you don't even have it ready yet? You could have at least been halfway done with it." Asuka raved on.
"Gomen."
The German girl's anger began to grow, "Would you stop apologizing already?"
"G..."
Misato cut him off, "Shinji just got back himself, Asuka. But don't worry. I get dinner ready."
The panic in both youth's faces came up so suddenly and Shinji interceded, "T, that's okay Misato. I can get it ready."
Shinji quickly made his way into the kitchen and began finding food for dinner.
Late Night…
Shinji bolted up from his sleep, sweat-drenching his face and his breathing unsteady. It took him a few minutes to calm himself. The dream...no nightmare that he had was greatly disturbing. Shadows, darkness, haunting images. Shinji couldn't piece together what it was. It couldn't have been real. But it was too solid to be a dream. Perhaps...a vision? But he managed to hear a single set of words within.
'A person like you shouldn't hold on to so much grief.'
'That was what Qui-Gon said', Shinji recalled. But why would those words come back to him? In fact, why was this man still popping up in his memory? Despite saving his life, he had only met the man once and it was brief. He didn't even know him. The only thing he could go on was the positive feeling he had when he was with him. Soothing, also parental-like. Similar to how he felt about Misato, but more in depth. Why was that? Who was he?
Nerv, next day
"Shinji, just try and relax, okay?"
Shinji, Asuka and Rei were once again taking their synch tests inside the entry pods. Auska her usual loud self, Rei, her usual calm self and Shinji, his usual unsteady self. Despite his best efforts, Shinji was still having a good deal of trouble focusing. Ritsuko noted this and looked over at Misato, who merely glared back in response. Shinji took a deep breath before trying again. The haunting images of his dream kept coming to his mind, but then he remembered the words he had heard.
'Don't hold on to grief.'
Shinji repeated those words in his head, allowing himself to be focused on that while synching with the Eva. From the control room, Misato gave Shinji a stern look. Some time ago, she had been able to read Shinji's lips whenever he was in the entry pod. At times, he would be muttering words like, 'Sorry.' or something like that. Occasionally, during a fight, he would be saying, 'I mustn't run away' repeatedly. This time though, he was saying something else. 'Don't...hold on...to grief? Where did he learn that?'
Maya looked at the monitor, "Doctor. Shinji's ratio is stabilizing at 67.38%"
Ritsuko looked over at it as well, "Really? That's good."
Of course, leave it to Misato to actually deliver praise, "You're doing great Shinji. Keep it up."
Shinji gave a slight smile, which of course disappeared at seeing Asuka's furious face. Seeing no way through it, he merely went back to concentrating.
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Misato walked up to the doors of Commander Ikari's office. She never liked being called here and certainly not before him. It was like entering that place in that old movie, what was it called? Oh, yeah. The temple of doom. But orders are orders. And Ikari was never one to take such things lightly. The doors open to the large room lined with the Tree of Sephirot on the ceiling and in the center sat Commander Ikari, in his usual hands folded pose with Sub Commander Fusuyugi by his side.
"According to the report, the Third Child has improved slightly." Gendo started. "Do you have an explanation to the change, Major?"
Misato stood nervous, but she kept her voice leveled, "No, sir."
The shadows around him seemed to get darker, "Well I have one for you. According to reports, he was in contact with another person yesterday. Care to explain what happened?"
Misato tensed, "Shin...The Third Child told me that the man saved his life and talked with him for a while. I don't know how, but he may have had a calming influence on him."
His gaze didn't change, "I suggest you find out. As the Children's caretaker, it is your duty to know these things. If you lapse in this, then I'll have to find a replacement. Is that understood, Major?"
"Yes, sir."
"You are dismissed."
After she left, Fusuyugi asked, "Was that necessary?
Gendo allowed a slight grin, "That was merely a way of putting her back in her place. However, I will not tolerate such lacking behavior."
'You're a cruel man, Ikari.' Switching the subject, "Section 2 has determined the man's ID. He has no affiliates with the Japanese government, or any for that matter. He lives rather solitary and is known to be an expert swordsman. Possibly a samurai."
"Name?"
"Qui-Gon Jinn."
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