True Love Waits Chapter 5
Adam Kadmon
Disclaimer: (as Comic Book Guy) Oh, anime and loneliness are a dangerous combination. I don't own Eva or Radiohead.
"Ayanami Rei?"
"Huh?"
She turned to face her caller, surprised to find a young man. He was standing in the central courtyard ofher school, looking rather frightened and uncomfortable. His right hand clenched and relaxed habitually.
"Who are you?"
"I'm, ah, Ikari Shinji. A friend of Misato-san's. She asked I pick you up today."
Rei raised an eyebrow.
"Why did she not come herself?"
"She, um, she said she had a meeting and asked me. It was last minute."
Granted, had Rei known him, she'd have taken his stuttering and sweating as normal for any first encounter. As things stood, it was killing his credibility.
"I do not believe you," she said, and walked by him.
"Um, wait!" Shinji started after her. "Please don't go, Ayanami-san."
Uncomfortable with the persistent young man, and the attention he was drawing, Rei ducked into the crowd hoping to blend in. Whether it was panic or a simple lapse in judgment which caused her to believe she could blend in is unknown. Shinji easily followed her around the school.
"What do you want?" she asked, still walking away from him.
"Just to take you home. That's all Misato-san asked me to do."
Where's a teacher when you need one?
"I still do not believe you."
Shinji sighed.
"Then call her. Here." He handed her his phone. She refused and pulled out her own. Rei punched in a long set of numbers, all the while keeping a wary eye on Shinji.
"Katsuragi Misato, please," she spoke.
Shinji frowned. This was going to take longer than he thought.
True Love Waits
Chapter 5
"Gah!" Asuka groaned. "If I get one more dumb love letter from some perverted little boy I'll hit someone."
"At least you get them," Hikari grumbled.
The redhead popped her knuckles.
"Who do they think they are, anyway? Like they have a prayer of ever going out with me."
"You should be flattered, Asuka. Try to think of it that way."
The two girls ducked out the back exit of the school, on Asuka's insistence, to avoid any unwanted suitors. Hikari naturally agreed, attempting to keep peace.
"Hey, who's wondergirl talking to?" Asuka asked, spying Rei and Shinji.
The brunette squinted.
"I don't know…"
The duo came closer, edging around them.
"What a fox!" Asuka said, getting a good look at Shinji. "How'd she land him?"
Hikari stared and blushed.
"What are you doing? Get down!" Asuka pulled her friend into a bush. "We can't get caught, dumby."
"S-sorry."
They watched and waited.
"Never figured wondergirl as a babe magnet. Where do you think they'll go? The gym, maybe? The classic supply shed?"
"Asuka! I don't think Rei is that kind of a girl."
"Yeah, you're probably right," the redhead said, idly scratching her nose. "But man is that a hunk. Not too muscley, but hey, he's cute. Gorgeous, even."
Hikari eagerly nodded.
"Who is he? A new teacher or something?"
Asuka shrugged.
"I haven't seen him around either. Looks too old to be an exchange student or anything." She smiled. "He looks like my man."
"She is not in her office," Rei said. "I will try her cell phone."
"You don't need to," Shinji said. He tried to smile. "See? She gave me her apartment keys." His jingling them by her ear gave no response. "Um… oh right. She even told me your emergency password." He looked around to ensure they were alone, then leaned closer. "Yebisu," he whispered.
Rei rolled her eyes. She sighed as Misato failed to pick up her cell.
"She is not answering her phone." Rei turned to Shinji. "What have you done with her?"
"W-what? N-nothing. I haven't done anything to her, I swear."
She peered at him, as if gauging his value, then turned on her heel.
"I still do not believe you." She took off.
"Wait! Where are you going?"
"The police, if you do not stop following me."
"T-the police? But I swear I'm only doing what she told me. Um, maybe try calling her again?"
He is eager enough to avoid the authorities, she thought. And if I scream, someone is bound to hear me. I am in no imminent danger. She observed him. He was certainly cleaner looking than the last man, the scruffy one, though he was quite younger than any of Misato's previous lovers. If he was involved with her, it might explain why her guardian was so frequently absent as of late. But the afternoon was growing thin, and Rei was not in a forgiving mood.
"Do not follow me," she said, and turned. He trailed after her, sighing and fidgeting. His hands were balled into fists. She was about to leave when her apathy was subdued by idle curiosity.
"What bar did you meet her in?" She finally picked up someone really dangerous.
Shinji seemed stunned.
"What? We… didn't meet in any bar…"
"Then where?"
He pursed his lips.
"That's sort of a long story."
"I have time," Rei lied, hoping to at least glean a passing amusement from this bizarre young man. She looked him over. Very little amusement.
Shinji slumped his shoulders.
"I… was in an accident and the military was involved. I met her in the hospital."
Rei, blessed with an acute memory, was sure Misato never mentioned anything about him.
"You are lying."
"No! I swear it. It, um, it happened about five months ago."
Rei instantly recalled Misato's promotion.
"And… she was demoted because of me," he said.
Why did I not notice that? It is true I have not seen her in awhile, but…
"Please believe me, Ayanami-san. I mean you no harm."
Rei sighed, weighing her book bag. It would make a suitable weapon. She glanced at him, then walked away.
"W-wait!"
"You may accompany me to the train," she threw over her shoulder. "But keep your hands to yourself."
Shinji retracted his arm as it hovered near her hand.
"Sorry," he said.
"Captain Katsuragi," Fuyutski all but bellowed, "please remember in the future to turn off your cell phone while we're in conference."
"Sorry, sir," she peeped. Misato stuffed her phone back into her pocket. Hope it wasn't anyone important. She conveniently chose to forget who exactly had access to her cell phone number.
"As I was saying," the commander continued, "the tech labs have finished their report of Ikari Gendo's operation and have submitted several proposals to the top brass."
"And what does this have to do with us?" Dr. Soryu snorted, still upset she'd been passed over on dissecting Ikari's research.
"We are to benefit from the fruits of his labors. I know some of you may find the thought… unappealing, but it is necessary to stay ahead of others like him."
Ritsuko idly twisted her chair.
Fuyutski turned the lights off and cued up a projector, the first slide showing the JSSDF sigil and warning of top secret material. Ibuki Maya, sitting behind Dr. Soryu, felt a childish thrill of seeing something secret.
"As you all know," the commander began, switching to a file slide of Gendo, "Ikari was killed during operations nearly five months ago after abducting his son."
Misato felt eyes on her, but continued staring at the screen.
"After his death, all the research and technology he was working on fell into our hands. The bulk of it is listed under the super top secret category; things even I'm not allowed to see. We shall not discuss what those things are."
He went to the next slide, which showed a hulking machine of some kind, its grey wiring and piping flowing from it like entrails.
"This is the crowning achievement of the late Akagi Naoko, who was working with Ikari. It is known as the MAGI, a complex system of three computers used in tandem to operate Ikari's experiments."
The next slide flipped up, a mock-up of the three MAGI in a triangular configuration. Fuyutski went on to the next, a close-up of one of the computers' face.
"This is Balthazar, the only computer which survived the raid. This is what we'll be receiving soon."
Dr. Soryu bristled.
"What for?" she asked. "My system could run laps around any other in the world."
"I don't know, doc," Kaji said, "I've seen the specs for those things. They're pretty impressive."
"I'm surprised you could read them."
Fuyutski coughed.
"We are all aware of how remarkable Dr. Soryu's work is, but the fact that Ikari was able to do what he did requires us to admit he was wielding superior technology. The brass was quick to approve the integration of the remaining MAGI supercomputer into our own. It will be our top priority until it is completed."
Fuyutski waited a moment.
"I'm assigning Dr. Akagi to be head of the MAGI team."
Soryu was on her feet.
"On what basis?"
"On the basis that she spent over two years with the system and its creator while undercover," the commander said calmly. "She knows it better than anyone else here."
"Give me two days and I'll—"
"The MAGI use a neural network," Ritsuko said softly.
"Neural?" Soryu spun on Fuyutski. "But the government has strictly forbidden any biological computers."
"It isn't a pure neural net," Ritsuko said. "The late Dr. Akagi virtually imprinted her brain wave patterns onto the three computers, producing three different systems, all linked by a common interface." She sighed. "Even I don't know all of its secrets."
Soryu looked back to the commander, but didn't find a friend.
"Sempai…" Maya said.
"And what about me? What about my system?"
"You will of course still be instrumental to the running of this organization, Dr. Soryu. You will be expected to assist Dr. Akagi in the integration of the MAGI."
Soryu fumed. She was to assist her? That meant letting Ritsuko see her system's ins and outs, highly guarded secrets only she and a few others were privy to. Things not even the commander knew about.
"This is ludicrous," she hissed.
"This is my decision," Fuyutski warned. "If you don't like it, leave."
Soryu swallowed a few choice words, and her pride. She sat down.
Wishing he could retire, Fuyutski went on.
"Captain Katsuragi will oversee the operation. Consider her in command when I'm not around. All information and inquiries will be directed through her." He flicked the lights on and sat. "Any questions?"
"Well," Misato breathed. "You've explained what everyone here is doing. Except him." She nodded to Kaji.
"He was special inspector to the Ikari case," Fuyutski said quickly. "He is here as a courtesy to the government." He spared a look at the agent, telling him to keep his mouth shut. Kaji smiled.
"And on that note, I really should be going." He stood and gave a jaunty half bow, giving Misato a lingering grin. It was not returned. "Duty calls, and I must answer."
Kaji left the conference room and his grin vanished. His duty, as it was, required him to tail and record all activity of Ikari Shinji. While his father, Gendo, had been interesting enough to make a career out of, the son was a positive bore. Abandoned by his father at age five after his mother had died under mysterious circumstances, he grew up with an uncle and aunt until age thirteen. An overachiever in academics since an early age, he had attended a prep university upon finishing his senior year at a small high school. His contact with agent Kirishima had gone better than expected, to the point where the boy doted on her every wish. On Mana's subtle insistence, he hadn't pursued any of his academic interests, and settled for a wage slave job at the front Ichiban Industries.
Kaji yawned.
The JSSDF had planted Ritsuko inside Gendo's operation at about that time, then two years later the shit hit the fan. Kaji himself had tried to infiltrate with Ritsuko, but Ikari was paranoid, and distrusted anyone not part of some organization called SEELE, an obscure German financial bloc. The only way Ritsuko had made it in was on her mother's word. That had been a small miracle.
Kaji Ryouji prided himself on many things, chief among them his abilities to wait and know when to strike. The past two years were little more than a waiting game, and now this.
He reached his office, a converted closet, and sank into his chair.
There's definitely something wrong with the fact that I can summarize his entire case in the time it takes to walk to my office from the conference room.
"I should have stayed in Kyoto," he said, looking for a cigarette.
Spying on international criminals and wanted scientists was all well and good, but when his skills were wasted on a boring little boy with no sense of reality, Kaji had to question his orders.
He found a crumpled cigarette and lit it. He watched the end burn away before inhaling.
The last wire tap report for Ikari was with Misato, she asking him to pick up Rei from school. He had a good chuckle over that. That girl categorically despised every man that entered Misato's life, no matter the cause. How else could he explain her negative reaction to him?
"I'll never know why Katsuragi adopted that brat," he mused, observing his smoke drift to the ceiling vents. "I could have given her all the kids she'd ever want."
He pulled out his cell phone and hit the speed dial.
"It's me," he said, blowing out more smoke. "Where is he?" Kaji waited, and nearly choked. "He's coming where?" His ensuing laughter only served to confuse the operative on the other end.
"Um, this isn't the way to Misato-san's." Shinji was sure of it. Granted, he'd never been there himself, but he had a rough idea of where it was. Misato's directions had been… interesting. "Where are we going?"
"I am heading to the JSSDF headquarters." She glanced at him quickly and saw him freeze up. "You may get off here, if you wish."
He did not respond. His vision clouded at the edges, and he felt cold. His back throbbed. He sweated. The noise of the train, so overpowering an instant ago seemed to fade, replaced with a steady buzzing. He wanted to stop the train. He did not want to follow this girl into the JSSDF headquarters.
"Are you sleeping with her yet?"
Shinji snapped out of it as his face discovered new shades of red.
"W-what? Of course not! We're… we're just friends."
"Misato does not make friends with men," Rei said. "How long have you known her?"
"Um, not too long. About a month or so."
The two had the same thought: And she never told me about you.
"She's been a great help," Shinji continued. "She helped me get through a very difficult time in my life."
"I am sure," Rei said, unimpressed. "She helps many men in such a way."
Shinji frowned.
"Are you angry with her?" He tried to hold on to his image of Misato, a heroic rescuer of wrongly abused people.
"I do not think that—oh no."
"Wh-oa!"
Asuka flailed towards them, leaving an impressive theatrical trip behind her. She skidded a step or two, then fell on top of Shinji, taking him to the floor. Rei watched with mild nausea.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, sir." Asuka held a shy hand to her face. "I was pushed from behind and had no control. Please forgive me."
"Um… it's okay, miss," Shinji said, polite, even during injury. "Are you okay?"
"That's sweet of you to ask," she said, getting comfortable. "I'm fine thanks to you."
"I'm glad, miss, but… um…"
"Yes?"
"Would you mind terribly to get off of me?"
Asuka produced her best blush.
"Oh! Forgive me! I can't imagine what you must think of me!"
"I can think of a few things," Rei muttered.
Asuka shot her a demonic glare which was wasted on her. Her thoughts vanished as she felt Shinji gently lift her to her feet.
He's… strong…
"Th-thank you," she stuttered, genuinely blushing now.
Shinji, increasingly upset with the whole situation, brushed himself off. He tenderly held his back.
"Uh, yeah. Forget it."
Rei was considering voicing her distaste at the spectacle when she spotted Hikari behind a large man.
"So you are here as well. Did you have a hand in this?"
She colored.
"Wh-whatever do you mean, Rei? We just happened to be on the same train as you and your, um, companion."
Rei sighed as Shinji and Asuka sat down.
"You might as well sit too," the albino said. "I hope you do not mind. We are on our way to headquarters."
"I don't mind," Asuka said, gazing up at Shinji.
"N-neither do I," Hikari agreed, blushing.
"Are, are they friends of yours, Ayanami-san?" Shinji asked, lightly extracting his hand from Asuka's.
"Sometimes. This is—"
"Horaki Hikari!" she blurted out. She clapped her mouth shut and sat down.
"… yes. I believe you have met Soryu."
"Soryu Asuka Langley," she said, smiling. "Very pleased to meet you, my polite hero."
"Uh… pleased to meet you, too. I'm Ikari Shinji. I know Katsuragi Misato-san." A thought ran his mouth. "You don't happen to work for the JSSDF, do you?"
Asuka, displeased with the prospect of Misato stealing her man, never let it show through her sweet facade.
"No, sir, Ikari-san. But my mother does. She's the top scientist in the country, probably in the entire world. At least she was when we were in Germany. Oh, excuse me, that's where I'm from." She flipped her long hair.
Shinji nodded warily.
"That's quite interesting," he said politely.
"Misato was in Germany for a time," Rei said. Asuka frowned as Shinji brightened.
"Really?"
The redhead looked to Hikari for an ally, but she was just gazing at Shinji.
"So you know Katsuragi-san?" Asuka asked him, trying to keep the malice from her voice. "What do you think of her?"
"She's a very kind person," he said after a moment. "Very compassionate."
Asuka had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing.
Okay, she thought, so he isn't very bright. Or he's easily swayed. Either way's fine with me.
"Don't you agree, Ayanami-san?"
Shinji did not receive an answer.
Misato locked her office and sighed. The commander wanted everything in order for the MAGI's transfer tomorrow and had been a veritable slave driver. She had ducked out right after the old man had left for the night, citing personal reasons. It wasn't a total lie; she needed to get home to Rei and Shinji. How they had survived a whole afternoon alone together was worrying her.
I'll call as soon as I'm out of the building, she thought. She checked her watch. Oops. Didn't think it was that late. Looks like instant ramen and beer again tonight.
She stopped dead in her tracks as she found Shinji, Rei, and her two friends waiting in the parking lot by her car. Rei was quietly reading as usual, Shinji was being harassed by Asuka, while Hikari stared at him with a look akin to a deer caught in the headlights.
"Hello?" she called out, still surprised.
Shinji slowly looked up. A look of incalculable relief washed over him.
"Misato-san!"
"Shinji-kun? Rei? What are you guys doing here?"
Rei nodded once.
"So he was telling the truth. My apologies, Ikari-san."
Misato, in a rare show of quick thinking, put it together.
"What? You thought he was a stalker or something? Come on, Shinji-kun wouldn't hurt a fly." She cuffed him on the arm, which bordered on a grope. Shinji didn't mind either way. "So what? She dragged you down here to verify your identity?"
"Well, you weren't answering your phone…"
"Sorry, Shinji-kun," Misato said. "I thought it would be a nice way for you two to meet. I never guessed Rei would make it so difficult."
"Oh, um, no trouble at all, really."
"And what about you two?" Misato said, bearing down on Shinji's admirers.
"Oh, Katsuragi-san, we, um—"
"We met on the train here," Asuka said, eyeing the way Misato kept her hand on Shinji's arm.
"Convenient, is it not?" Rei asked.
"I'm here to see my mother. You remember I told you about her, right, Ikari-san?"
"Oh, right."
"Sorry," Misato said. "Dr. Soryu's working hard on a project and won't be out for a good while. Come on, I'll give you a lift home."
She turned to Shinji, intent on having him take the front with her. She frowned as she saw Rei had already gotten to it.
"Uh, sorry, Shinji-kun. Hope you don't mind a cramped ride."
"He doesn't mind at all," Asuka cut in, latching onto his arm. "Do you, Ikari-san?"
"I guess I don't have a choice."
Hikari followed, her face still crimson.
End of Chapter 5
Author notes: what? What? Honestly, did you expect Rei to fall head over heels for Shinji or something? Come on. Even if he does call her Ayanami-san. Okay, I agree that's a little odd for a twenty-one year old to say to a teenager, but Shinji is extremely humble. Besides, it's the kid of his only friend. I'd think he'd say it.
Hah hah? Please bear with my humor. Yes, Asuka and Hikari are now the Touji and Kensuke of this story, i.e, they'll be drooling over Shinji and whatnot.
Argh! Asuka's mom keeps coming out so mean! I don't mean it. I actually like der redhead a lot (I'm working on an Asuka fic right now). Which leads me to the MAGI sub-plot. Yeah, it's pointless in relation to the main plot, but it was bothering me. What would the JSSDF do with the processing power of the MAGI? I can't exactly see them trying to destroy the world, so giant robots are out. I can easily see, say, Aoba downloading music with it, or Hyuuga downloading porn. Or Misato erasing all her debts. Nothing too ambitious there, or here.
I couldn't help it. Was the train scene with Asuka over the top?
Next chapter will really hunker down and get some actual romance out. I know, I know, five chapters into a drama/romance story and no romance? Sorry. Shinji's been through a lot in this one, cut him some slack.
My reviewers… thank you all. I never dreamed I'd get so many positive ones. Oh, and MidnightCereal, author of the superb In The Dark Room, you made me blush. Eee! Thanks. And by the way, that graveyard scene between Shinji and the talented Ms. Buick? Still creeps me out. I can't wait to see how it ends.
Big thanks to Kare Kano soundtracks 1 and 3 (I'm missing number 2) and Final Fantasy S Generation. You help me write good.