"I said: 'Kiss me, you're beautiful' - These are truly the last days."
School was boring. Very boring. One week into school and Shinji had to admit that Rei was right - Kurasawa-sensei only taught one subject.
"...And so the restoration of man into the second half of the twentieth century began..."
Shinji ignored him, directing his attention and a hostile gaze to the computer built into his desk. It glared back, threatening him with its digitally rendered lines of kana. There was a message for him.
Shinji didn't like computers. They tended to either explode,
become completely inert, or erase themselves every time he touched one.
Computers, on the other hand, really hated Shinji.
\-/' Neon Genesis Evangelion: Honor's Duty " Stanza Six: Absolute Kindness
"pssst! Have you heard the rumor?"
In the very back of the class, two girls began to quietly gossip.
"Eh! You mean He's the pilot!"
"Shhh..! Not so loud. Yeah, that's what Sana in class 2-C said,
and she said she got it from Yuriko, who heard it from Sayuri, who heard
it from Mao, who said she heard them talking on the roof during lunch on
his first day here."
"Mao is such a bookworm.."
"Yeah, but she said she heard Ayanami say he's Commander Ikari's son!"
"Commander Ikari? Who's that?"
"You don't know anything, do you? He's the leader of the organization that owns those big robots that saved the city."
"Where'd you get that?"
Girl A nodded at Kensuuke. "Aida told me. His dad works for them too, says its name is NERV or something."
"NERV? Isn't that bad grammar?"
"I think it's German."
Girl B looked confused. "But.. what're the Germans doing in Japan? With Giant robots even..?"
"I think it's a UN thing, really.." Girl A shrugged.
"So, you really think He's the pilot?"
"He could be. Ask him."
Girl B looked incredulously at her friend. "Me? That'd be too embarrassing!"
Girl A sighed, and began to type. "Fine. I'll ask him."
"On the computer..? Why didn't I think of that?"
"'Cause you're an idiot, silly."
'\-/'
Computers really, really hated Shinji.
'Are you the Pilot? Y/N?'
He scowled at the infernal device, it's cheery text message taunting him, and daunting him at the same time. He looked about the classroom, seeking the source of the transmission.
Two cute girls in the back of the class waved at him, then one typed furiously. He looked back to the screen, seeing that she had only repeated the message again.
'Did you save the city with one of those cool Robots? Y/N?'
He gulped nervously, his shaking hand reaching for the 'Y' key.
He closed his eyes in apprehension.
Click
Nothing happened. He opened his eyes to see a 'Y' in the reply box. He had finally done it. He had finally, and successfully touched a computer without anything bad happening. Smugly, he hit the 'Enter' key.
His laptop exploded. With a sound akin to a gunshot, the thing went up in flames, attracting the attention of the entire class.
"Mr. Ikari..." Kurasawa-sensei said, adjusting his glasses.
"You've destroyed government property. Go stand in the hall."
Grumbling, his right hand blackened, Shinji complied. He really didn't like computers.
'\-/'
"Woah.. did you see that!" Girl A whispered in awe after Shinji
slid the door shut.
"Yeah.." Girl B nodded. "That Nerv thing has to have some serious security to neg his computer before he could say. He's got to be the pilot. Just gotta."
"What's that?" Girl C asked from in front of them. "Ikari's the pilot?"
"Uun. Seems so. I mean, look at what happened! Let's talk to him after class." Girl A said excitedly.
The room began to buzz with the spread of the news. Kensuuke adjusted his glasses thoughtfully.
'\-/'
Shinji continued his attack. He was in the men's restroom, a
pair of buckets at his feet waiting to be filled, as he finished
scrubbing his hand free of the black soot. He rinsed it off, then
sniffed.
"Bleah.. Still smells like acetone! Damn it.." Shoulders
slumped, he tossed the brush he had used back into the sink. "Mou.
Stupid computers."
He left after filling the buckets, sloushing back to class, and settled in next to the door. He had forty minutes to wait until the lunch bell sounded.
'\-/'
Gendou surveyed his domain. It was quiet; and quiet was good. He
looked across the expanse of his desk to the Command Center below,
bustling with activity even in the lull of non-combat. Well, almost
bustling.
Misato grabbed the top of her shirt and fanned herself with it.
"Geeze, I'm hot.. Are you hot?"
Break time, and Maya was enjoying the free show. "Yeah, a little.."
"I hate being too hot. Stupid air conditioning, either too damn cold or not cold enough." She grumbled, continuing to fan herself.
"You wouldn't think, with all the technology we have in this
place, that it'd be a problem keeping it a pleasant sixty five degrees"
Maya sighed, fanning her face with a hand.
"I know... so much for man's triumph over nature."
Ritsuko entered as Misato said this, and smiled, shaking her head. "Grumping again, Captain?"
She nodded. "Hi Ritsuko."
"Good afternoon, Sempai."
Ritsuko nodded to her young protégé. "Afternoon, Maya. I take it nothing's happening."
"Not a damn thing." Misato said, a faint look of annoyance crossing her pretty features. "I swear, the waiting kills me! I wish they'd all just attack and get it over with."
"It's only been six days since the Third Angel attacked. Be grateful for the reprieve. Next time we might not be so lucky."
"If they take too long, we could get too lax.. then 'next time'
we'll be dead. Who knows? We might mistake one for an ugly parade
balloon or... something." Misato grumbled darkly.
"Parade balloon?" Ritsuko parroted incredulously. "Really Misato, perhaps it's time for you to take a vacation."
"No!" Misato shouted, then grimaced. "I can't just go off,
leaving the children in the hands of someone even less competent than I.
It wouldn't be fair, not to them; or any of you."
"you're.. You're right, I'm sorry. It's just that you seem so.
tense."
Maya looked on in confusion as Misato deflated somewhat. "I.. I guess I kinda am pretty worked up, arn't I?"
"Yes. As head medial director of Nerv, I suggest a nice hot bath, a few beers and a good massage."
Misato adopted the far off look of those lost in pleasurable fantasy. "Oh... I'd love that.. but where am I going find a good masseuse in this damn complex?"
"Ano.."
Both women's attention turned to Maya as she spoke up, causing
the younger woman to blush. "I.. umn, that is.. I trained to be a
massage therapist before getting into computers. I could... if you want,
I mean... I.." Her blush deepened. Then blurred out of the camera's
extreme closeup as she was no longer in frame, Misato having since taken
possession of the young woman's hand and hauling ass towards the exit.
Ritsuko tittered softly to herself, amused at the captain's actions as always. "So impulsive.. I wonder if she'll ever grow out of that..?"
From high above, Gendou began fiddling with the video feed controls on his desk. "I wonder if.. Ah, yes, here we are, the women's bath.."
'\-/'
39 minutes, 40 seconds later, Shinji yawned for the twelfth
time. His right foot was tapping out a staccato beat as he stood,
waiting to be relieved of his bucket holding duties. The bell rang.
The door to his left was immediately thrown aside, disgorging
the classroom's contents in a silent semi-circle around him. He blinked.
"What the..?"
"Ikari!" the class rep shouted, standing in front of him. "Are you the pilot of the giant robot that saved the city?"
Hikari's timing could not have been worse, for as she asked her question, Kizuko came out of the classroom, catching his full attention.
"Well, are you or not?"
"Huh?" His attention snapped back to Hikari. "Sorry, what?"
She was faintly annoyed. "Are you the pilot of the robot or not!"
"Oh, yeah. One of them, anyway."
The student body around him broke into a jumble of voices,
causing Kizuko to spare him a glance before climbing the stairs to the
roof. "Wow, I just knew it! .. Ikari, you're the best! ... you saved us!
You saved our lives! ... We're so proud of you! .. Does it have a
special attack? ... How big is that thing, really? ... How were you
chosen? .. Ikari, have my baby!"
Shinji ignored most of it, setting his buckets down and motioning for quiet. After a few more shouted complements, the group of students subdued. "I can't say anything about it."
"What? .. Why not? .. C'mon, Ikari tell us something! ... Etc."
Shinji motioned for quiet again, and was pleased when he got it.
"I'm sorry. I can't. I like to breathe, and I'm sure you all do too.
Even saying I'm a pilot might be against the rules."
There was a general consensus among them that "This sucks", and one bespectacled boy stood forward. "At least tell us this much: That giant, the Angel. What was it? Was it some country's weapon?"
Shinji shrugged. "Dunno, no one's said anything about it to me.
I've only been told that if I don't help destroy them, everyone'll die."
The crowd began denying that possibility in various ways, until the boy in glasses managed to be heard again. "What do you mean by 'Everyone'? Everyone in the city? The country? What?"
Shinji sighed, and rubbed the back of his head almost shamefacedly. "To directly quote the commander of Nerv, 'all of mankind shall perish in fiery oblivion'."
A blank type of abject terror settled on the crowd, followed by an immediate and oppressive silence.
The boy in glasses tried to say something, but failed.
"Yeah, that kind of everyone. So, please understand when I say I don't know anything, and that I can't tell you what I do know.. If it is some country's weapon, as you said it might be, and they find out some weakness in our defenses 'cause I've been at school talkin' 'bout specs and stuff.. We all go Boom." Shinji said somberly, shaking his head.
"I see."
"Good. So, do me the favor of not asking about it. And now, if you'll all excuse me, I have an appointment to keep."
He moved through the crowd as if the students really weren't jam-packed around him, and walked off, offering a wave and a weak 'See ya later' before disappearing after Kizuko, leaving behind a tangible feeling of dread.
'\-/'
Gendou's phone rang. He looked away from the monitor built into
his desk, opening the drawer he kept the non-emergency line in, removing
the headset from its cradle. "Yes?"
Kizuko. "Ikari-kun has revealed his status as Pilot to the student body."
"I see."
"Orders, sir?"
"That boy.." He said softly, then: "Bring him to me."
"Yes sir."
He replaced the phone and resumed his 'vigil'.
'\-/'
"What about the 80mm pulse machine rifle they built for it? Have
you seen that thing yet? I only saw the blue prints, but oh! It was so
cool!"
Shinji continued to eat his sandwich, ignoring the bespectacled boy who had introduced himself as 'Kensuuke Aida, Military Otaku at your service SIR!'. He had been weirded out at the amount of knowledge Kensuuke had about the Evangelion's and their equipment, but shrugged it off after the boy had explained it was only general knowledge gleaned from internet sites and not hush-hush secret info from his father in Nerv R&D.
Munch munch chew Gulp He had gone up to the roof in hopes of finding Kizuko, but after a through inspection, found her not. He had gone to the cafeteria instead in hopes of finding food and some quiet time to think. He had, instead, found food and a bunch of girls, girls who were practically throwing themselves at him. It was about this time that Aida stumbled along, and like soap on a greasy pan, the womenfolk fled before him.
"I hear they're building a mobile positron cannon for it. I mean, a positron cannon? Isn't that overkill? Well, considering our enemies, maybe not, but.."
It was peace, of a sort.
"Could you, like, get me in to see them?"
Shinji paused. "'Them'?"
"Yeah! The Evangelions!"
"Ehh..." He pretended to think about it, watching the other boy get his hopes up. "No."
Kensuuke looked stricken. "But-!"
"Look, Aida; I can't help you."
"But-!"
"You Ikari?"
Shinji turned, ignoring Kensuuke. "Huh? Yeah, That's me." He said to the tall, rough looking young man in a black jumpsuit.
"Touji? Dude, you like, missed a week of class, man! What's the-
"Shut it, Kensuuke." The taller boy said, his eyes never leaving
Shinji. "I hear you're some kinda hot shot pilot, that you're da one who
saved the city."
"Somethin' like that, yeah." Shinji nodded.
Touji jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "Outside. Now."
Shinji blinked. He then rose, leaving the remains of his lunch behind as he followed the angry boy outside. Kensuuke hesitated a moment before following as well.
'\-/'
"Excuse me."
The two guys stopped talking, looking to who spoke. They then took a surprised step backwards. "A-Ayanami?" Guy A said.
"Do you know the present location of Ikari, Shinji?" Kizuko asked, looking them over.
"He was in the cafeteria, but I think Suzahara challenged him to a fight or something." Said Guy B.
"Yeah, I think they went behind the Gym, out by the track field," Guy A supplied.
"Your assistance is appreciated." She said, turning towards the gym.
They waited a moment before speaking again. "Weird girl."
"Yeah. She's always so... stiff. Formal like, you know?"
"Tell me about it. But her sister... Man, that is a babe."
"Oh yeah. Still.. I wonder what she wants with Ikari?"
Guy B shrugged. "Dunno. Maybe another one of them 'Angel' things are attacking or something."
They both thought on that, then listened for sirens. "Nah."
'\-/'
Shinji waited for the other boy to speak, leaning on the back
wall of the gym casually as Touji paced back and forth.
"K', Listen." Touji began, turning to look at Shinji with his
arms crossed. "My little sis got hurt bad in that fight of yours. I
mean, she's still in da hospital even." He kicked a rock, watching it
sail through the air to land a few feet away. "My Dad and Gramps work in
yer lab, so I'm the only one that can go ta see her. It's not the goin'
there that I mind, but... what if she gets some sorta scar? Then she'll
never be a babe. Doncha feel sorry for 'er?"
"Eh... I dunno." Shinji replied, cleaning his ear with the tip of his pinky.
Touji blinked. "huh?"
"I mean, think about it:" Shinji said, coming off the wall to
begin pacing himself. "Chicks with scars can be pretty babe-o-licious.
That entire 'Cute chick, weird injury' thing kinda adds to the
mystique... Makes a guy more interested, ya know? Lookit Ayanami, er.
Well, yeah: Both of 'em. First time I met Rei, she was all banged up,
and then Kizuko; well, if you can look past that sheet of ice she hides
behind, she can be pretty cute too."
"Yous gots a point." Touji admitted, stroking his chin.
"Besides, even if I did feel sorry for your lil' sis, -which I do, mind you-" He amended quickly, "... the best I could do is maybe pull a few strings and get 'er placed in the Pilot's ward in the HQ Hospice, but then if she's got some real bad injuries, like if she's missin' an arm, say, she'd come out with no scars a'tall. An that tends to raise more questions than the scars would."
"Yeah? Yeah... Come ta think of it, I seen both Ayanami's in
dere swim suits, and yeah -fer the amount a time dey spend in 'wraps,
they don't got a single blemish on 'em." Touji scowled. "Dat's some
crazy shit, man. Shouldn't be possible, like."
"You tellin' me? I friggin' put a tourniquet on Rei's bloody
stump, an two days later she's in the hospital and her arm's all there,
not a freakin' mark on 'er. I checked. Got pimp slapped for it too."
"Man, dat's humiliation."
Shinji shrugged. "Yeah, but I saw 'er in 'er underwear, so I guess we're about even."
"Sweet." Touji smiled, then held out a hand. "So, I guess we clear on the situation then, eh?"
"'Bout as clear as it can be, I'm thinkin'." Shinji replied,
taking the offered hand.
"'Course, I still gotta deck you one fer puttin' my sis in da hospital."
He smiled. "Be warned, I'll return the favor for you callin' me out."
"Sounds about fair."
Wham
Shinji winced around the fist implanted in his cheek. "Man, you got quite the arm, Touji."
Likewise, Touji smiled around the fist in his face. "Same ta you, Shinji."
Mutually releasing their firm handshake, they both fell
backwards. From where he lay on the ground, Suzahara raised an eyebrow.
"Kensuuke? How long you been dere?"
"Uh... Hi?" Aida offered meekly.
"Stupid, He followed us outta the Cafeteria, remember?" Shinji muttered from where he was sprawled out.
"Oh yeah. Look, Kensuuke, you're my friend and all.. but, you
tell anybody 'bout this male bonding shit... I'm gonna haveta kill ya.
Got it?"
Kensuuke swallowed hard, backing up a step. "Y-y-yeah. Got it!
Won't tell a soul!"
"Good." Touji said to the accompaniment of Shinji's soft laughter.
They all paused as the sound of hurried footsteps and labored
breathing became audible, and closer. Touji propped himself up as Shinji
looked backwards, all three recognizing the girl as she approached.
"Kizuko? Hey! You weren't on the roof earlier."
Said bandaged, blue-haired babe stopped right above Shinji as he said this, and took a moment to catch her breath. "Ikari, we are wanted at Command."
Shinji rolled his eyes. "Joy." He said, shaking his head. Kizuko raised an eyebrow as she looked down at him.
"You do not seem enthused."
"Very observant of you." He grumbled, but brightened. "I must say, white is definitely your color."
Kensuuke and Touji snickered at Shinji, realizing the perfect vantage point the other boy had. Kizuko merely raised an eyebrow.
'\-/'
"I don't get it.." Shinji said, as he and Kizuko endured the
long walk from their school to Nerv. "I mean, I tell the teach that I
have stuff to do and they let me go. I could disappear for a week and
they wouldn't think twice about it. Hell, I don't think they'd even care
if I do the make-up assignments they give me, so long as I come back."
Indeed they were walking, after a few unsuccessful attempts to contact either of his guardians. Frustrated, he had asked Kizuko how she normally got to Nerv; and without a word the silent girl had begun the journey towards HQ on foot.
Although disgruntled at the reality of Nerv's 'walking wounded' taking themselves to work, he found he had to pace himself only slightly to keep up with her. So, instead of pointlessly worrying over her condition, he took the opportunity to familiarize himself with the city's skyline, taking note of various convenience stores and such along their path while keeping up a one sided conversation with his silent companion.
"I guess that's the real thing behind it, though -that I come
back. I wonder if anyone would miss me if I didn't. Well, Pops, sure,
but anyone here? Misato, maybe; Ritsuko too. And Rei, she might miss me,
since we've been talking every day. I dunno about my Father, though.."
Kizuko glanced at him. "I must have misunderstood. Did you not say that your 'Pop' would miss you? Do you not mean your father when you use this term?"
"Nah, when I say Pop I mean my foster father, Saotome Ranma-
sensei. I have a hard time thinking of Gendou as anything but 'Father,
with a capital F."
A few moments of silence went by as Kizuko thought that over. "I do not understand. Why do you think of 'father' with a capital?"
Shinji shrugged. "Why do I think of 'Teacher' with a capital T?
It's a title. Father gained it because that's what he is -my Father. But
he really hasn't done anything to make me feel like he isn't a stranger;
I just don't think of him as family. So, it's a title, and titles get
capitalized."
"I see. Do you respect your father?"
"Humnn.." He said, crossing his arms behind his head as he
thought, swinging his book bag behind himself. "Yeah, I suppose I do.
Even though I didn't know him while I was growing up, I realize now it
was because of his work on the Evangelion's that made him unable to care
for me after mom was taken from us... I don't blame him for leaving me
with Pops, 'cause mom had him do that, but it woulda been nice if he had
dropped by to say hi or written or something. I guess he's just the type
who gets lost in their work."
"Yes, he is. I respect your father as well."
Shinji raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? What he do to get your respect?"
"He saved my life."
The other eyebrow shot skyward. "Really? Huh. Lemme guess,
problem with Unit Zero?"
She nodded. "Yes. It failed the activation test, in which I received these injuries."
Shinji shuddered. "Well, at least you came back. Maybe not all of you, but you came back."
She paused, looking up at him after he turned to face her. "Why do you say that?"
He blinked. "Huh? Say what?"
"You sound as if you are happy I did not disappear within the entry plug."
"That's because I am.. Arn't you?"
She thought for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly as her mind searched for an answer. "I am not sure."
He answered her with silence, failing to understand her at all.
"You're not... Sure? You mean... you're not glad you didn't die?"
"It is not important to me. I am easily replaced." She said,
beginning to walk by him, but stopping as he grabbed her arm. She looked
at him from the side, her gaze questioning.
"Don't ever say that." He said softly as he released her arm,
using that hand to instead brush her cheek with his fingers. "You're not
replaceable. Not to me."
A slight blush colored her cheeks as she met his gaze for a moment; then, turning away from him, she resumed walking. Within a few minutes of strained silence, they arrived at HQ.
Shinji saw her to the Medical Ward before making his way to the command center. A quick glance up revealed his father's desk to be empty.
The techs looked up as he arrived. "You're pilot Ikari, right"
asked Hyuuga.
He stopped, and bowed. "Yeah, I'm sorry for not introducing myself last time..."
"Hey, don't worry about it." Aoba said, looking up from Love Hina Volume 11. "It was a little tense when you got here."
"Eh... Still. I'm Ikari Shinji. Nice to meet you all."
"Hyuuga Makoto." Said the shorthaired guy in glasses. "Nice to make your acquaintance, Pilot. Thanks for saving our asses."
"Aoba Shigeru." Said the suspiciously American-looking Manga reading guy. "Thanks to your efforts, I will live to read the rest of Love Hina! You're my hero, man!"
"Aoba, you're such a fool." The shorthaired girl said, sticking her tongue out at him. Shinji recognized her voice from his brief spat in/with Unit-00. "Ibuki Maya. You have my admiration, Ikari-san."
"I'd rather have your number, or a date. Preferably both." He said, throwing his suave charms into full gear.
Oh my god! WhatamIgoingtodo? Maya thought, blushing fiercely.
"Ouuooo!" Aoba and Hyuuga chorused.
"Smooth, man!"
"Way to go!" Matoko said in bad English.
"Is.. Isn't it against corporate... I mean, government policy to date coworkers?" Maya asked meekly.
Aoba and Hyuuga switched their attention from Maya to Shinji.
"Nah. I'm piloting and general ass-kicking, while you're in the command-technician department. It's like if my Father was getting some with Dr. Akagi. No one'd care."
Hyuuga and Aoba switched focal points again, waiting for her reaction.
"Eh? But, I, um.. I'm older than you?"
Again, the two men switched their view, interested in how Shinji would refute this remarkably valid point.
The young man gave it a moment of thought, then shrugged. "Eh,
what's four years in the face of love, let alone wide-scale destruction,
Alien Invasion, and the possibility of immanent death?"
Sighing in abject defeat, the poor girl deflated somewhat, her coworkers snickering. "It's 0109-88-4142."
Aoba and Hyuuga gave Shinji the victory sign as Shinji whipped out a pocket book, scribbled down her number, and put it back wherever it came from. "Thanks! I'll give you a call sometime. Maybe I could talk you into showing me around the city? I haven't had the chance to see much of it yet."
"Yeah? I.. I think that might be a possibility."
A pair of hands alighted on Shinji's shoulders, causing him to raise an eyebrow, Hyuuga and Aoba quickly swiveling around as they began to work again. "Chatting up the cuties, are we, Shin-chan?"
"Hey Ritsu. I even got her number, too."
The blonde scientist cringed slightly at the nickname, being
reminded of a certain person who called her the same one and shared many
of Shinji's attributes. Or was it the other way around? "Oh, I see.
Congratulations. You've smitten my daughter, frustrated Misato, broken
through Kizuko's ice veneer, and working on Maya too?"
"Yup. But, don't forget -I hit on you as well." He said,
smiling.
"You're so shameless." She said good-humouredly, ruffling his hair. "Is he bothering you, Maya?"
"No.. Not at all. I'm... flattered, really."
"Lucky you, Ikari. But.. I'm going to kick you out anyway."
"Figures. Hey, where can I find the old man?"
"You could try his office." Ritsuko offered.
'\-/'
Knock Knock
The sound echoed off the large metal door and continued,
unabated, down the empty hallway.
"Enter."
Upon opening the door, Shinji found himself under his father's inscrutable gaze. He almost felt intimidated. Almost. Click
"Wonderful job you've done, Shinji.." Gendou started, his hands dropping from their usual position to rest on the large desk in his office. "Telling the student body you're a pilot. What does it get you?"
"A few one night stands and a bunch of female admirers?" The young man offered.
"Well yes.." Gendou seceded, "But it could also get you killed."
"Assassination?" Shinji hazarded, only to have Gendou nod.
"Damn, didn't think of that." He frowned. "'Bout the only thing I can't
dodge is bullets. Guess I'll have to be more careful."
"What's done is done. My recommendation is for you to refrain from telling anyone else."
"But.. that 'I'm a pilot and tonight my be our last night to
live' line works so well! I mean.." He pulled an address book from his
back pocket and flipped through a few pages, "I've already gotten
seventeen phone numbers, six dates, three offers for sex, and one girl
who wants to marry me. It's great! And you want me to stop?" He paused,
shaking his head slightly while giving his father a dubious look. "Are
you out of your mind?"
Gendou blinked. "Well.. Continue at your own discretion."
Shinji smirked. "Thanks, Father. That all you called me in for?"
"Not quite." The elder Ikari said, adjusting his glasses. "How are you finding your accommodations?"
"Very much to my liking. Babes, Beer, and a bird. What else could a teenager want in a room?"
"I see. School?"
Shinji snorted in contempt. "All the teacher ever does is drone on about second impact. It's boring, not to mention grossly inaccurate."
"Indee-Wait a second. How do YOU know about THAT?" Gendou asked,
a note of alarm in his voice.
"Duh. You're the one who sent Ryouji to Ranma-Sensei for stealth training." Shinji intoned, offering his father a placid look.
"Oh. So he told you?" Shinji nodded and Gendou sighed. "I swear,
if the man wasn't so useful I'd have him shot."
"You do know he's a double agent, right?" Shinji asked.
"Of course."
"Just checking. Well, I'm off. See ya later, old man."
"Feh." Gendou snorted as his son left. "Rambunctious youth."
'\-/'
Knock Knock
Rei looked up from the history book she was currently reading to see Shinji standing by the door to her room. "Yes?"
"Hey. I've got some time to kill before the Induction Mode test tonight. Feel up for a bit of a walk?" He asked.
"Sure! Let me just slip a hospital gown on real quick." She said, dropping the schoolbook on a nearby hospital tray table stacked with assignments before tossing the covers aside and gingerly standing up.
Though only clad in her underwear, and feeling his gaze on her lithe body, Rei didn't mind, much, anymore. Over the past six days she and Shinji had come to an understanding: As long as he refrained from stealing her panties and didn't touch without permission, he was free to look as long and as hard as he pleased.
It was still unnerving at times, but the rational part of her
mind knew he was just curious about a woman's body. She got a bit of a
thrill out of it, though, knowing his undivided attention was on her,
and that he would probably do anything for a chance to run his hands
over her smooth, soft skin...
She was snapped out of that thought as a searing lance of
pain ripped through her injured arm. She gasped slightly, then sighed.
"Shinji, would you mind...?"
"Sure thing, Rei." He replied, moving behind her and tying the gown shut. "You know you're beautiful, right?"
"Of course. You only tell me every day."
He chuckled as she also donned a robe, the IV line trailing out of her collar. "I can't help telling the truth."
She cinched the robe's belt about her waist with little difficulty, and took the wheeled IV hanger in hand. "Well, shall we?"
He bowed, saying "Ladies first."
The Medical Wards were located just under the main command
center, and just above the Evangelion Cage, affording the two teens with
a beautiful late evening view of the Geofront's landscape. They stopped
at one point along the gigantic pane of Plexiglas, which extended the
entire length of the Medical Ward on all sides of the Nerv Pyramid,
enjoying the view in a companionable silence.
"Say, Shinji...?"
"Mnn...?"
"When do you think the next Angel will attack?"
She watched his features turn serious for the moment he mulled over the question. "I dunno." He finally said. "I do hope it'll be a while, if at all."
"I hope so. I don't want you out there alone."
"Regardless, it's not the fighting that worries me. It's the fact that no one seems to know just who, or what, our Enemy is."
Rei idly wheeled the IV stand back and forth, not quite knowing what to say. "They're obviously not peaceful. But, someone must know something -we have the Eva's, after all. Creating a weapon of that scale requires some foresight, you know."
He turned his head to look at her, narrowing his eyes. "You know something. But what?"
She dropped her gaze, looking out to the deep man made lake
below, watching the orange light play across the water's surface. "I'm
not at liberty to discuss that information with persons under Ultra-
Violet clearance."
He blinked. (SqueegieSqueegie) "UV Protection! You mean you've got UV Clearance? Then what am I?"
"No, I'm just held under high confidence by the Commander." She smiled wryly. "As for you, I think you're Blue level, but you'd have to verify that."
He grumbled. "In other words, you're saying if I want answers, I should ask my Father."
"Ind.. Er, yeah. Pretty much."
He made a soft disgruntled sound before removing himself from the rail and walking on. She followed, easing her way up to walk next to him. "So, how was school today?"
"Eh, not too bad, but a bit busier than normal."
"How so?"
"Well... Some girls tried to chat with me over the computers,
but... Umn, when I tired to respond, mine kinda... blew up."
She scrunched up her face. "Your computer blew up? Why?"
"I'm not entirely sure. Every time Me, my Pops, or any of the
martial artists he knows who are as good as he is touch a computer,
something strange happens. They blank out, or erase themselves, or
sometimes just... blow up. Damn, the school's prolly going to send me
the bill, too."
"That's bizarre."
"Tell me about it. A friend of Pops said once that it had something to do with how we regulate our Ki, said that since we kinda store it like, and keep a reserve, we turn our bodies into one big capacitor. And when we touch sensitive electronic equipment and the like, we screw it up. Too much electromagnetic radiation, or we cause a short circuit, or somethin'. I wasn't really paying attention to the conversation at the time."
"Must be hard, not being able to use a computer." Rei mused.
"Eh, it's not so bad. Xian Puu said she thought that heavy duty magnetic radiation shielding might keep that from happening. Since I've got some cash now, I'm thinking about bugging the guys in R&D to slap something together for me. On the up side, I can get free games at Arcades and cokes out of vending machines and the like." He finished smugly.
"I don't believe that for a second." She said, then, "Your Sensei knows someone named Xian Puu?"
"The lounge is up ahead, I'll prove it. And yes, he does. Nice gal, too... Though still a bit sore that she didn't get to marry Pops, I think. Any way, after that, the guys in our class managed to get me to squeal that I was a Pilot. It's kinda funny, my pocket book's almost filled with addresses and phone numbers of beautiful girls. One of 'em wants to marry me even, can you believe that?"
"Welcome to the world of instant celebrity." Rei commented wryly.
"Feh." He said as they reached the small lounge area. All three walls were covered with vending machines of various make, with various wares: Coffee, Soda, instant ramen, assorted snack foods, beer, and one that sold an assortment of undergarments. Shinji raised an eyebrow at that last one, then wandered over to the ICC Coffee machine. "I can see it now..." He smacked the button for a light coffee. After a moment the machine made a series of complaining noises, and a can rolled out obligingly. He stooped, retrieved it, and then posed for Rei. "ICC coffee: rich flavor, for those with discerning taste."
She snorted at him, amused. "Yeah, dress you in your Plug Suit and you could probably sell that stuff easy. Hey, and get me a sour apple soda while you're at it."
He shrugged, then browsed the machines, finally finding one with
the requested beverage. He pressed the button, and two popped out.
"Oops. Held the button too long, I think."
Rei tittered softly. "That's okay. I'll drink the other one later."
They sat on one of the benches, sipping at their drinks. "What else happened today?"
"Eh, I got pestered by this guy named Aida for a tour of the Eva Cage..."
She rolled her eyes. "Will that boy ever give up?"
"Oh, bugged you about it too, did he?" She nodded an affirmative and he continued, "Anyway, then there was this guy, Suzahara. He dragged me outside and started going off about how his younger sister got put in the hospital because of the Angel attack. I 'apologized' to him. Not much I can do about it, but I feel sorry for the kid."
"Yeah. I hope he wasn't too harsh with you. When something like this hurts family, it really hits hard. The poor guy is probably feeling a bit helpless about this entire situation."
"Uun. Next Angel I see, I'm going to belt it one for Suzahara's little sister. Those invading bastards deserve it, for all the pain they've caused."
She reached over and covered his right hand with her still recovering left, giving him a gentle squeeze. "Shinji... I'm sorry you had to get caught up in all of this..."
He turned to look at her, catching her eyes; and moving his hand so that he could return the gentle sign of kindness. "No, don't be. All my life, I've been raised, trained, and told countless times to help people, no matter what. And now, I'm helping everyone, even if they don't realize it. It's not exactly what I was planning to do at this stage of my life," He said, smirking slightly, "...but I think it's for the best. I can make a difference here. And that's all I've ever wanted to do with my life. Make a difference."
Damn you, Shinji Ikari! She cursed mentally, trying not to cry, I'm so proud of you, and I love you so much... and I can't tell you without you asking questions I can't answer! Unable to speak, she did the only thing she could think of.
Shinji was surprised when his vision was filled with a pair of
half lidded red eyes holding tears at bay, fair flawless skin, and cool
cobalt blue hair. He pulled back just slightly before her lips met his,
and a distinct trill ran through his body, stealing his breath away.
To Rei, that image of shocked innocence would be treasured forever.
'\-/' Stanza Six: Absolute Kindness " End
-
Author's Notes
-
And finally, this Stanza is closed. I can't tell you all how
good that makes me feel, as it's been close to a year since I last
released anything for this series. My apologies.
I hope you've enjoyed this chapter of Honor's Duty.
-JJ Corley