Disclaimer: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion, oh how I wish I did, though.

Becoming A Man

Shinji's birthday is next week, Misato thought. "Hey Asuka," she called out.

"Yeah," the red headed girl answered back. She was lying down in the den watching television.

"Where's Shinji?"

"Toji and Kensuke said something about taking him somewhere."

"Ah!" Shinji yelled.

"Come on, Ikari! At least play along!" Kensuke Aida yelled from behind a multicolored hey stack.

"Get down, Ikari!" Toji yelled from the other side of a tree. He had his first around a guy's collar, ready to punch him. However, instead, he pulled out his paint ball gun and shot the guy.

How did I get myself into this, Shinji asked himself.

"Great," Misato exclaimed, "I want to talk to you about Shinji's birthday next week."

"Can we through him a surprise party?" Asuka asked.

"Hey, that's a great idea." "Why do you want to through Shinji a surprise party anyway?"

"So I can show Kaji what a caring and sensitive woman I am," Asuka beamed brightly.

"Figures," Misato mused.

Shinji walked in through the front door. "Oh, hey Shinji. How was your day? That's nice; Asuka and I are going shopping. We'll be back later," she said in one big swoop of air that didn't seem to affect her in the least.

"Bye baka, fix some thing good for dinner," Asuka replied as she too walked right by him and out the front door. Shinji just stood where he was for a moment, then went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

"What color should we get the streamers?" Misato asked.

"Well, he doesn't look completely ugly in his black and white plug suit," Asuka commented.

"Asuka," Misato half teased, eyeing the girl.

"Misato! Ew, that's gross! Besides, I'm going to ask Kaji to be my date for the party," Asuka said.

"I was planning on asking Kaji to take Shinji out so we can set everything up," Misato informed.

"What? Why can't ask the other stooges?" Asuka wondered.

"I know they're Shinji's best friends and I think they're great, don't get me wrong; but, they are just a little odd. Besides, I want Shinji to spend some quality time with a good-natured male." I know that's not Kaji, but all in all, he's a good guy, Misato thought to herself. She couldn't let Asuka hear her say something like that. The girl would go ballistic. "I mean, he needs to hang around other males besides watching Gendo from afar. Asuka…" Misato turned around to find the teenage girl gone. Great, now I'm talking to myself, she thought.

"We're home," Misato called out as she and Asuka entered the condo.

"Hey," Shinji called out from the kitchen.

Asuka immediately ran right up in front of Shinji's face, "Hey Shinji, you wanna see what I got, huh, huh, huh? We'll do ya?"

Shinji slightly leaned backwards as Asuka towered over him, "Uh…s…sure, Asuka."

"Good," Asuka said as she grabbed Shinji's arm and dragged him over to the sofa in the den.

Meanwhile, Misato quietly tiptoed into her room with the decorations for Shinji's party. I'll call Kaji now, so he doesn't make any plans for next Friday, Misato thought. She went to pick up the phone only to find it missing. "Now where did that think go?" she asked to no one particular. Misato walked over to her bed and pulled up all the covers and sheets. Nope, not there. She began searching every place she could think of, boxes, shelves, drawers, even the pile of beer cans in the corner, but no phone. Where the… she heard a ringing. The phone, where was the ringing coming from. "Don't pick up the phone!" she yelled back to the two teenagers in the den. Ah, the pillow, she thought as she saw in slightly move. Misato grabbed the pillow and sure enough there was the phone. She quickly grabbed the phone, pressing talk, "Katsuragi," she greeted.

"There's my girl," said a voice she was glad to hear, at the moment.

"Kaji, just the person I was getting ready to call."

"I'm sorry Misato, I can't go out with you tonight, I already have plans," he attempted, sounding convincing enough.

"SHUT UP! I wanted to ask you if you'd do me a favor," she began.

"No, we can't go to my place and I wouldn't feel comfortable doing it with the kids in the house," Kaji joked.

"I SAID SHUT UP! I need you to pick up Shinji after school on Friday so we can set up his surprise party here."

"His birthday's next week?"

"Yep, he'll be fifteen. So, will you do it?"

"Of course. I can take him to get his birthday present," Kaji stated.

"What are you going to get him?"

"I don't know yet? What are you getting him?"

"I think I'm going to get him a CD player, upgrade him from his SDAT player," Misato answered.

"Well, at least I have a week to think about it," Kaji said.

"Hey, if worse comes to worse, I just might help you out and tell you what he likes," Misato taunted.

"You'd never let me live it down, Katsuragi. I'll see you tomorrow," Kaji exclaimed, hanging up the phone.