Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I believe we all know I do not own Evangelion, but if you clap your hands and say it loud enough, it might come true.
A/N: Well, I got some rest and feel like I could take on the world. Unfortunately, I did take on the world and didn't make it past round 1…
As always, the reviews are much appreciated and keep me going…seriously, review.
One last thing pertaining to pairings. No, I will not tell you because that would ruin it especially for character development. However, I will say that this is not a ShinjixRei fic, nor a ReixKensuke fic…and defiantly not a ShinjixKaoru fic…maybe some odd couples…but I will never tell.
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Misato watches the Eva descend though the catapult shaft on the main monitor, feeling better knowing they have at least one reliable pilot. Next to her, is Ritsuko, going over data from the battle, calculating and optimizing anything useful.
"Misato…this is pretty damn incredible" Akagi's eyes peer into the computer screen. "Whatever his synch ratio was during the battle is between seventy-eight and ninety-five. It's too bad we couldn't get an accurate reading" She mentally sighs remembering Shinji's condition.
"That's…amazing…but how can someone get such a high ratio on their first try. It took years for Asuka to get over sixty…something just doesn't add up" Misato cups her chip, trying not to think out loud.
"I'll have the MAGI run some test along with the physical he'll be receiving tomorrow." The doctor proceeds to type but notices a purple haired one giving her a grin out of the corner of her eye. "What?"
"Make sure your hands aren't too cold or you might scare him away" Misato gives the bewildered doctor a wink and notices that unit01 has finally been re-docked in the Eva-cage. "If you're going to ask him a lot of personal questions, you might want to know you won't like what you find" Her tone is getting serious, scaring Ritsuko slightly.
"Well, I have to" Ritsuko says as-a-matter-of-factly. "He's been able to avoid NERV's eyes and ears. I need to get at least a somewhat documented medical history if we are to treat him properly"
"I guess you're right," Misato says, picking up Shinji's bag from the bridge console. "I have to go talk to our savior" She gives Ritsuko one final wave and exits the bridge, heading to the Eva-bay. Ritsuko leans back in her chair, dreading the examination she has to perform, hoping it might turn out to be a good experience.
'…Mind out of the gutter, mind out of the gutter' She gently slaps her forehead, thinking this might be a bad idea, then good idea, then bad, and then back to good. She notices her coworkers staring at her and places her clipboard over her face, hoping that no one else sees her blushing.
Misato walks through NERV's hallways, trying to get to the Eva-cage. After ten trips through the same area, she rounds a different corner and into the pathway to her destination. Once there, she finds Shinji leaning on the bars of steel walkway. Before she speaks to him however, he answers her question.
"I'm fine, but how are you?" His arms are resting on the bars with his body slouched forward, and a cigarette in his mouth. He casually takes a puff, waiting for the major's answer.
"I'm great Shinji-Kun. Everyone is happy with what you done" She gives him a congratulatory tone. "And half of the staff want video copies of the battle…I think one guy even ordered a Styrofoam finger with 'Shinji's number one!' on it" They both chuckle at her joke but, the major remembers the extra weight on her shoulder. "Here's your bag Shinji-Kun" Shinji easily slips the bag over his shoulder and around his neck. "How can you pick up that bag likes it's paper?"
"It's not that heavy, I already said I work construction" This answer raises another question.
"Wait…wait a minute" Katsuragi goes over her newly acquired information. "You were injured while working… Are you telling me you still work?"
"Yeah, I made a deal with the company that if they let me work I wouldn't ask for worker's compensation. Besides, the accident was my fault for being stupid" Shinji stands up from the railing and looks down at his leg.
"But…what the hell?" Misato's face shows a dazzling array mixed emotions, comparable to the colors Shinji noticed in the Eva startup. "You lose half a limb and all you ask for is to keep working…damn" The expression she was giving earlier is now replaced by something similar to envy.
"Yep, but that's because I have to"
"Why?"
"Well, I do it for two reasons. One is for the accident being my fault and two is for mental 'stimulation', as the doctors put it" He takes another puff, flicking ashes down the cavern that was once filled with a red fluid. Misato opens her mouth to ask but he interrupts her. "I have to keep my brain active. Even physical labor requires thinking. I'm sure that if I just got some check for a lot of money, I would spend the entire day at home, wasting away. I need to think. If I don't, my mind could possibly deteriorate because of the damage it has already taken" He turns around, now facing Misato. He expected to find a saddened woman but instead found a sincere smile.
"Not many people can say that they would take full responsibilities for their actions" Her smile stays even as she continues. "Especially with Ki-Chan…some parents would…" She almost finishes her sentence, but takes into account Shinji's history. "…Never mind" She expected to see his eyes with the same dead expression earlier, but instead she finds a sincere smile, similar to the one she gave.
"I'm flattered, I really am. I'm glad to hear I did a better job then some 'people'." He emphasizes the last word without giving a hint of hatred. "Well, lets not dwell on this all day, I bet there's someone who wants to see me"
"Oh…yeah…" Misato keeps her smile on, and leads Shinji out of the Eva-cage. He decides to flick the rest of his tobacco over the side of the steel bridge before he continues. After a few steps, Misato calls Ritsuko, not wanting a repeat of her failed attempts at navigation. "Yeah, can you come here, we need to get to the cafeteria…you know that I couldn't find my way out of a wet paper bag…well…ok…FINE!" She presses her finger on the 'end call' button, nearly snapping the phone in half. "She'll be here in a few seconds" Misato pants, after yelling into her cell phone.
It takes half a minute before a rushed doctor walks away from the bridge to join the group. Just as Shinji has guessed from the conversation on Katsuragi's phone, Akagi is pissed.
"Damn it, I was trying to get in the last few calculations. You're lucky there is a 'save' option or I would of left your ass in the dust" Misato replies by sticking her tongue out and pulling her eyelid down with her middle finger. Shinji decides to bud in at the last moment.
"Children, please, I would like to see my daughter if that's all right with you." Both women sigh and nod in unison. Ritsuko takes the lead of the adults, directing the two behind her into the cafeteria. Eventually Shinji meets up with his daughter, along with the two guards watching, her and another person he has not personally met yet.
"Daddy! Daddy! You have to meet this pretty lady I met!" Kichi is sitting at a white foldable table. Across from her are the men ordered to guard her, and sitting next to her is a woman with blue hair. "Isn't she pretty daddy?"
"Hey Ki-Chan!" Shinji walks over to the table, picks up his daughter, and looks over at the strange woman. "Thanks for looking after Ki-Chan, miss…?"
"My name is Ayanami Rei" She glances at Shinji, figuring out who he is after a short time. "I see you are the third child"
"I'm not a child, so please don't call me that. Just call me Shinji" Shinji stares at her for a moment, wondering why she looks so familiar. "My daughter was right, you are very pretty" Rei slightly blushes, catching everyone in the room off guard except for Shinji.
"Thank you" Was Ayanami's reply, causing another tense moment for the already confused NERV personnel. Ignoring the staring, she asked a question of her own. "I was never told you had a daughter"
"No one was. I liked it that way too, but life always has other plans…" By now, Kichi is asleep in Shinji's arms from his gentle rocking. "She's exhausted isn't she? She had a long day today, going from one city to another…having all of this fun and excitement was too much for her..." He gently smiles and kisses Kichi on the forehead for another time today, thinking he has to be the luckiest man in universe despite all of his shortcomings. Shinji closes the distance between him and Rei sticking out his hand to shake hers. Instead of doing so, she just bows and walks away, leaving a mildly surprised Ikari in her wake. "Odd…" Everyone mentally agrees, but say nothing.
"Well, lets get going shall we?" Misato says, "Besides, we need to find you a place to stay"
"I figured the stay would be permanent…" He sighs, realizing he is going to be here for a while. "Ok, but can you get me my stuff? I have a lot of things I want sent here"
"I assume you don't live with your sensei." Misato asks, with Shinji giving a confirming sigh. She sighs in return, already guessing his answer. "Ok, just give the address and we'll send some men over to get it" She then realizes something is wrong with this situation. "Wait…how did you get my postcard?"
"Oh that. The same way I deceived NERV" His grin only gets bigger when he answers. "I had my sensei forward all information from NERV, to me, and vice versa"
"That doesn't explain how you evaded the guards position around your house who ordered to watch you" Ritsuko asks.
"What guards? I'm not naïve like some of the staff 'he' controls" His smile fades as he carries on the conversation. "The scare tactic was only a bluff. If he did decide to 'waste' resources on me then I might not have ended up like this. It took one stupid mistake for me to realize it and it only made things worse" He watches as Misato's fist clenches, helping him decide it is time to drop the subject. "Well, at least it ended well" He stares at the sleeping girl, who has her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Yeah…" Misato sighs again, accepting defeat. "Maybe we could…" It is Ritsuko's turn to interrupt.
"I suggest we find you a place near the medical facility. We will need to run daily tests so it would only be logical to be near my place…I mean to say a place near where I live…I mean…damn it!" Ritsuko puts her clipboard over her face again. When she slides it slightly to see is anyone is staring, she sees Misato giving her a peace sign and Shinji smiling. "Whatever, lets just find you a place" Her voice is muffled from the clipboard covering her mouth.
"It's settled then!" Misato says cheerfully. "We'll get you a place near Rit-Chan and you can live with me a for a week until we get you set up!" Akagi's finger slightly twitches, which Misato catches in the corner of her eye. "Don't worry Rit-Chan, I won't steal him from you!" She walks over to her friend and slaps her on the back with a drunken smirk. Ritsuko slowly walks out of the cafeteria, hoping to avoid the prying eyes. 'I think I embarrassed her a little too much' Misato thinks. A small thud is heard as the doctor crashes into a wall, not being able to see where she is going from the clipboard blinding her. "Anyways, lets head out"
Misato, Shinji, and a still sleeping Kichi exit the NERV facility from the rail system. On the way up, Misato calls a secretary for the commander, telling her of the situation and her solution. After a few minutes the plan is accepted right after they reach the surface.
"Hey Kisho, See you tomorrow!" The guard gives a salute as they exit the tunnel. "I'll call a cab, we need to get Ki-Chan to bed" It takes half an hour for the cab to arrive and get them to the apartment. Once inside, Shinji notices a sign on one of the rooms.
"Who else lives here? It says 'Do not enter' "
"Asuka, the second pilot. You probably watched her battle today" Misato sighs, remembering Asuka's careless attack. "She'll be in the hospital for a few days so it will just be us"
"Well, as long as she doesn't mind Ki-Chan for a few days then I'll be okay" Shinji goes into the vacant room, and tucks Kichi under some covers which Misato donated for their stay at her apartment. He drops his bag on the floor, and heads into the kitchen, opening the fridge. He is not pleased with what he finds. "Uh, Misato…there's a lot of beer…"
"Yeah?" The purple haired woman exits her room wearing a tank top and shorts. "Is that a problem?"
"Actually, yeah" He sighs and closes the refrigerator. "Will you do me a favor and not drink in front of Ki-Chan?" Misato thinks long and hard, choosing between her beer and her new friends. Luckily for Shinji, Misato still has a good side.
"Ok, but you can't smoke in here" Shinji folds his arms, trading looks with the major for a good five minutes.
"Fine"
"Good" Misato sticks her tongue out at the young man. After a few sips from her 'problem solver' she sees Shinji pull out his cell phone, dialing a few numbers. "Who ya calling" She asks, her voice echoing through her beer can.
"My bosses, I need to them I'm not going to be there for awhile. Besides, they owe me that much" Before gets the last button in, Misato speaks up.
"Did you say bosses?"
"Yeah, I work 2 jobs, how the hell do you think I can pay for daycare, and medication. Besides, I needed a job another job after my accident. My insurance screwed me over" He gets a ring tone after waiting for a few seconds, and gets a reply from someone he knows. "Hey, this is lucky…yeah…ok…hey, I might need an indefinite vacation…what else, saving the world again…ok…yeah…ok, see ya"
"Well, that went rather well…did you say lucky?"
"Well, lets just say I had more then one accident on the job" He then ends the call, dialing another number. After he answers, Misato cannot understand him anymore. She thinks for minute and notices he is speaking in another language. The call ends in the same calm tone as before. "Well, it's done…what?" Misato is staring in awe at him, causing him to raise an eyebrow.
"Is that…German?"
"Yeah, I worked at this German restaurant and I learned the language while I worked there. It's too bad because they were nice guys…why are you smiling?"
"Thank god! Now I can know what that woman says behind my back!" Misato raises her fist triumphantly in the air.
"Pardon?" Shinji is confused by her actions, never knowing someone could have a grin as big as the one on Misato's face.
"Asuka's German and always says these things when she thinks I'm not listening. I swear…I don't know what I'm going to do with her" As Katsuragi does her victory dance in the kitchen, she fails to notice Shinji leave and head to his temporary living quarters. He slips on to the futon next to Kichi, caressing her cheek before he falls asleep.
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A/N: There's Chapter 5. Have a nice night...or day...
BR/N: Well I have to give a lot of credit to Derek this time, there were absolutely NO spelling or grammatical errors in it, and my review of the story can be summed up in one loud word; "KAWAII!"
Sincerely,
Genesis D. Rose, formerly D-Wrecked