Gendo sat at his desk, waiting patiently as the door to his office slid open allowing Dr. Akagi to enter. Like any game he always played two moves ahead of everyone else, but this game was far more delicate, and far, far more dangerous. 'To walk on the Heights is to walk a Path of Daggers.' The old saying floated through his mind as he spoke.
"What is it you wish to see me about Dr. Akagi?" He said gruffly.
"I want to know why you had Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki in charge of the Third Child, and Dr. Ikari, instead of me." Ritsuko fought hard to stop herself from making demands. The return of Gendos' wife was something she, in her wildest dreams imagined possible.
"I felt it would be best if she was welcomed by a familiar face doctor. She has been within Eva for over ten years, the level of the shock that might occur would prove dangerous, and her ability to return to full service would have been hindered."
"And putting her fourteen year old son in the same room with her wouldn't?" She asked almost venomously.
"The events of the battles against the third, twelfth, and fourteenth Angels, have proven she is aware of her son and presentedfew problems." Gendo replied coolly
"I see." Ritsuko said with a hint of resentment. "And where does this leave us Gendo?" She said barely contained the distress, and desperation in her voice.
"For the time being I believe it would be in our best interests to suspend our personal relationship. With the committee demanding that Dr Ikari return to service, as a second sub-commander under me, it may prove prudent to put you beyond any doubt she may have, I would not wish you to be placed in the way of any undue spite." He said a little moresoftly thank his normal gruff tone.
His voice was calm and even, barely wavering, and that was perhaps what re-assured Ritsuko the most, and she did indeed feel like Gendo ment what he said.
"That aside, we must focus on Unit one. These events have placed its operational ability in great question. Begin immediate testing to see how it has been affected, and any possible capability to correct any problems. The Angels are our prime concern Doctor Akagi." Gendo said plainly. How his words galled even him at times, if he could he'd take Yui, Shinji and Rei, burn his bridges and be done with Nerv. but no, he was infar too deep to do so at this stage, and the threat of Seele would remain regardless. Not to mention the Angels.
"I'll begin immediately commander." She replied and left his office.
Once she had left he took a phone from his desk and dialled.
"Commander?" Was the barely courteous reply.
"Ryouji Kaji, come to my office, I have a task for you."
After placing the receiver back down he paused for a moment, took it up again and dialled.
"Section two." Was the simple answer.
"I have a special assignment, listen carefully..."
He always played two moves ahead.
Misato finally got permission from Sub-Commander Fuyutsuki to visit Shinji in the hospital and walked speedily through the halls and found the room she was looking for, and burst inside. She saw Shinji sitting up in bed who looked a little surprised to see her and of course his surprise elevated after Misato crash tackled him.
"Shinji I'm so glad you're okay! I thought you left and piloted the Eva saving us all! I'm so proud of you Shinji and I lo-"
Misato found herself cut short on hearing laughter in the room and noted another woman by the window laughing at the two of them. Shinji was bright red, and Misato had the decency to blush as well.
"Oh... hello. You're the other person they recovered from Unit one aren't you?"
The woman nodded, "Yes. I'm Yui Ikari."
Misato was speechless, and her blush intensified. She had just "glomphed" Shinji in front of his mother who was finding this all amusing. Misato let go of Shinji and stood up straight.
"N-nice to meet you Mrs. Ikari." Misato said a little unsteadily.
Yui laughed more at this and shook her head, "Please, call me Yui. I assume that you're Misato Katsuragi, and you've been looking after my little boy."
"M-mother!" Shinji said as he began blush again. He was still unused to having her call hi that, no matter how comfortable he felt with her.
Misato and Yui laughed together at Shinji, and Misato felt immediately at ease with the older woman. Or was it Younger? It was hard to tell in this light and who knows what happens to the human aging process after being trapped in a Giant bio-mehcnical monster for ten years.
Yui liked Misato, she remembered her father from a brief meeting, and the man would not stop talking about his little girl.
"So, what were you going to tell my son before you stopped so suddenly?" Yui asked.
It was Misatos' turn to begin to blush. Of course, that wouldn't stop her; she wasn't one to back down, not often anyway.
"Shinji, I love you like the little brother I've always wanted, I'm sorry I've never said anything until now."
Shinji turned bright red but smiled, "Thanks Misato." Then as an after thought, he smirked, "Or should I say, Onee-san?"
Misato laughed happily and began crushing Shinji in another hug. Misato felt another pair of arms around her and paused to see Yui hugging them both.
"I'm so happy Shinji has such a nice person taking care of him." Yui said softly.
Shinji spoke up "Actually, Misato teases me. A lot."
Misato choked a little. "Hey are you trying to get me in trouble?"
Shinji laughed, "Isn't that what a littler bother is supposed to do?" He said cheekily with his new found confidence.
Misato glared at him a little, "If your mother wasn't here I'd give you such a noogie! Just wait till you get home I'll..." She trailed off and stood up from the others.
"I guess you'll want to live with your mother from now on." Misato said dejectedly.
Yui laughed, "The problem with being dead for ten years means loss of capital. I don't think I could afford to live alone for a while, even being returned to active duty."
Misato was confused, "You're returning to work on Project E?"
Yui nodded, "That's right, and I'll need a place to stay. Tell me Misato, Would you mind having another room-mate?"
Misatos' smile beamed, "Not at all!"
Yui nodded, "That's great. We'll be released tomorrow, and it's been a while since I've had a good relaxing bath."
Shinji balked, "M-mom, I'm still here!"
Yui and Misato laughed again.
"You've been living with two women for a while Shinji, you should be a little used to it by now." Yui said.
"I know, but you're my Mother, I thought I could get a little break from it..." Shinji said dejectedly.
"Okay, I'm sorry Shinji." She hugged Shinji and kissed him on the cheek gently.
Shinji blushed but was smiling all the same.
Misato smiled at this, "Well, I'll go make the arrangements, and see if I can't get some information on your financial stats for you Yui."
"Thank you Misato I appreciate it." Responded the older woman.
Misato took a moment to smile at the pair before she headed out the door.
Shinji sighed a little, the teasing wasn't going to get any better, but sitting there with is mothers arms around him made it al worthwhile in the end. Maybe he could handle a little more teasing. Of course, the next event that would occur would make him wish to eat his words, as it were.
"I can't believe it! Another older woman! Shinji, you have all the stinking luck! OW!"
Shinji turned to see Kensuke getting promptly thwacked by Hikari who were both now standing at his door.
"W-what are you guys doing here?" Shinji asked.
"We came to see Touji, but saw Major Katsuragi leaving the room, and she mentioned your name, we haven't seen you in school and stopped to see you. So, who's this?" Hikari asked.
"Yeah, who is this lovely woman Shinji?"
"Kensuke, she's my mom... Shinji said almost curtly.
This of course caused the bespectacled otaku to gape and bow, muttering an apology. Hikari bowed as well and asked,
"Ma'am, if you don't mind, I was wondering why Shinji's information said his mother was dead..."
"It's not a problem; I was simply away for a long time doing important work." Yui said simply.
Kensuke jumped on the opportunity, "Do you work for Nerv on the Evas too?"
Hikari took him by the ear, "Sorry to bother you, we'll leave you alone now. I hope to see you at school soon Shinji. Come along Mr Aida."
With that they were gone, and Shinji sighed a little.
"Your friends seem nice Shinji." Yui said.
Shinji nodded a little, "Yeah... but my actions caused Touji a lot of pain. No, fathers' actions did." Shinji said bitterly.
Yui smiled a little, "Don't worry; I'll do what I can."
"What do you mean mom?" Shinji asked confused.
"I'll tell you later, rest now. Tomorrow, we'll be going home." Yui said.
Shinji nodded and lay back against his bed staring at the ceiling.
Kaji walked up and sat on the edge of Commander Ikaris' desk casually, in a less than subtle attempt to browse over the documents that were never there, it was more or less a display of professional audacity, they both knew they were spies in their own respective quarters, so a little off-setting of each others comfort zones were for par.
Unfortunately for Kaji, he was against a master.
"You are being re-assigned." Gendo said in his usual deadpan expression.
"Re-assigned!" Kaji asked almost disbelievingly.
"Yes, but I require your utmost dedication to this task, so you may wish to cease any other... preoccupations." Gendo said simply.
"What does this task require of me exactly?" Kaji asked warily.
"First and foremost, the protection of Shinji and Yui Ikari are to be foremost. To that end, your living quarters are being transferred next door to Major Katsuragis' own apartment." Gendo said much too softly.
Kaji would have said yes immediately, but waited to hear the rest.
"Also you are to apply your skills to find the men on this list." Gendo said as he passed Kaji and envelope, "You will have several well trained members of Section two to aide you in... cleaning house."
"Dangerous work." Kaji said holding the envelope.
"Indeed, but if you accept the mission Ryouji Kaji, You will learn the truth behind human instrumentality." Gendo said gravely.
"And your agenda Ikari? That still remains a mystery." Kaji asked, he knew he was pushing his luck, and agreed immediately, but he needed to try.
"I have no other agenda now Agent Ryouji, beyond stopping instrumentality at all costs." Gendo said quite fatalistically.
Kaji looked at the commander for a long moment before nodding slightly to accept his mission. Gendo offered the spy a seat as this tale was both long, and likely to weigh heavy on his shoulders once he learned of the names inside the envelope.
Authors' notes -
Things for this fic seem to fall nicely into place and I think its working its way nicely. The fic seems to carry a fairly easy plot ending, but I'll try and toss a few kinks in the system. As it stands this is very easily going to be a Shinji/Asuka fic, if only because that's my favoured pairing. Though to be honest, Shinji/Rei was always good, but to be perfectly logical, Shinji/Hikari always seems the best because they're that damn well made for each other, and most Shinji/Hikari fics are well written to boot. But that's off topic. Definitely some Kaji/Misato, because Misato Deserves it oh so much, thepoor thing ;)
Anyways, thanks for reading, and don't forget to review if you have time.