Notes: And here's Chapter 4! Once again, I'd like to thank all those who took the time to review, telling me what you think of the story so far. Each one is very welcome! I tried to make this chapter as long as possible because I don't know when I'll be able to update again. (The soonest is next weekend; if there's no update then, it won't be until the beginning of July! Sorry!) Also, this chapter makes it apparent that I am not so good at math. Please just play along. Like I said, this is my first chaptered fic, so I'm still working out continuity. I think I have found a way to work my fuzzy math into the fic, but please don't mind anything that sounds weird. (Maybe when I finish this, I'll go back and fix some stuff, but for now I'm just going to keep going.) Anyway, please enjoy!
Chapter 4: To Meet
Atsuko shook her head. "Well, I don't see how that can be…" She hesitated. She knew it seemed improbable – Asuka was a fairly common name, wasn't it? Atsuko knew her mother's name had been Asuka, but that was pretty much all she knew about her mother.
"What makes you think this?" she asked cautiously.
"Because," said Asuka, sitting up, "our parents always told us we were named after two good school friends of theirs. All they-"
Toji cut her off. "All they told us was that they died in the war. A lot of people did."
"And that they worked for NERV," Asuka cried, the comment directed more to her brother than to Atsuko. "And-" Asuka never had a chance to finish, for at that moment, the school chimes sounded, signaling the beginning of afternoon classes.
"You go on ahead, Ikari," Toji told her. He looked at Asuka. "I need to talk to my sister."
Atsuko hesitated for a moment, and then did as he'd said. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear what they were saying. She did want to find out more about her mother, but if her new friend was wrong… Atsuko shook her head. She'd just have to try and she what came of it.
Toji watched Atsuko head toward the school building.
"We're going to be late," Asuka said, breaking the silence.
"Why do you always jump to conclusions like that?" Toji snapped, suddenly.
"I'm not jumping to conclusions! It's what Mom told me!" Asuka said, raising her tone to match her twin's.
"Sometimes I think you're just looking for drama." Toji started to head back toward the school, but Asuka grabbed his arm.
"Toji, I'm not – not this time. I really think I'm right. And so did you," she said, accusingly.
"I did not. I only asked her what her dad did at NERV to prove you wrong."
"Yeah, well you did a great job of that. You wound up proving me right."
Toji rolled his eyes and walked away, but Asuka started after him. She finally caught up with him just as he was entering the building. "We're so late," he muttered.
"I'm going to bring Atsuko-chan home to meet Mom. We'll ask her."
Toji lowered his voice as classes had already started. They walked quickly toward their classroom. "Are you stupid? All you'll wind up doing is upsetting Ikari, not to mention Mom. Dad's going to kill you."
"He will not," Asuka said, confidently. "And, come on, if I'm wrong, I'll never do this again."
Toji eyed her. "Why should I believe you?"
Asuka winked at him. "Because you always do."
He shook his head. "No more crazy schemes?"
"Promise."
"OK, fine. But if you're wrong I'm never helping you again."
"Deal," said Asuka, cheerfully, allowing herself a moment to gloat before following Toji into the classroom.
Maybe it was the heat of midday, or maybe their teacher was just feeling charitable, but Asuka and Toji escaped without so much as a talking-to, just a stern look that said plainly, "I'll forgive you two for this as long as it doesn't happen again."
As they took their seats, Atsuko scanned her friends' faces for any sign of trouble. Asuka just winked and mouthed what looked like, "Let's meet after class."
Atsuko found herself waiting impatiently for school to end that afternoon. She was surprised at her own eagerness to embark on what she knew could very well turn out to be a wild goose chase. As soon as classes were dismissed, Asuka turned to her.
"I have to go to softball practice," she said, apologetically. "You can wait for me with Toji." She winked at them, before running out of the classroom. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" she called over her shoulder.
Toji shook his head. "Don't pay any attention to her," he told Atsuko, as they walked out of the classroom.
"I don't mind," Atsuko reassured him. "I really don't. I'm just grateful to have made a friend so quickly."
Toji frowned as they reached their shoe lockers. "That doesn't mean you have to settle for Asuka."
Atsuko stepped into her outside shoes and placed her slippers in her shoe locker. "It's not settling to me."
He did not reply. They seated themselves on a bench under a tree near the school gate, from which they had a good view of the sports teams on the practice fields. Atsuko spotted Asuka and the rest of the softball team, going through their stretching routines. Most of the girls sat around in small groups, but Asuka sat by herself. Atsuko wondered whether this was because she was an especially dedicated athlete or because sitting with a group would be awkward. She was afraid it would be the latter.
Toji finally spoke. "There's just something you should know about my sister: she's not a bad person; she just wants attention."
Atsuko glanced at him. "I didn't think she was a bad person…"
"Good. A lot of people do when they first meet her. That's the problem. Asuka is the kind of person people are friendly to from a distance, but are afraid to get close to. It's been that way since grade school. She acts crazy and irresponsible at school – she loves to make people laugh – and then she studies like mad at home to make up for it. It's like she doesn't know how to be, so she tries everything. Students like her because she's funny and she does what they're afraid to do; teachers like her because in the end, she makes good grades, but in between, she can't find anyone who really wants to be closely associated with her. I think she scares a lot of people away." He waved a hand in the direction of the softball field, where Asuka stood, bat in hand, directing the fielders to their positions, before being interrupted by the coach. The team broke into giggles and Asuka sheepishly returned to the bench.
"I see what you mean," Atsuko said softly.
"She's smarter than she looks," Toji said. "But sometimes, I feel like I have to protect her." He frowned. "I'm not trying to scare you away from her – far from it. I'm just letting you know what you're getting yourself into. She doesn't do it exactly on purpose, but a lot of people think she does. It's just this weird unconscious issue."
Atsuko nodded. "I understand," she said, even though she didn't. It seemed strange that, on one hand, her father seemed to go out of his way to avoid others, while on the other hand, Asuka seemed to go out of her way to get others to like her.
"Ikari-san."
Atsuko and Toji glanced up. The class rep, Miyazawa Taeko, stood before them. "Ikari-san," she repeated. "You're wanted in the office."
"Thank you," Atsuko said, as she stood. She turned to Toji. "I'll be right back," she said apologetically. She then turned and headed back into the school.
When Atsuko arrived at the office, she noticed that most of the teachers had already left for the afternoon. She knocked hesitantly on Mihama's door and then opened it.
"Excuse me, Sensei. Miyazawa-san said you wanted to see me."
"Yes, Ikari-kun," said Mihama. She lacked the bubbly quality her voice had exhibited that morning. "Your paperwork has raised a few…" She paused to decide the next word carefully. "Questions."
"Questions, ma'am?" Atsuko asked nervously.
"Yes." Mihama shuffled a few papers on her desk and looked at Atsuko seriously. "Ikari-kun, I understand you don't live with your guardian. Is this true?"
"Well… um…" Atsuko stammered. "Which guardian do you mean?" she asked, somewhat embarrassed. If they meant Fuyutsuki, she could easily clear up the conclusion by explaining that she had come to Tokyo.
Mihama looked at Atsuko strangely. "Your father. Ikari Shinji."
"Oh." Atsuko gulped. "Him." She looked down. "No, I don't live with him."
"So, this Katsuragi Misato… she's no relation of yours, nor is she your legal guardian?"
"No, she's not," Atsuko replied, wincing inwardly about how odd this all must sound to an outsider. "It's kind of a long story," she said, apologetically. "My-my father's… job… makes it kind of hard for him to have time for me. Katsuragi Misato is a… family friend."
"I see," said Mihama. "I think we can work with this. Your father is head of NERV, isn't he?"
Atsuko nodded.
Mihama continued. "Can I assume Katsuragi-san is going to be the one involved in your school affairs?"
"Yes," Atsuko said, quickly. "I think she'll be taking care of all of that."
"I see," Mihama repeated. "There are just a couple of problems that we can sort out quite easily. For one thing, because Katsuragi-san is not your guardian, she has no authority in the school's eyes unless authorized by your father. We have a form he'll have to sign so that Katsuragi-san can take it from there. That way, she'll be able to, for example, permit you to go on class trips and such."
Atsuko nodded. Well, she thought, I'll have to see him eventually. I guess it'll just have to be sooner rather than later. She glanced down at the papers Mihama had given her. She could fill in the rest of it herself. All Shinji would have to do was sign his name once and that would be it.
"There's one more thing," Mihama said. Atsuko glanced up. "That is, if it's feasible. We'd like your father to at least come to a parent conference. It would be about a month from now." She handed Atsuko another form. "We can work around his schedule, if he likes."
"Is that all?" Atsuko asked.
"That's all."
"Thank you, Sensei." Atsuko stood, bowed and left the office. Once in the hallway, she sighed and shoved the forms into her schoolbag. I'll go see him tomorrow afternoon, she vowed. She glanced at her watch. Asuka would be finished soon. She looked forward to hopefully meeting her new friends' mother, who may have known her own mother.
When she returned to the bench, Toji was still by himself, but the girls had left the field.
"What'd Mihama want?" he asked.
Atsuko shook her head. "Nothing. Just some paperwork."
Toji nodded. "One more thing before Asuka comes out. I just want to warn you again: she jumps to conclusions like this all the time."
He was interrupted by Asuka's shout of "Hey, guys!" as she jogged toward them.
Toji looked back at Atsuko. "Just please don't get upset if she's wrong."
Atsuko shook her head. "I won't," she assured him. "I don't know anything as it is. I have nothing to lose."
After fifteen minutes spent heading into the more suburban parts of the city, Asuka turned on to a street and stopped. She pointed down to the middle of the street. "That's our house," she told Atsuko.
Atsuko nodded. She was still trying to mentally prepare herself. She knew that she could potentially find out either everything or nothing about her mother. "Let's go," she said.
Atsuko followed the twins into the house. As they were removing their shoes, Asuka shouted, "Mom! We're home! There's someone we want you to meet!"
"Someone you want me to meet?" Aida Hikari asked as she came into the hallway. She froze. "Oh!" she gasped in surprise. Atsuko glanced from her friends back to their mother, unsure of what was going on.
Asuka flashed her brother a single knowing look. "Mom, this is Ikari Atsuko. She just transferred to our school today. We think you knew her parents."
Hikari blinked several times in disbelief. "Your name's Ikari? So, your parents are…" She hesitated. "Ikari Shinji and Sohryu Asuka Langley?" She had never in a million years thought she would see this girl again…
Atsuko nodded. "Yes. Those are their names."
Hikari smiled. "I did know your parents. Very well, in fact." Well, she thought. As well as they would let anyone else know them. "Come into the kitchen. I want to hear all about you. We have a lot of catching up to do."
Asuka grinned as she took a big bite of lemon cake. "See, Mom? I knew it! Toji didn't believe me, but I figured it out." They were all sitting in the Aidas' kitchen enjoying the cake Hikari had baked that afternoon. Atsuko had just finished explaining all she knew of her parents and of her relationship with her father – which admittedly wasn't much.
"I'm sorry, Aida-san," she said, upon finishing. "I really can't tell you much."
Hikari smiled. "You've told me plenty, Atsuko-chan. I had wondered what happened to you ever since your mother died. Every time I tried to contact your father, I never got a response." She shook her head. "I can't believe he would act like that toward you. When you were born, I think he was happier than anyone could ever be."
Asuka leaned forward. "So you knew Atsuko-chan when she was little?" She grinned. "That's pretty neat."
Hikari nodded. "The last I heard from you was the day we heard Asuka – your mother - had died. She was so young. We were all so young. Your poor father…" Hikari paused before continuing. "It was a little over a month before the twins were born. You were nine months old. We received a telephone call from Katsuragi-san informing us of the accident. My husband went down to NERV and tried to get in to see your father. He said he made it as far as your grandfather, who was still director. He told Kensuke you would be taken care of, and then asked him to leave." She sighed. "We never heard anything else. Neither of us has seen your father since before then. And then, well, we had a family of our own. We lost track of you. It's hard to keep track of people connected with NERV."
Atsuko nodded, uncertain. She found herself wondering what exactly her father did. She realized that, if she had to name one thing, she couldn't. Fighting Angels? As if that was needed anymore…
Hikari thought for a moment. "Why don't you stay for supper? My husband was the one who met your parents before I did. He can probably explain things better than I can."
TBC in Chapter 5: To Find