I do not own any of the characters from Neon Genesis: Evangelion.

Chapter 2

Persuasion

Kyoto

Gendo Ikari entered the Makoto Soya Resturaunt and was greeted by a friendly young host.

"How can I help you sir?" the young man questioned, politely.

"I'm looking for a Yuzuhria Kurosaki. She does work here, am I correct?" asked Ikari, pushing his glasses up.

"Yes, sir," the young man answered, smiling. "Would you like me to take you to her?"

"Indeed," was all he had to say and the young man took him through the busy resturaunt. It was chaotic in the kitchen when they entered, orders being filled out and cooked to the satisfactions of the costumers.

The young man pointed to a young woman with waist-length waves of silver hair pulled up into a very large bun, who was helping one of the dishwashers catch up.

"Well, well, well," said Yuzuhria Kurosaki, coolly, as he approached her from behind. "We meet again. What is it you want this time, Ikari? A sample of my blood? Some of my hair? Want to inject me with a toxic poison to put me out of this misery in which I live?"

"Oh, there's no need to be cold now," Ikari teased with a grin. "I've actually come to tell you that you are the Sixth Child."

"You don't say?" she asked, sarcastically, not bothering to look at him.

"Come on, you should be happy, Yuzuhria," he told her. "You can leave this hectic life in which you live and not have to strive for money to keep your apartment and food on the table. You can finish school too."

"I happen to enjoy living my life this way, thank you," she said, turning and looking at him with an as-a-matter-of-fact expression on her beautifully pale face.

"Oh? And why is that?" he sneered.

"To keep from remembering what you did to me," Yuzuhria answered, her silvery eyes going raw.

Ikari sighed. "You're never going to forgive me for that, are you?"

"Forgive you? Excuse me but are you not aware that I was three years old when you and your whore of a friend, Akagi, held me down and injected me with that blood? I haven't been the same since!"

She strode away but he followed her. She stopped next to one of the cooks and took over for her.

"How would you feel if everyday of your childhood you were scared out of your wits because of the horrible things you seen?" she questioned.

"I feel for you, Yuzuhria," he said. "Or did you just dismiss the fact that I am the one who took care of you all of these years?"

"No, you didn't," she snapped, flipping a meal-in-process upwards and having it land back in the large pan. "The nannies you paid for were the women who cared for me and they weren't the best people to take care of me. I don't think you remember what I did to one of them."

"I recall, and you still turned out to be a total bitch," he said, folding his arms.

She released the pan and whipped around, staring at him with an unfathomable look on her face. "That may be so, Ikari, but at least, I'm not yours."

"So you say," he answered with a smirk.

Her eyebrows crinkled toward the middle of her forehead. "You know? You are the most arrogant, egotistical piece of scum I've ever had the displeasure to meet."

"Oh, you poor thing," Ikari said, giving her a pitiful look.

"Save your pity for someone who needs it," she hissed. turning around and flipping the meal again.

"But you're telling me how horrible your life has been," he pointed out.

"I'm telling you the truth, not asking for pity. Plus I'm trying to guilt trip you but that doesn't seem to be working. And if there's someone you should be pitying, it should be your son," Yuzuhria snapped.

"The Eva arrives tomorrow," Ikari told her, boredly. "You'd better be at that airport by seven A.M. sharp, or I will come and kick your door open. Understand?"

"More threats? Oh, how sweet!" she said.

Ikari laughed. "Only for you, darling!"

"Yeah, right!" Yuzuhria laughed, shaking her head.

He bade her good-bye and left the kitchen.


Shinji and Asuka entered the courtyard of their school, nothing appeared to be happening except for the people around them eating their lunches. Shinji handed Asuka her lunch and walked over to a table. It had been two days since they recieved word of the new Eva coming in. He noticedthere was a boy at his usual table; he was tall and handsome with a pointed face, short white-blonde hair and glowing almond-shaped green eyes. Shinji had never seen this boy before and was right to be polite to him.

"May I sit with you?" Shinji asked.

"If you like," the boy answered. His voice was soft, like a spring breeze.

There was a long moment of silence after Shinji sat down.

"I'm Shinji Ikari," he offered, breaking the silence and smiling.

"Yes, I know," the boy answered. "Your father is Commander Ikari." The boy smiled and looked up from his lunch. "My name is Nataku Tanaka."

"You're not Dr. Yukio Tanaka's son, are you?" asked Shinji in surprise.

"I am," the boy nodded.

Shinji smiled. "Well, it's great to meet you!"

"You as well."

They talked awhile, getting to know one another a little better.

I hope you like it!