I do not own the rights to Neon Genesis Evangelion, or any of the characters, equipment, or locations written in this fanfiction. The purpose of this fanfiction is merely for the non-profit enjoyment of other readers. If requested by Gainax, Hideki Anno, or other parties which represent aforementioned objects in this story, I will remove it promptly.

Chapter XV:

I was swiftly banned from NERV headquarters, and restricted to my apartment until it was deemed necessary to bring me back to pilot status. However, I was still ordered to attend school, and the paychecks for my living expenses still came in. When I asked Misato about this, after apologizing for the use of excessive force, she curtly explained it to me. "We need a show of force," she said. "Whether you are crazy or not makes no difference, as long as someone can synch with Unit-02."

There was one positive aspect of my suspension from duty. I had enough time on my hands to organize the life I had in this world. Before I spent any more money, I decided to make sure my finances were in order. The bank manager along with a couple guards surrounded me once the teller reported what was in the case, but after showing them my NERV identification, they humored my request. "What do you want to do with your money?" the manager, Mr. Suzuki asked.

"I would like at least three hundred thousand dollars invested as British pounds in three equally divided short-term certificates of deposit," I began. "Next, another two hundred thousand, I would like to hold as platinum bars, just incase of inflation. I will take delivery of the bars myself." Handing a slip of paper with my address, Mr. Suzuki stared, his mouth hanging open. "Finally, the remaining five hundred thousand, I would like invested in a long term balanced mutual fund with about sixty percent in stocks, and forty percent in bonds, and I want it set up as a Roth IRA, tax free." I paused for a second. "I am looking at blue chip companies, preferably with dividend-paying stocks. If we can find one as an index fund, that would be even better."

"Are you... sure?" the manager asked.

"I am sure. I attended a few university courses on corporate finance and accounting. If I calculated the monthly yields properly, and if you consider the growing number of American exports, a clear sign of a weak dollar, it is in my best interest to invest now before interest rates drop again. As for the dividend-paying stocks, if I use dividend reinvestment, it will help control some of the risk."

Mr. Suzuki just stared at me for another moment, then smiled. "I look forward to doing more business with you in the future."

I bowed, then shook the man's hand with a firm, polite handshake. According to my documents, I was Japanese American. While he expected the handshake, he was pleasantly surprised by the extra effort to comply with the local customs. There were very few foreigners who would invest that kind of money in Tokyo-3, but even less who would bow lower than the bank manager and shake hands.

"Would you care to join my family for dinner?" Mr. Suzuki hesitantly asked, as I made it to the door. "It is... most awkward, but I would be honored if you would join us."

I was shocked for a moment, but smiled and agreed. "Is tomorrow appropriate? I have some business to attend to for the rest of the day." I knew nothing about this man, so I made a mental note to go equipped, just incase.

"That would be perfect."

•••••••••••••

The rest of the day consisted of some shopping. Of course, there was still the language barrier, and I was unfamiliar with the city. The only times I had ever seen it involved being shot at, contaminated by Angels, or generally on the run from Section Two. As such, I contacted the only person I could trust at a time like this.

Maya answered her cell phone. "Maya, is this an appropriate time?" I asked.

The lieutenant whispered into her phone. "You cannot call here," she answered. "You are to be... locked from headquarters." Ibuki sighed deeply. "Can it wait?"

"I do not mean to be a burden, but I need to learn basic etiquette for a traditional Japanese dinner."

I could hear Maya pause, the silence indicating she was thinking. "Why?"

"The bank manager I talked to today invited me to have dinner with his family," I answered.

"Are you... sure it is safe?"

"I will take the necessary precautions." Maya was still uncertain, but she knew how I handled the situation with Ritsuko. She finally agreed to meet me after her shift at headquarters. I had a spare scrap of paper on me, so I quickly wrote down the address to her apartment.

"We will also find some more clothes for you," she said. I groaned, knowing the brunette would insist on more feminine attire. There would be no way to escape it, though. Sooner or later, I would have to get used to the idea I was a female in this world, and would have to adjust. "Perhaps... kimono..."

"Perhaps..." I answered. "Just... nothing too feminine."

"Okay," Ibuki sighed. "Meet you at your apartment in three hours?"

"Alright. Thank you, Maya."

"I will see you later, then. Goodbye."

•••••••••••••

"Are you sure about this?" I grumbled in the changing room of the department store. I could hear Maya sigh, and knew I would not get out of this. I opened the door to the changing room slowly, and stepped out. "It is... embarrassing." I took two steps, and nearly fell on my face. It would take some to get used to the pumps and mules, but Maya had compromised, keeping me from the more stylish high heels. I was still unsure about the miniskirt, being a little too short. At least I had convinced Maya to stick with polo shirts for tops.

The minute I stepped out, I saw Maya smile. "You are... cute," she said. The blue polo shirt was a nice touch, but the black miniskirt, frilly white ankle socks, and black pumps were not my style. More importantly, the bra and panties she was recommending were far from what I would ever be comfortable with. "You do not like it?"

"Perhaps some changes are necessary," I answered. "I prefer... more conservative."

"What do you w-" Maya started, then corrected herself. "What... did you wear?"

"T-shirts and jeans, until later on in college, when I moved to suits and ties."

Maya blinked. "Suits?" She understood what I was talking about, of course, but somehow my choice was a little too conservative for her. "Alright, what is your favorite color?"

"Blue, or black," I admitted.

Again Maya doubted the success of the operation. Shaking her head, she guided me to a mirror, and set her hands on my shoulders. "You are... female now," she began. "You must act feminine."

"Do I have to?"

"YES!" she roared. There were a few glances from nearby shoppers, and the lieutenant quickly reverted to a whisper. "Look at what I am wearing." Ibuki, while on her days off, would wear pretty much a pair of simple blue jeans and a t-shirt. As much as that style appealed to me, the fact women's clothing was cut to enhance curves, while men's clothing was solely utilitarian irritated me.

"I will try," I grumbled, "but can we at least limit the lace?"

Maya didn't understand, until I pointed to my socks. Giggling slightly, she nodded. "Okay, but it is not all that bad. Besides, when you go to school, you will be around other girls. They will expect a certain level of, how do I say it?"

"Stupidity?" I grunted.

"No!" Ibuki grinned. "They expect you to act similar to them. If you do not, they will suspect you."

I never knew how long it could take to buy clothes. Normally I'm in and out of a shopping center in less than a half an hour, maybe an hour if I need to browse. But this round of shopping just dragged on and on. After an hour and a half, we finally settled on my daily wardrobe. It would take some getting used to, but if it meant my true identity would be hidden, it was a benefit. I was a gun smuggler and potential mercenary now, after all.

Ibuki and I, with a few inquiries, found the department that sold school uniforms. The turquoise jumpers were at least less revealing than the series, but the fact a few guys in the department store gave me a few suggestive looks once they saw what I was buying made me reconsider my policy of no guns at school.

The last half an hour was what I was truly concerned about. To save time, and because she was sick of my complaining, Maya agreed to let me buy a couple suits and ties. Three pair of black slacks, five single color dress shirts, a couple patterned ties, two black blazers, a pair of black shoes, and about a week's worth of black socks later, I was fully equipped for my encounter with Mr. Suzuki's family.

Now learning the etiquette was another problem entirely.

•••••••••••••

I rang the doorbell once, folding my hands behind my back. Mr. Suzuki answered the door cautiously, a trace of sweat on his brow. He wore a black suit and tie, all of his clothes neatly pressed. He glanced at me in surprise, his lips pulled into a smile more of discomfort rather than pleasure. "Thank you for coming," he said, a slight tone of irritation in his voice. That disappeared the moment his wife came to the door, however, wearing a navy blue suit and skirt. Her hair was trimmed to shoulder length, jet black, and an uncomfortable smile crossed her face. "Please, come in."

Stepping inside, I swiftly removed my shoes, setting them in a corner of the entry way. The Suzuki family was clearly wealthy, their house built in a western style with polished wooden floors, and two stories. The exterior walls were white, and the roof consisted of the reddish Spanish clay shingles. The carpets were a pristine white, and all of the wood was stained an artificial mahogony. This type of home would not have existed here if it were not for Second Impact influencing the weather as it did. "This is a beautiful home," I said. "Reminds me of some of the houses I used to see in California."

Mrs. Suzuki's smile became genuine as she guided me towards the living room. Inside, I was met by the couple's two children, a boy and a girl. Their son apparently he did not understand the concept of a formal dinner, wearing a stained pair of jean shorts nearly down to his knees and an oversized sports jersey. He was nearly my age, maybe a year or two older. Their daughter, on the other hand, was about twelve, maybe thirteen, and dressed in the turquoise jumper I had associated with the junior high uniform. I didn't know how it was possible for the two Suzuki children to be so close in age, as according to the Evangelion universe, children were not easily born as a result of Second Impact.

"This is our son, Hiroshi, and our daughter, Yuki," Mrs. Suzuki said. Both Hiroshi and Yuki rose, and gave hesitant bows. I bowed in return. Both of them gave me odd looks. Perhaps it was the eyepatch and bruises, which I still wore.

"What happened to you?" Hiroshi grunted.

"Suzuki Hiroshi!" Mr. Suzuki snapped. The dialogue continued between them in Japanese. Mrs. Suzuki retreated slightly into the kitchen. Yuki, however, stared at me, confused as to my looks. Both Hiroshi and Yuki had similar features as their parents, mainly pitch black hair and more angular facial features. The eyes were the only difference. Yuki's eyes were a dark blue, similar to Shinji. I noticed Mr. Suzuki had eyes that were a light hazel. I was starting to suspect, both from their mannerisms and physical features that the Suzukis were at least part European, and may have spent time in America.

The shouting between the two continued to grow, when I finally decided to break the conflict. "I am a pilot of the Evangelion," I hollered. Yuki's eyes widened, her mouth gaping open in surprise. Both Mr. Suzuki and Hiroshi halted their argument, staring at me. "I fight those giant monsters in that big, red robot." Turning to Hiroshi, I stepped between him and his father. "Trust me, you will want to dress like this and present yourself with more respect in the future. Being a man is about being tough and sophisticated."

Hiroshi scoffed, but apparently I was winning over Yuki. The girl clasped her hands together, nearly bowing as if I were some kind of demigod. "What would you know about being a man?" the defiant boy snapped.

I grinned sadistically. "Just join us for dinner, and let us have a nice evening. Trust me, do not make me angry."

•••••••••••••

"Are you serious?" Mrs. Suzuki's voice squeaked.

"Yes, my relatives in the states taught me to drive bulldozers, ride motorcycles, and how to load my own ammunition," I answered. Of course, that was a lie. It was my paternal grandparents and my own parents who were responsible for those, but I could not possibly use my cover story as Shinji's sister unless I adjusted a few facts of my life. I could tell Yuki was impressed to say the least. Hiroshi, however, was still giving me disgusted looks. We all sat around the polished wooden dinner table. I took the seat across from Mr. Suzuki, my back to the door. It was not the preferred tactical situation, but I could let my guard down for a little while. Mrs. Suzuki sat to the right of her husband, while Hiroshi sat next to his mother. Yuki sat next to me.

Mr. Suzuki, I learned, had indeed lived back in the States during his childhood, and later migrated back to Japan with his wife and children once Tokyo-3 was completed. "So, how about you?" Mrs. Suzuki asked. "Have any family here?"

"Just found out I have a brother. I happen to be the long lost sister he didn't know about."

"I am sorry to hear that," Mrs. Suzuki replied.

"I'm rather pleased I didn't meet the family until now. My father is a little, shall we say, into some shady business practices?" Both Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki raised their eyebrows in surprise, then it dawned on them. I was a pilot of an Evangelion, after all.

The rest of the dinner was pleasant, and it helped all of the family spoke fluent English. The dinner was nice as well. I'm not usually a fan of Japanese cooking, but Mrs. Suzuki took some liberties, making the food a little more American. While Yuki assured me she could handle the dishes herself, I insisted I could help out. "You invited me over, after all," I mentioned.

I stayed for another hour, just chatting with Yuki. Apparently, she was also attending the same junior high I would. Mrs. Suzuki walked up behind us, and ushered the girl off to sleep just after ten o'clock at night. As I made my way to the door, Mr. and Mrs. Suzuki escorting me out, I turned to face them. "I am concerned," I said, "about this place being safe."

Mrs. Suzuki raised her eyebrow. "What...do you mean?"

"I seriously suggest moving out of Tokyo-3 within the next month, maybe sooner if you can manage it." I took a deep breath. "I will watch out for Yuki while she is at school."

Mr. Suzuki glared, taking a step towards me. "You know something, don't you?"

"Just trust me, the war is getting... complicated."

•••••••••••••

A knock at my door caused me to jump, the bad dreams not helping any. Glancing at the clock, I noted it was just past three. These were more serious nightmares, however. Stumbling out of bed, I crawled to my feet wearing sweat pants and an oversized t-shirt. I could see Yuki's crushed, mutilated body under the wreckage of a fallen mass-production Eva. The JSSDF had killed her parents, the bank manager I had come to consider a friend. Mr. Suzuki was begging for his life while a soldier put his rifle to his head, and pulled the trigger. Mrs. Suzuki screamed while she was pulled behind a building by two soldiers, her clothes torn from her body. Hiroshi was long since dead, near his sister. The way he died, however, disgusted me. I was the one who had crushed him under the foot of Unit-02.

I reached the door, the Jericho pistol in my hand. Cocking the hammer, I opened the door gradually. Major Misato Katsuragi stared at me, her eyes narrow in hate. "We have a situation," she stated curtly. Again one of those green portfolio folders was in her hand, the object I was beginning to connect with my fate. Ushering the major in, I guided her to a seat at the kitchen. Then she saw the pistol, and went for hers. "Is there a problem?"

Setting the weapon down on the kitchen counter, I reached into the fridge, poured myself a glass of orange juice, and took a heavy swig. "Misato, I have met nice people in this city. I didn't think it was possible. Everyone here, I thought, everyone who was supporting NERV... I knew I couldn't trust them." The major didn't quite grasp what I was saying, until I turned to face her again, and she could see the beads of sweat rolling down my face, my hair tangled and unkempt from tossing in bed. "Those people need to be protected."

Misato's gaze hardened. "What are you talking about?"

"The JSSDF will attack, and they will not stop until everyone in NERV, even the Children, are dead. Seele will send the mass production Evas. They will try to start Third Impact, as will Commander Ikari." Misato glared, her eyes cold, unbelieving.

"And why would I trust you?"

"You won't, and you can't," I answered. Picking up the pistol, I glanced down the barrel, getting a very nervous reaction from Misato. "You wanted coffee?" Katsuragi just nodded slowly as I set the weapon down, fetched the pot, and poured a mug. Handing it to her, I glanced back at the gun, and the major followed my gaze. "It could be so much easier just to end it, you know? Not having any responsibility on future events, not having to warn people about what I know. More importantly, I wouldn't have the burden of knowing."

The major considered my words carefully, and took a sip from the mug. "Then why don't you?"

"I don't get depressed, Misato," I replied. "I just get mad."

She slid the green portfolio across the small kitchen table to my seat. Picking it up in my hands, I flipped it open. "I would prefer someone else," Misato said. "I would prefer anyone other than you, really. However, Shinji and Rei must stay here, as they are the only pilots left who can reliably defend us against the Angels. As for Asuka, well..."

Now I knew things were different. The satellite recon photo showed the remains of a NERV branch out in flat, desolate terrain, most of the buildings destroyed. In the center of those buildings, however, was a humanoid object. By the scale, however, it had to be incredibly large. Then it occurred to me. "This is Unit-04, isn't it?"

Misato nodded. "We're going to get it... now."

End of Chapter XV

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