+++++ Hikawa Shrine, Azabu-Juban, Japan.
After the trio of Sailors had left the Shrine, Minako had sauntered into her fellow Sailor's room with a dramatic flourish, "So," she dragged out the sound, "why are you blushing?"
"I am not blushing," Rei snapped. "I am angry!" Stomping over to where she attempted foretellings, she tossed the bag containing their only clue as to the location of Tuxedo Mask down by the firepit. "Why aren't you off chasing after him."
Sensing easy prey, the blonde Sailor of Love shrugged simply, "Because I'm waiting for him to come back looking for me. I mean, if he were to flirt with any of us, it'd be the most beautiful."
"Which is why I'm not blushing," the shrine maiden ground out. "He's a pig. Just like all men."
Walking around the room, lingeringly touching random things, she drew out the tease. "Which is, of course, why he acted so chivalrously to protect Makoto-chan and Ami-chan. Why he deferred to Usagi-chan's plan. Because, as you say, he's clearly led by his hormones. Oh," again she drew out the sound, "I see. You're embarrassed. You realize that you blew your chance to have someone as handsome as him." Flicking the photograph she'd held onto out so that it was in Rei's face, she winked, "Nice photography skills. Want to hang it on a corkboard and draw little hearts?"
Snatching it from her tormentor and throwing the photo in the fire she was building, the Sailor for Mars remained silent. She wasn't going to play her teammate's games. Busying herself for the ritual that would help her see something, she pointedly ignored the huff of irritation and click of tongue that Minako made. If she wanted the photo, she shouldn't have shoved it in my face. Preparing the purifying salts and incense, she strove for calm amidst her unsteady temper. She wouldn't deny that he was handsome, in a rather innocent way. She could see the pain that life had etched on his soul reflected in the way he slept huddled in on himself. He was used to taking up little space, trying not to be noticed, a task that had to be challenging for the man as he was rather tall for a son of Yamato. His hair had a slightly unruly quality that begged for her to…. What am I doing?!
Minako flopped down next to the fire, her typical faux dignity gone in place of the casual slacker that she hid behind a beautiful smile, "So, we going to do this, or are you just going to glare at the firepit?"
"I'll start when you can be quiet for ten straight seconds!" Clacking her teeth shut, irritated at how her temper was spiraling out of control lately, Rei once more sought her center. We need to find Tuxedo Mask. Each of my previous foretellings on him said that he had a major role to play, somehow. Her eyes drifted shut, her breathing steadied, and her hands began performing motions without conscious thought. Shaking her censer, her mouth formed the phrases to plead for the spirits to give her their aid.
Stillness dominated the room.
She'd had failures before, where the spirits didn't know, or didn't want to help. She knew that she couldn't compel them to share the future, only beg that they do so. Maintaining the gentle coercion, not wishing to anger something that would make her life miserable for the next dozen years, she continued her pleas.
Fear grew into the stillness.
Afraid? The thought shook her focus, and she let it drift out of her grasp. She couldn't lose concentration. That was invariably a way to a painful afternoon. Slow, steady, motions continued the ceremony. She would be patient. She would show them that they did not need to fear anything. The spirits were beyond that pain. They were past suffering. Their purpose was now to help others ease the burdens of the living.
Terror overran fear.
When the flames from the firepit exploded upwards, pouring out of the chimney far above, she took the hint and stopped the ritual. Whatever had happened to Tuxedo Mask clearly had potentially dire ramifications for anyone that spoke to her regarding the circumstances. Which means that if that man had anything to do with it, he's part of the reason they're terrified. Standing suddenly, she hurried to put her shoes on, "Come on, we need to contact the others."
"What happened?" Minako wasn't far behind her, and the serious set to her ally's eyes put the teasing to bed for the moment. "Usually they don't go boom-whoosh like that, right?" The lack of response spoke clearly enough of the potential problems brewing on the horizon.
+++++ "Game Center Crown", Azabu-Juban, Japan.
…An arcade? Shinji was looking up at the horizontal blue and yellow sign with red script labelling the building they were entering as they approached. Their 'Command Center' is inside of a public arcade? Are they insane? The memories of yesterday's fights crossed through his mind, how they called out their attacks and wore school uniforms to fight. Ok…there's every possibility that they are.
"Hey, Tsukino-chan, Mizuno-chan, Kino-chan!" A gregarious lady greeted the trio warmly, her smile drifting towards confusion as she took note of the nearly two meters of mechanical death ducking into the doorway. "Is…this a friend?"
Makoto pushed Shinji onwards, forcing Usagi to either stay in motion and be rude to the proprietor or let go of him and allow her to move Shinji out of the line of fire. "Yes, ma'am. We want to see how he does at one of the games while in his cosplay."
"It's, uhm," Ami tried to add onto the clear lie, "it's a dexterity test. To see how much his vision and range of motion is limited by the costume, you know."
With her eyebrow cocked, it was clear the woman was only half listening as she eyed Unit-01. "Of course, dearies. Be careful and have fun."
Carefully avoiding running into anything, Shinji caught sight of many of the screens for the arcade machines. Pixelated graphics, low resolution monitors, nothing smaller than he was! Is this a retro arcade? He doubted Touji or Kensuke would be caught dead in the establishment. Everything seemed so blocky and slow. His blonde and auburn escorts stopped him in front of a machine. Emblazoned across the banner was 'Sailor', and then the English letter V. Much bulkier than any of the other machines, there were two rows placed back to back of them. He noted that they weren't incredibly popular, as no one was sitting at any of them despite the screens playing a 'demo' of the gameplay possible.
"Uhm, Tsukino-chan," Ami kept her voice low to avoid anyone overhearing. "Could…could we maybe ask him to turn around? That way he doesn't see the password?"
Without waiting to be asked officially, Shinji turned his back on the machines. It wasn't an unreasonable request, especially since he was used to NERV's protocols for entry. Since there weren't any armed guards present, whatever password they used was likely the only security they had. When he completed his about face, he saw an approving grin on Makoto's lips.
"Thanks, Tin Man. It's not that we don't trust you, but we have to build our trust up further, yeah?" Her bright green eyes spoke of strength and determination.
They remind me of Hikari's eyes. His head drooped as the thought struck him in the heart. He wasn't daft enough to think any possible relationship with the young woman would have worked out. He'd screw it up, like he always did with any relationship whether familial or social. Doesn't stop me from wishing I'd had the chance to try.
A strong hand rapped its knuckles against his chest plate, "Don't worry, big guy. We'll figure out how to talk to you. I know how hard it can be to make friends when nobody hears what you're saying." When he looked back towards her, she winced ruefully, "I used to be my school's enforcer. Nobody wanted to talk to a girl who stared them in the eyes and didn't act all bashful. At least you're trying to communicate, heck of a lot more to say for you in that regard."
He felt motion behind him, and quickly moved out of the way as several of the arcade machines slid aside to reveal a staircase leading towards a basement that he didn't believe the location to have. Those stairs…don't look like they're made of cement.
"Ok, Mister Robot Man," Usagi announced as she took his hand once more, "let's get you downstairs. Mind your head, now. It's a long fall down."
There was something about holding her hand that caused the beautiful pain in his heart. The anxiety calmed, the tortured thoughts stilled, and he began to believe that things would actually be possible. Ducking, once again, to stop himself from clanging his head on the overhang, he took several more steps before he could straighten back upright. Ami hurried ahead, for some reason that he doubted was his business. Suddenly, his other hand was filled with Makoto's. When he looked over to her, he saw calm confidence. She's…nice.
"It's ok to be worried, but we're not going to let anyone hurt you." The statuesque stunner was clearly someone who took her duties as protector seriously. If she called you friend, she'd bleed hard for you. "Just breathe easy, and don't panic when you see what's below."
Don't panic? When, in the history of ever, has 'don't panic' done anything but cause someone to panic?! Looking away, so he could mind his steps, he began to see the details in the craftsmanship of the stairs. The walls were translucent, almost frosted. Grey-blue and smooth, they suddenly reminded him of the man's face he'd seen inside the Angel. A shudder of revulsion was mistaken for anxiety, and both women squeezed his hands.
"It's ok." Usagi spoke in a manner that seemed out of place from her usual ditzy cheer. Calm, even, and regal, she looked on him with eyes that showed no fear, "I will not let anyone hurt you here. I promise."
"We've got your back," Makoto patted his hand. "Just like you had ours against that monster."
All he could do was nod. He understood that, even as they misunderstood his emotions. These weren't bad people. Bad people would have called the cops on him for existing. They would have fought him either during, or after, the fight against the Angel. He couldn't be certain about Mars, but he was positive that the three with him were kind. A little steadier, the memory now present enough that it wasn't startling him, he resumed his inspection. The steps themselves were nearly transparent, a much lighter frosting with the same color as the walls, the entire area seemed to be hanging in a perpetual twilight. No, he thought, a perpetual dawn. It's like this place is always looking towards the light.
As they finished rounding the clockwise spinning central staircase, he caught sight of Ami once more. As well as a pair of cats. His sanity was tested once again when the white cat tilted its head and spoke, "Huh. You really weren't lying."
They have talking cats. Shinji halted his forward motion completely. They have talking cats, cast spells by shouting, and fight in school uniforms. I think I'm actually going mad.
The black one stood and stretched, adding, "He doesn't belong here."
"We have to speak to him, Luna-chan! He might know something about Tuxedo Mask." Ami looked between the two cats, clearly at ease with their loquaciousness, "Please, don't just kick him out."
"I meant he doesn't belong here," the cat called Luna rolled her eyes. "On this planet. Possibly even this galaxy."
The white cat, still unnamed, jumped up on the console and pressed several buttons. A holographic projection appeared, displaying a scan of Unit-01. "We can't penetrate that shell, so we're not able to see the humanoid inside. But that metal…that's not normal. I doubt you'd find that anywhere locally." Turning to look at Shinji, he swished his tail in curiosity. "You say he's sentient, though?"
"He can communicate, kind of," Makoto replied. "We brought him here, hoping you had an idea."
"You tried a pen and paper?" Luna quirked her whiskers. "He has hands. He might know your written language."
I am the world's biggest fucking idiot. Shinji berated himself, slumping forward in shame. I could have just drawn the characters on the dirt. Asuka's right, I'm worthless.
"Oh." Usagi giggled, "Well, aren't we all silly."
Once again, something seemed off about the way the bun-haired girl was acting, and Shinji swerved out of his funk enough to look over at her. Why am I…am I doubting her? She seemed completely guileless, in the sense that she inspired trust from him. It just didn't seem as genuine as he thought it was, initially. There was something there, something below what he was hearing.
"Well, you're already here." The white cat patted a keyboard, "C'mere Clunky. Tell me if you recognize these characters on the keys. We'll cycle through languages until we find yours, if we have it available."
Makoto frowned in disapproval, "Don't call him names. I tease him with Tin Man because we don't know his name, but we aren't going to be mean-spirited, Artemis."
"Hmm?" Luna tittered, "Found someone you like, did we?"
"He jumped into a fight he had no stake in," the Sailor for Jupiter began to loom over the cats, "and despite Ami-chan mistaking him for an enemy and Rei-san shooting him in the face, he gave us his best. He took a bus to the back for me, took a number of blows to protect Ami-chan, who, again, blasted him in the face, and followed Usagi-chan without complaint when she decided our strategy. Of course I like him, he's honorable, he's not afraid of fighting alongside a strong woman, and he's trustworthy."
Ami added, sotto voce, "He turned his back so that he didn't see the password. When Rei-san made it clear that she didn't want him around, he left without a fight. He even didn't hold it against me that I…kinda geeked out on him."
Waving his hands to draw attention to himself, Shinji tried to urge everyone to not fight. He didn't mind that they called him names, especially since none of them were nearly as hurtful as the ones Asuka or Touji came up with. Stepping closer to the keyboard, he looked down and easily recognized the character set. Tapping cautiously, not wanting to damage the delicate-seeming crystal instrument, he was surprised when a feminine robotic voice read out his entry. "Hello. I'm sorry that you can't understand me. My name is Shinji Ikari, pleased to meet all of you."
"Oh, ho! He even has manners," Luna jumped over to a stool he was standing near to poke and prod at Unit-01. "Well, we're pleased to meet you too, Shinji Ikari."
"Ikari-san," Ami bounced, excited for the chance at learning something, "where did you come from?"
He hesitated in answering, the day's discoveries not boding well for him. Still…they trusted me. "Tokyo-3. I work for a UN agency called NERV. We are supposed to fight the Angels, like the one yesterday."
"Angel?" Makoto blinked in confusion. "Like, halos and feathery wings, angels?"
He negated that with a sharp gesture and a firm shake of his head. "No. I don't know why they're called Angels, but that's what I was told they are. They attack, we fight them. I don't know where they come from, I don't know their goals. All I know is, is if I don't defeat them, they'll kill everyone."
"Uhm," Usagi tapped her lips with one finger, "where's Tokyo-3? I only know of the one. Did the country add two more recently?"
Much quicker to piece together the disparate clues, Ami looked at him in concern, "What year is it, Ikari-san?"
He was of a mind with the bluenette. Too many anachronisms were present, the lack of damage to the atmosphere, to the land. The fact that Tokyo Tower stood, and most of the main city wasn't a radioactive hole. The temperature being easily ten degrees cooler and far less muggy. "Twenty Eighteen…where I come from."
"Oh…wow, so you're like that machine from the weird American movie…uhm…Terminator! Have you come back in time to save someone?" Makoto paused, "Or…kill someone?"
"He's not a killer." Usagi's statement was final. There was no hesitation, no doubt, no lack of conviction to it. In her mind: the sky is blue, water is wet, it was a pleasant twenty degrees outside, and Shinji Ikari was not someone who murdered people. The appearance of tears in her eyes, the way her smile had faded away, tore at his heart. "Shinji-kun…have you seen a man wearing a tuxedo?"
He'd already tried once to tell them his fears, and now he knew he was right to be honest. Whoever this man was, he was clearly their ally. Shinji himself would want to know if Ayanami, or Asuka, had been killed. Would they want to know now, about me? Typing carefully, he gave what he could. "While I was stuck inside the Angel that brought me here, I saw a man with blue eyes and black hair. He…he was dead. The only reason I'm alive is because I'm surrounded by LCL. I am very sorry, if that is the man you are speaking of. He had black clothing, a black hat and a white mask both near him. He'd clearly suffocated to death."
Makoto and Ami moved to support Usagi, who began to cry with more force and passion. It was clear to him that the death of anyone was painful to the twin-tailed blonde. But the death of this man seemed to strike her with a weight he himself felt regarding who he'd left behind. Watching the gentle, open, young woman cling to her friends did ease his guilt to a degree. She, unlike him, was not alone. That was important. She didn't deserve to be alone like him.
"That's going to be a problem," the white cat murmured where only Shinji and Luna could hear. "You know who we believed him to be, Luna."
"I do." The black cat was, herself, pained to see the woman she admired hurting so. "We need to do some more research. Whoever managed this…this swap, might be able to do it again." Jumping up to the top of the nearby monitor, she considered Shinji with caution. "I hope you intend to help them, Ikari-san. What we saw of yesterday's fight, you are clearly necessary for them to have a chance of victory."
"And I think you know that they're just as essential." The other cat nudged him with a paw. "You don't seem to have any offensive weaponry, and it took a lot out of you afterwards. Can they count on you?"
If I came back in time…. "What year is it?" Tapping the question out, he waited for the response.
"Heisei four," Luna answered. "Or, using the system you did, Nineteen Ninety-two."
Pre-Impact. Owing more to Pavlovian training than anything, the lecture the old teacher from Nebukawa gave every day climbed to the forefront of his mind. Shaking it off, he tried to remember anything regarding the actual causes. The things he'd been shown inside of NERV. "Has…has there been any research into artifacts found in Antarctica? Anything about a…what were they called…some kind of engine. A solenoid, I think."
Luna flicked her tail a few times, "Artemis, you start checking for that. Ikari-san-"
Stopping her with a quick wave of his hands, he begged via the keyboard, "Please, Luna-san. Just call me Shinji. Ikari-san…the man I know as 'Ikari-san' is a sore subject."
Twitching her left ear, the feline's eyes became thoughtful. "I see. Well, then, Shinji-san, would you mind kneeling so that I can take a closer look at what I'm guessing is your helmet?" Pleased at how quickly he acquiesced, she jumped over to his shoulder and began probing the various seams and crevices with her claws. "Please hold up a fist for 'No' and a thumb for 'Yes'. Does this hurt?" His fist. "Hmm…that's good, I guess. Ami-chan told us that you were stuck in here, somehow. I'm beginning to think we're going to have to use one of our beds to scan you. The problem is," she hopped off his shoulder and sat down on the desk, looking at him sadly, "it can't see through this metal, most likely. If you appeared as a human while asleep, maybe that's where you can find your answers? We've certainly seen stranger spells."
Shinji regained his feet, his world still bouncing around without steadying. Magic. Cats that talk. None of this was mentioned in my history class. Will Second Impact even happen here? Turning to look at Usagi and those comforting her, he saw the kind of friendship he'd long wished he could have. Neither Ami nor Makoto were judging their peer for her feelings. They weren't trying to make her laugh to avoid having to deal with sorrow. They were just…there. Their presence meant far more than any words they could give, in his mind. Looking down and shaking his head, he felt a pat on his hand.
Luna's tone was grave as she quietly addressed him, "You seem to be a good man, Shinji-san. I hope you're a good enough man to fight alongside them against what's to come."
His mind immediately rang with 'I mustn't run away', on repeat. Clenching the fist away from Luna, so as not to risk harming her, he choked the thoughts back. My only chance at going home might be cooperating with them. They are good people, fighting to keep others safe. If there's a chance that I went back in time, somehow, maybe I can stop Second Impact. How many billions of lives could I save? Turning to face the delicate-seeming feline, he raised his fist up slightly before him as if swearing an oath. "I'll fight. I'll keep them safe."
The cat couldn't understand him, owing to the grunts being largely unintelligible, but she understood the bearing of someone who'd made a choice. "Good. Welcome to the team, then. We're probably going to-"
One of the largest problems Shinji faced throughout his time as an Eva pilot was his tendency to be caught flat-footed. He hadn't trained extensively, like Asuka, or been raised in the program, like Rei Ayanami. He didn't have the military experience of Misato, or the para-military experience of Kaji. He was talented, but very, very raw. When the arrow of flame connected with the side of his helmet, the acts that followed demonstrated how fortunate everyone was that he hadn't yet taken his duty seriously.
+++++ Lunar Command Center
Now glowing a molten red, Unit-01 issued a low growl as it turned menacingly to face its antagonist. This was a place of peace. A place where people went to heal. This place had been desecrated. This archer interferes with the Moon's grief. I'll keep them safe. It would not allow anyone here to be killed, save those who brought pain to this holy ground.
The primal roar that echoed throughout the room carried with it a visceral terror. Fear crawled into every living being present. Fear of the situation, fear of the consequences, fear of Unit-01. Blitzing past the trio it had arrived with, Unit-01 moved on a direct course for the one it knew was responsible. It held the bow. It had fired once already without issuing a challenge. It was duplicitous. Sneaky. Weak. It would be food.
Like a well-oiled machine, the combat-tested Sailors reacted to the dynamically devolving situation with unity, minus Mars who couldn't believe what she was seeing. Mercury smashed Unit-01 with a blizzard, forcing it off course and attempting to weigh it down with ice long enough for Jupiter to reach it. Jupiter herself charged in, knowing that their new ally was likely confused and scared. Tackling what, to her, felt like a freight train she nevertheless put her back and heart into stopping a fight that didn't need to happen. Moon took off her tiara, flinging it at Unit-01's feet where it looped first around one, then the other, before cinching down and taking away the monster's base.
Last, Venus slapped Mars with an open-handed left that started somewhere around Beijing. The crack of her palm against the other woman's cheek sounded clearly over even the continuing rage of Unit-01, "What is wrong with you, Hino? Did it look like he was threatening the cats? Did he even seem remotely interested in harming Usagi while she was crying? I know you don't like socializing with anyone, but damn it bitch, learn to read the room!" Shoving her nominal ally out of the way, she stomped down the stairs towards Unit-01.
Mars' mouth worked, attempting to say something, "I…I-I-"
"Save it," Minako snapped. Remaining the only one not to have transformed, she approached the still raging titan cautiously. "Hey, Tin Man. Give you a kiss if you settle down." Dropping down onto her knees just out of reach of the hands still grasping to reach Mars, she leaned over and let her hair fan out to block his line of sight on what she presumed to be his target. "Come on. Please? I'll give you two kisses?" Her mouth curled into a smile as Unit-01's greenish-yellow gaze shifted towards her, its thrashing beginning to slow as its previous target faded from memory. "There we go. See? You calm down, I give rewards. It's a fair trade, right?"
Uncertain of what was happening anymore, Unit-01's hand changed from reaching for Mars to reaching for Minako. Grunting with the effort, it managed to touch three fingers to her knee. When the blonde Sailor of Love scooped up its hand and smiled winningly, its struggles crept to a halt. A low, steady, growl that spoke more of pain than anger issued forth as blazing flames drifted back to regal purple.
"His name is Shinji Ikari," Jupiter sighed out, only including Minako. Slipping off of the man she'd fought to stop from harming someone she wished would stop being an idiot, she landed with her knees tucked in and her feet splayed out to the sides. "Turns out, he's from the future."
Moon cautiously freed Unit-01's legs, out of fear that she might harm him more than out of worry that he might harm her. His rages were calmed again, and she knew she'd never be in danger from him. "Poor Shin-Shin," choosing his new nickname, she sat down on the other side of Venus, who was stroking his gauntleted hand soothingly. "It sounds like he's far from home. I don't think he wanted to come here, and I know he's very upset about…about Mamoru."
"Mamoru?" Mercury was confused, "Mamoru Chiba?" Her eyes went wide as the commonalities struck her between the eyes, "Mamoru Chiba was Tuxedo Mask?!"
With Unit-01 curling in on itself, Usagi pushed away her own heartache for another time. "He was. I know he was. We…we didn't tell each other our identities, but I was able to figure it out from…well, that doesn't matter now." Scooting closer and placing Unit-01's head in her lap, she added her own gentle touch to soothing the raging beast. "Hina-san, I would appreciate it if you left now. Once we have a better idea of what we're up against, we'll let you know."
Her mind clear enough to protest, Rei Hino pointed towards Unit-01. "You don't understand, the spirits say that it-"
"He," Usagi cut in, her tone darkening, "is not the one to blame here. He fought to defend us. He didn't attack us because we didn't try to kill him. Leave. I will not ask you a third time."
As Mars turned to storm off, Mercury dry-washed her hands. She was torn between staying and interviewing Shinji further once he was calm, and making certain that none of them were alone. Safety won out over curiosity, "I'll, uhm, I'll go keep an eye on her."
"Call us if something's wrong," Makoto insisted, having reverted to her normal clothing. She was of a mind with Usagi, but didn't hate Rei enough to wish her harm. Scooting herself closer, she patted Unit-01's hip, "You weigh a ton, my friend. Like wrestling with a car."
Minako laughed, agreeing that now was the time for joking and silliness, "I would adore a car with his colors. Sharp royal purple, pops of green tinting, super trendy."
Usagi's heart was heavy, but she too felt a need to comfort a man that seemingly had far too much on his plate, "Maybe someday Shin-Shin can transform into a car, then we'll all be able to ride him around town."
Performing a dry spit-take, Minako cackled, "I don't think you meant that quite the way it came out, Usagi-chan."
+++++ Lunar Command Center
What happened?! Laying on his side, on the floor of a strange, alien, place, Shinji tried to grasp what had caused him to lose any semblance of reason or control. He could hear the three remaining ladies attempting to ease the atmosphere he'd created, feel them gently petting him as if he were a frightened hound in need of comfort. As wonderful as it felt, dread mounted in his heart that he might lose control again and threaten what was clearly a force for good. I…I really can't stay. There has to be somewhere I can….
When Shinji stood, he was faced with an almost immediate blockade of three young women. Minako stood in the center with her arms outstretched, Usagi latched onto his right arm and urged him to stand still, and Makoto put her hand on his chest and shook her head. All three said the same thing, "No."
"I doubt, in my heart of hearts, that you would have done that if she hadn't shot at you without any warning." Minako's voice reminded him suddenly of Asuka's when she felt that she was right. "I am not going to let you run away because you think you're going to hurt us."
"You didn't aim at any of us," Makoto added, pushing harder to force him back. "You went for the one person who attacked you. Even when you…what is that, some form of berserker?"
"Each time he's changed colors, from what Ami-chan shared," Artemis idly flicked a holographic projection of the two colorations Shinji had shown into place with his tail as he continued his work, "it seems to be in relation to something one of you does. Perhaps these changes to his exoskeleton cause changes in his mental state. We'd need more information to know."
Luna stalked over to the edge of the console. "Which would be harder to do if you weren't around your team," stressing the final word meaningfully, she bunched her legs beneath her and leapt over to land on his shoulder. Butting her head against the side of his helmet, she purred, "I agree with the ladies. You smelled of sorrow for Usagi-chan's loss, and it wasn't until you were sucker punched that you changed. So long as we can stop Mars from being silly again, this shouldn't be a problem."
How can any of you trust me? He was weighted down by burdens he had not chosen, still. If he moved, he risked harming them. They'd already told him that his weight was very variable, which meant that anything he did risked everything. Looking down at his left hand, he worked his fingers open and closed several times. Why. I need to find out why they trust me. Nobody back home…nobody except Hikari…. Turning back to the screens, a motion that everyone allowed him to do as it wasn't towards the exit, he tapped out on the keys, "How can you trust someone who can't control themselves?"
Usagi's response was bewildered, "Because we can help?" The pain remained in her eyes, but there was determination and fire there again as she looked at him. "Shin-Shin, you need our help. I'm not too proud to admit that we need your help too! We couldn't beat that…whatever that was."
"Angel," Makoto shrugged. "If it's what he calls them, it's as good a name as any. Let's keep it simple, no need to complicate battles any more than they usually are around us."
Frustration continued to grow; he could not understand these people. "I am encased in a machine that has a will of its own at times. Who's to say I'm not going to snap and suddenly eat one of you?!"
"I am." Usagi walked over and planted herself directly before Shinji. Pointing up at him with her index finger she jabbed him with every word, "You are not allowed to leave us." Leaving her finger in place, she leaned forward and grinned. "Because you aren't the kind of man who hurts ladies that aren't trying to hurt you."
Artemis had continued his work, ignoring the interruptions. He called over his fuzzy shoulder to the rest of those present, "I'm not seeing anything about unusual trips to the Antarctic. The limited connection we have to official networks on this planet don't have anything at least, I've mainly focused on areas like the Cambridge to Princeton trunks. I'm scrolling through recent news articles that have been donated to libraries. Would it kill these people to create a global network?"
Disengaging from Usagi, and reaching up to his shoulder to scoop Luna off for her to hold, Shinji tapped out on the keyboard, "They will. At least, if you follow the history I'm familiar with. After Second Impact the MAGI were created to help piece everything back together. The Valentine's Day Treaty laid the framework for the UN to assume actual global power. Through GEHIRN, and NERV, they managed to create a near-lightspeed global information network. If it weren't for the MAGI, humanity likely wouldn't still have been around. They regulate power usage, assist farmers with crop rotations." Looking over to the ladies for a second, he realized something that was rather sad. "My planet was dying, slowly. What if my coming here…what if I'm responsible somehow for Second Impact?"
"What if you're responsible for stopping it?" Makoto could feel the anxiety and fear dripping off of their new friend. "Shinji-san, I think maybe you just need a couple days to unwind. Maybe you're just all stressed out because of everything that's happened, and all of this," she waved her hand to indicate Unit-01, "is just one of those mind-over-body things. Let's not make any huge decisions for now. You stick with us, we stick with you, and in a few days we try again. Simple."
Minako's lips bunched off to the side. "Well, there is a slight problem. Where does he stay? I mean, he can't stay here. There's nothing to do, and nothing to eat. I can't bring him home with me, my parents would flip out."
Usagi nodded, "Yeah, my parents wouldn't understand either. I doubt he'd get much peace around Shingo-kun, what with looking like a giant mecha."
"He'll stay with me," Makoto declared firmly. "I live alone, and I'm on the first floor. Cement floors, should hold his weight."
Shinji typed out his response with growing unease, his hands extremely unsteady, "I cccan't stay allllone wwwwith a wwwwoman."
"Two thousand Yen says he's blushing," Minako laughed out.
Usagi glowered at her fellow blonde. "Don't tease him. He's a gentleman, and he's worried that Makoto might develop a reputation. I think that's very sweet of him." Her own emotions were clearly still unsteady, which showed in the lack of power behind her smile when she turned back to Shinji. "It's ok, Shin-Shin. Makoto-chan is a good choice, and I think you'll find it easier to relax there than you think you will." He, somehow, could feel the pain within her. "We should all get home anyway. We have school tomorrow, and it's getting late."
She wants to be alone, so she can cry for someone she loved. He recognized far too much of that in his own heart. Tapping out a last message, he hit the key to start it reading and reached over to gently cup her shoulder. "You are a good person, Tsukino-san. I am sorry that my arrival took away the man you loved."
"Oh, Shin-Shin." Rushing into a hug, the twin-tailed blonde squeezed him tight. "You didn't choose to come here. You were taken away from your family too! Please, don't blame yourself for something you couldn't control." Lowering her voice, making it so only he could hear, she added, "Don't. I know you know how it feels to lose someone…I can feel it in your heart."
With her in such close contact, his anxieties faded to nothing. Sighing, he patted her back gently to avoid harm, "I'll try." He hoped his meaning would carry through, because she wasn't letting him move just yet to where he could type. Once more, the wonderful pain of belonging crept into his being. Carefully lowering himself to one knee, he hugged her in return, I'm still sorry, Tsukino-san.
+++++ Makoto Kino's Apartment, Azabu-Juban, Japan.
Pausing just outside the door to her apartment, Makoto suddenly turned and motioned for him to stay put. "Could…I have like, one minute to clean up a bit?"
She wasn't expecting company. He nodded, turning so that he could sit down and be mostly shielded from view by the brick privacy wall and shrubberies. He didn't mind if she took all evening, honestly. It was her apartment, and he knew Misato generally left things out where he'd find them. Inappropriate things. He blushed, remembering several instances where he'd find her trail of clothing from the front door to the bathroom. I miss her. The maudlin thought stamped out any illicit thoughts, winning the short war for his mind rather easily. I miss them.
With his head resting against the wall, he watched the busy street for a time. Crowded, loud, throbbing with life. Somehow containing more people at any one point in time than the city of Tokyo-3 seemed to in its entirety. He tried to imagine what the rest of the world must have been like. The southern hemisphere still populated. Fish and birds and mammals of all kinds. If he went to the zoo, would he actually be able to see them alive and moving? What about the plants? Insects? His train of thinking was derailed as he realized he hadn't once heard the omnipresent buzzing of cicadas. He hadn't heard them once. It was background noise in Tokyo-3 and in Nagano. They were an almost year-round chorus all his life!
"I'm really sorry that took so long," Makoto came back out and bowed apologetically. "Yesterday was laundry day, and I hadn't had a chance to put it away. I don't want to force you to see my lady clothes, that would be rude."
Motioning that he didn't mind, he moved to his feet and spoke the formulaic, "I'm sorry for bothering you."
A sad half smile grew on her beautiful face, "I'm almost positive you're apologizing for bothering me. You're not." Waving him in, she kept up her attempts at forcing positivity. "So, my couch is kind of ratty, and I doubt you'll want to sit on it anyway considering you seem like the kind of guy that worries about breaking things with his size." Turning in a slow circle on the toes of one foot, she kept her other foot off the ground at an angle as she thought. "Soooooo…why don't we move it over there," she gestured to where her desk was. "I'll pull out a pillow for me, and you can sit on the floor where you won't be panicking, and we'll try to figure out a way to communicate. If we end up in a fight again, we've got to be able to talk or we're going to get pummeled."
'Communication is vital to the success of any military engagement, Shinji. You didn't communicate with me, and so I couldn't know what your play was. I'm not just up there to look pretty and hold a chair down. Work with me, I'm trying my hardest to work with you.' Misato's words supported Makoto's, informing his nod of agreement. That would be time well spent, and she had the right of it. If all he could do was rumble and roar, he was a weak link. He could get someone killed.
Moving to the other end of the small orange sofa, she crouched down with proper lifting form and waited for him to assume the same position. When he was ready, she nodded and counted down, "Ok, three, two, one, hup!" At this point she was almost lifted off the ground as Shinji hefted the piece entirely on his own. "Whoa-ho-ho!" Letting go and stepping back, she laughed in amusement, "Ok, killer. I'll let you get it on your own with your showy muscles." Hurrying back to the wall she'd wanted him to place it at, she moved a few other pieces of furniture out of the way. "Let's set it in here. Let me help you so we don't ruin the apartment. Need to keep my deposit, if I leave."
Shinji himself was rather shocked. He was certainly not a powerhouse, neither traditionally strong nor 'gym rat' strong. Still, both couch and Sailor weighed nothing more than a feather to him. He agreed that caution should be used with another person's belongings and living space, and let her help guide him in. With it properly placed, he stood back up and tilted his head. Speaking was pointless, but hopefully she understood that he needed guidance if there was something else to do.
"Go ahead and sit down at the kotatsu. I don't have the heater out yet, it's still a little warm for how late in the year it is and I'm trying to save money on electricity." Waving him on, she hurried to the adjoining bedroom. "I'm going to grab some paper and pencils for you to use, be right back!"
I'm in a woman's apartment, for the second time. The memory of Rei's apartment in the slums prompted more pain, and so he rapidly shifted gears to something else. She needs help around here, I think. She's talking about financial troubles. Like Hikari. I'm probably going to be a burden, since I don't have any cash either. He couldn't get a job, if he spent all day in armor. That had to be his first step, finding a way to get out of Unit-01. Which meant communication. She's pretty smart…and pretty. He was, in fact, blushing. Each of the women he'd fought with were gorgeous in their own ways. Each had their own charms. All were as far beyond him as the celestial bodies they claimed as names.
"Got a selection for you," bustling back into the room, she dumped a stack of scrap paper onto the table and followed it up with a variety of implements to write with, "take your pick."
Several pencils, of different sizes. A few pens, including some with glittery ink. And a calligraphy set. She enjoys art. A thought floated across the forefront of his mind, and he reached over to pick up the calligraphy brush. How dexterous am I? Preparing the ink, setting it back down, and then painting what he believed to be the characters for her name, he had to smile as he finished. Apparently I'm not clunky after all. Setting the brush down, he looked up to see Makoto with a small blush on her cheeks. Oh.
"Well, I'm glad you know my name." Carefully dancing her fingers over and pulling the paper towards her, she set it where he couldn't see it and rolled her hand. "So, when you woke up this morning you weren't in your…armor?"
Having taken the chance while she was taking the paper with her name away to clean the brush and set it down properly, Shinji picked up a sturdy looking pencil and wrote down, 'Eva, Unit-01.'
Mouthing the strange word, she frowned in thought. "So, I'm afraid I don't know that one."
'Go with armor.' It wasn't exactly wrong, even in the basic sense. The Eva was always intended to be his armor in battle. Just…much larger. 'Easier to say.'
"I agree." He could tell that she wasn't stupid, not by any stretch, but it seemed she preferred things that weren't complicated. It was just her nature. She pressed on, "So you weren't in your armor this morning. Do you remember anything from that? Maybe a dream?"
Tapping his pencil several times in thought, he chose to go with, 'Glowing lady. Said I had to wake up. Couldn't die, people needed me.'
Her laugh was grateful, and natural, "When you talk to her again, tell her thanks for us?" Grinning as he looked down, clearly embarrassed, she patted his wrist. "You're a good person, Shinji-san. I can see it in how you carry yourself. So, did this woman have a face? Did you recognize the voice?"
'No. Glowing. Rainbow echoes and chiming sparks, her voice…unfamiliar. Then doused with water.'
"Has anyone ever told you you're very vivid in your details?" She read his statement aloud, "Here, 'Rainbow echoes and chiming sparks'. I can see it, in my mind. Sound and light confusing themselves with one another." Sighing as she got to the last part, she shook her head in irritation. "I don't know what's wrong with Hino-san. I really don't. She shouldn't have treated you like that. She shouldn't have treated anyone like that."
He couldn't quite understand why nobody here was afraid. Everyone back home, even those people he knew were rock solid in combat, was afraid all the time. It's like fear had become a foreign concept in this world. 'She's right to be afraid of me. Dangerous.'
"So am I," she declared without concern. "I don't go around dropping lightning on people at random, you don't go around smashing people with those pythons attached to your shoulders. 'Dangerous' isn't always a euphemism for 'bad'."
We're likely just not going to see eye-to-eye here. 'Nothing else. Light, sound, water. Woke up, armor snapped on.'
"Huh." She nodded, thinking through what he'd written. "So…how did it feel?"
He struggled to recall, 'Urgent. Calm.'
"Those are two different things, usually." Drumming her fingers, she focused in on her target. "I get like that before a fight. All energy and drive, but not wanting to just lash out at random. Control it, shape it. You know?"
I get like that before Angels anymore. He even felt it before the shadow. When he was falling into it, as well. 'Hard to be calm. I was taken during combat. Don't know if everyone is alive.'
She gripped his wrist, attempting to lend him strength. "You're in the past. Maybe we can find a way to send you back to the future. Maybe you can show up and still save everyone. There's hope!" Her smile told him as much. Hers was a world full of potential. Full of options. Full of chances to succeed.
Patting her hand, he freed the pencil to add, 'I don't believe in hope. Never have.'
Determination girded itself behind hope, "Then we'll just have to help you find it. What do you do, normally, to calm down? Everyone has their thing that they do to stop themselves from breaking things. What's yours?"
'Cooking. Music.' Working in the kitchen was always a way for him to detach from the world. Of everything he missed of his possessions, his SDat was probably the highest.
"Cooking?" Her eyes shone brightly with a toothy smile, "I love cooking!" Looking towards her kitchen, she did some mental calculations and urged him up. "Come on, I have enough that you should be able to make something. I'll sit in the kitchen and talk, you cook whatever. Even if you can't eat it, you'll at least know you're cooking for someone. That's what you like about it, isn't it?"
Misato was always happiest when I made her favorites. He nodded, and moved along with her. He clearly had enough manual dexterity to not destroy everything, he just had to be cautious. Watching her move into the kitchen before him, he realized he'd focused on her form more than he ought to have. Don't start. She'll see you eventually, and that will be that. Beauties like her never go for guys like us.
After she hopped up, turned in mid-air, and landed in a seated position on her counter, she pointed to the fridge with her toes, her shapely leg extended out. "Go ahead and use whatever. I'm getting a disbursement tomorrow from my parent's estate, so I can afford to replace stuff.
Estate? Are her parents wealthy, and she's just living frugally to learn good values? Cautiously opening the refrigerator, he took stock of everything inside. There was, from his estimation, approximately nothing of decent nutritional value present. There was a moment of mental screaming as he remembered how Misato lived before he arrived. It was very clear that she had little money, which made him even more hurt that he was bothering her. Quickly grabbing a few things to make one of Misato's favorites that with proper preparation managed to at least be mildly healthy, he set everything out and began looking in cupboards and drawers for his weapons of war.
"So, I should probably start talking rather than just watching you." She laughed with comfortable self-deprecation. "What could I talk about, though? Any ideas?"
Pausing in his motions, he gestured towards her. If he was going to be a part of a team, it would likely be better for him to know more about the other people involved.
"Me?" Her mouth stood slightly agape as she processed his intent. He hadn't remained still for long, and was already engaged in the prep work for whatever he was concocting. Kicking her feet slightly, she began to explain where she'd come from in life. When she reached the part where her parents had died, the plane crash stealing them away from her, she felt a moment of happiness when he stopped moving, and looked over at her with a slow nod of understanding and commiseration. "I've always been afraid of planes, since that point. I've had to work hard to maintain my independence, the court constantly tried to put me in homes." Looking away, she huffed. "People only wanted to steal the money and ignore me. I won't let them ruin my parents hard work."
It made him mad to think of someone abusing a child and stealing their inheritance. His own childhood had been more or less wretched, and now he had something in common with someone he would be working with. Somehow, that thought sparked a bit of positivity in him. She'll understand me. "Maybe being friends won't be a bad thing."
"Oh, I love making friends, I j...us…t…."
He turned to look at her, his hand still stirring the pot he'd been working on, and saw her smiling broadly. Unaware that he wasn't constrained in Unit-01 any longer, and was instead in his plugsuit, he tilted his head quizzically. Speaking with his body had begun to become more natural, as enforced a practice as it was.
"Shinji-san?" She pointed at him, "Look!"
His eyes dropped down to where she was pointing, and finally took note of what she'd seen. "I'm…what?" Turning back to her, he shook his head, "I'm…I'm n-n-not…."
"Woo hoo!" Cheering, she ejected herself from the counter and began dancing with joy. "I helped you succeed!"
Somehow her relentless positivity stopped him from rebounding into his traditional anxious mess, "I…th-thank you."
Stopping between moves, she set her hands behind her and tilted her head to the side, "You are most welcome." Tilting her chin towards his face, she winced with sympathy, "I've had more than one of those in my life. Doesn't look like you got it from our fight though. Pretty sure the helmet would have protected you."
As soon as he figured out she was talking about the bruise on his face, he remembered the evening before the Angel attack where he'd earned the mark and his armor slammed back into place. Gah!
"Whoa." Neither startled nor frightened, Makoto approached him and lightly stroked his bicep. "Hey, it's ok. I think we're pretty close to the truth here. You get scared, or anxious, you go full armor. Let's try avoiding those topics for a bit. See if we can't repeat our success. Maybe learn control."
Her tone, her touch, even her eyes reminded him of Hikari. While his former Class Rep's eyes were a bright hazel, Makoto's green was close enough in part. Former. The way he'd mentally phrased it haunted him. Why do I get the feeling they're all dead? Continuing with his preparation of the meal, he made no more motions towards conversation. He listened to what she said, with the same half-attention that he'd give Asuka whenever she'd carried on. I'm here. I'm where there's hope. I'm here because I killed them by failing.
Makoto watched as he put the finishing touches on her meal, her heart growing heavier. After he indicated that she could eat as she liked, he then moved back out to where he wouldn't be in anyone's way and curled up in a seated position against a wall. I don't know where you came from, Shinji Ikari…but I'm not going to work awfully hard to send you back there. Someone broke you. Someone had better pray I never find them.
+++++ Author's Notes:
Timingchameleon: RE: New story.
I've found that writing helps soothe the problems in my mind. It's become a habit, anymore, when things are going wrong all around me to find a way to work on scenes. If I can keep my life trending on a positive path, I'll likely keep writing until I'm dead.
Guest: RE: Mister Robot Man.
I had a friend in middle school who for whatever reason could never remember names, but could remember features. Everyone around her garnered a nickname based on some feature of theirs. She was always bright and positive, even when bad things happened. Reminded me of Usagi, and so the tick of hers became Usagi's.
JaceSterne:
RE: Sequels.
I'm probably not done writing things in YA(N)C's main continuity yet. I have at least three short vignettes I've written about things that I couldn't include in the main tale for pacing or narrative flow. I'll probably end up cleaning them up and posting them in a separate 'story' on here to keep them distinct and keep YA(N)C uncluttered with epilogues that aren't actually always epilogues.
RE: Shinji x Hikari
That was the other story I was considering working on, but this idea received a lot more…eagerness? I guess we'll call it eagerness. Many people who enjoyed YA(N)C asked me to choose this one next. As I said above, so long as I keep writing I'll probably get around to my idea for ShiKari.
RE: Maya x Hikari
I've already plotted out some details for Shinji to discover at appropriate points in time. I won't spoil anything, but I will say that I'm a big fan of MaKari myself.
DJexe: RE: Sailor Moon.
I'll say I'm borrowing loosely from a smattering of the canon. Anime didn't go the way Manga did, didn't go the way Crystal did, certainly didn't go the way the live action or musicals did. I'm keeping the Sailors broadly, thematically, consistent while attuning their characters as needed to fit into the overall narrative. (Mainly because I hate the one-trick pony style of writing that they received at times where one facet of their personality dominated the whole.) Hopefully they still come through, and are still interesting.
JaceSterne:
RE: Usagi and Misato.
Nature versus nurture writ large, I'd say. Who knows how Misato would have turned out with an emotionally available father and a mother that was still alive?
RE: Rits.
Not sayin' nothin'.
RE: Rei (of the Hino Reis).
That particular quirk is one I couldn't rightly get rid of and still have her be the Rei everyone knows and loves. I'll need to work carefully to not have it dominate her entire existence, but I'd like to think I managed to show in YA(N)C that it's possible to change with the proper motivations.
RE: Continuity.
Every story I write regarding Evangelion is a part of the YA(N)C Universe. Some will be "prequel" lives that happened before the YA(N)C-ening, others will be contiguous to The Wanderer's development of alternate realities as he gains control and confidence. I won't say which is what, at least not until I'm done writing it, due to the possible spoilers that entails. After all, if you know what happens in YA(N)C, if something's a "prequel", it won't end well for that story, will it?
Ahzek Ahriman: RE: New story.
Thank you, my friend. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing it.
TheHiddenLettuce: RE: Notifications.
I've stopped receiving any notifications about PMs. I get story updates, and follow/review notices, but nothing when someone PMs me. The site's weird.
DJexe: RE: Crossovers.
I had an idea I was kicking around for a Love Hina/NGE story, but I'm not nearly far enough along in developing that plot to say I'm going to write it out. I'd probably have to change Shinji's origin slightly, or write it as a screed against domestic violence in all forms. A Rosario crossover would possibly be interesting, but there's no way I'd be able to write it with my usual style. That show is far too…shallow? Not a deep, NGE, plot going on there. It's a good story, for what it is, but without authorial embellishments it doesn't present itself to heavier topics. Now, Ah Megami Sama, that I would love to write. A war between Heaven and NERV, man defying the will of the Creator, Shinji struggling to explain to Asuka and Misato why he suddenly had a Norn stopping them from continuing to use him as an emotional chew-toy. Asuka getting actual help from Belldandy changing a few pieces of code. Misato and Urd hitting the bottle and laughing with each other about the men they've shot down. I could see me doing it at some point, as a comedy maybe.
