7:00pm, Uesegi leisure centre

The water was warm, perfectly warm. Air bubbles being pumped through pipes further added to his and the Imperial's comfort, almost sending the latter to sleep.

It had been a long journey back, a long debrief, and it was already getting dark by the time the four children got out of NERV Central. Nevertheless, the pool was commandeered for their use by Misato who felt they'd earned this. She was currently sitting in another jacuuzi, in another room with the female pilots. Which left Shinji and Samuel to relax by themselves.

Shinji had never been alone with the aristocrat before, usually having Asuka or Misato around with him. It was...awkward. Refusing to let that ruin this however, the two had not spoken a word to each other and slumped into the soothing water.

Slowly, he swished his hand through the bubbles, enjoying the feeling of them flowing through his fingertips. Water had always been one of the few places where he felt at peace and this was no exception. He would likely have been asleep himself where it not for those terrible words crashing through his mind like a tsunami.

"You lack the stomach to win this war, Vooren scum."

The Seraph, a being he'd been taught to think of as "beyond his comprehension", had spoken to him in his own tongue fluently and savagely. Then of course, there was the way in which it referred to their current conflict.

War...it called this a war. This isn't just dealing with random freaks of nature, we're facing an enemy that's coordinating. I can see this so...why can't father?

He'd brought this up to the Supreme Commander in his debriefing, for although Shinji was fully aware the man probably cared very little for him, this was too important for a blood feud to get in the way. Whilst Rei hadn't quite backed him up, she had described in detail the behaviour of the Seraph. Asuka and Samuel meanwhile, despite remaining strangely quiet, did add their views occasionally.

And it sounded like they were swaying to his opinion, as he elaborated on how the Seraphim appeared to be changing tactics in response to NERV's victories.

Gendo however, completely ignored him.

"The Seraphim are above and beyond us. We can scarcely grasp their existence, let alone the workings of their minds. As such, understanding them is for now, pointless."

Shinji opened his mouth to respond, but a simple icy glare from his father killed any retort. So he let the issue go, bowed his head, then left that dark office a few minutes later.

Yet...strange defiance still bubbled and boiled within him, like a cauldron filled with simmering discontent.

They can't just be mindless beasts, they can't...

Even Misato seemed to be holding onto the general and accepted notion. Granted she seemed a little more curious about it, but nevertheless felt it was irrelevant.

"They're monsters who want to kill us all, Shinji-kun. We don't need to understand much else about them."

Here and now, Shinji was tempted to ask for the Imperial's opinion on what they had seen this day. As arrogant and pompous as he could be, Samuel was clearly no fool. Surely he'd understand...maybe?

Of course, owing to his nature, the young Japanese boy didn't have the courage to push this. His bravery only found solid ground on the battlefield, it was locked out of social interaction by an impenetrable wall of fear and awkwardness.

"It's been months since I had a bath, let alone this." Samuel happily mused, his expression beatific.

"Really? I can never have enough of them." Shinji replied quietly.

"I don't have anything against them per say, it's just a good deal more convenient and quick to have a shower."

"Umm...showers are...alright, I guess. But it's just hot water raining down on you. With a bath you can actually...sink into it."

"Hmm, perhaps we shall just agree that hot water is universally nice?"

Shinji chuckled slightly at what was almost a peace offer. And considering that neither the Imperial nor himself would budge on this matter, he decided to accept it.

"Yes. Still can't understand those lunatics who have cold showers..." He shuddered at the thought. Samuel, winced.

"Goodness gracious those people are mad. Just...just...why would you do that to yourself?"

"Some kind of masochism perhaps?"

The blonde boy's electric blue orbs snapped open as he sniggered. That shrill laughter was quite infectious, so Shinji soon joined him.

"Yes indeed, Shinji. Cold showers are exceptionally kinky."

"...kinky?" The Japanese boy titled his head. Samuel's mirth faded away, confusion then exasperation crossing his features.

"...is there something I've missed here?"

"Oh god, I am not explaining this to you." The aristocrat rolled his eyes. "Go and talk to you PSHCE teacher about it."

"What's that?"

"Bloody hell...your Sex Ed."

"Oh...oh dear..." Shinji's eyes widened, mortified. He blushed furiously, then dropped his gaze.

"Don't go using words you don't understand, Shinji. Reminds me of one of your damnable cartoons. What was it again...the one where they kept using crucifixes because they thought-" Samuel raised his fingers for air quotes. "-it was cool..."

Shinji let out a sigh at that. As little as he watched television, even he was aware of this particular show's infamy.

"Spirits...that one..."

Meanwhile, in another jacuuzi in another room, one of NERV's two female pilots and her commanding officer resided in bubbling luxury. Here, in perfect security where they would not be disturbed, the two women had completely stripped off. Rei's absence from there was explained by the strange albino's desire to go swimming. Apparently, "it was too hot."

Asuka loved this, feeling totally and completely free. Though this heat covered her completely, it was not like the sickly, sweating claustrophobia within mount Asama.

What had nearly been her grave.

The redhead paid no mind to that. This was a good time, not something to spend dwelling upon a possible, horrendous death at the hand of an enemy that was far too human looking for her liking. Even now, she was kicking the more scientific and inquisitive part of her mind back into a dark corner.

For this moment, no questioning, no piloting, no competing. Just the relaxation a beautiful Olympian goddess such as herself deserved.

Heh...Olympian goddess...don't kid yourself, freckle face.

One of her eyelids cracked open slightly, a sea of sapphire gazing out. Quietly, it observed a perfectly contented Misato, then flashed downwards to inspect the body to which it belonged. Much to her frustration, Asuka had to fight down a pang of jealously and...something else.

For a moment, her shoulders slumped slightly along with her previously happy yet tired smile. This didn't last long, control was asserted ruthlessly and swiftly.

Pfft, don't know why anyone would want those cow udders. And...that scar. Gott, I've never seen that before.

Directly under Misato's left breast was a large, ugly but long scabbed over scar. Like some sort of slash mark.

Asuka ignored it and closed her eye shut, sliding into the warm water just a bit more. They stayed like this for a few further minutes, until Misato clearly got bored and straightened her back, moving her legs in the water.

And as her former Guardian, she was aware of what Asuka pretending to be asleep looked like.

"Well then, Asuka-chan. How are you settling in?" Misato inquired in her naturally friendly manner.

Sighing, the redhead opened her eyes and forced blue to meet brown. The purplehead wanted a conversation, and the young girl knew she'd get it.

"It's not all horrible I guess. Things are clean, people are polite, food isn't bad, and the countryside is easy on the eyes. But..." A hand instinctively went to fiddle with her mane. "It's so hot. People are so polite they're almost wooden, you don't have any locks on your doors, you're language and kanji is still strange, and I don't really want to talk to any of my classmates..."

"You miss Germany, don't you?"

"No! Of course not." Asuka's snorted, as if the notion was absurd. Raising an eyebrow yet knowing it was hopeless, Misato moved on.

"You've only been here for a few weeks. It took Shinji-kun a while to make friends as well, so don't worry." She smiled reassuringly.

"I'm not looking for friends...I don't need friends." The redhead muttered darkly, looking away from her superior officer. The girl had felt another stab of darkness when she addressed that sneaking suspicion of hers.

It only made sense after all.

"You know about my past...don't you?" Asuka asked, uncharacteristically nervous. Her hand didn't leave her red hair.

"The bits that weren't blacked out, but yes, I know enough." Misato admitted grimly yet as gently as she could.

The redhead lifted her gaze, her lips moving but no sound coming out of them. She would open her mouth, as if to say something, think better of it, close it, then repeat this process again and again.

"You need to put all that behind you now. It'll only get in the way." The purplehead asserted kindly. When it came to a past such as that, one could only move on in her view.

Asuka's expression fell microscopically, then hardened back into being its normal self. Even then, completely unnoticed by Misato, a hint of disappointment weighed those sapphire eyes down.

The rest of that bath was taken in silence.

Rei did not often feel comfortable. The isolation and "pain of life", as the Commander put it, was often troublesome to deal with. But there could be no rest, not until the Seraphim were defeated. Then and only then could she embrace oblivion and give her children peace.

But here...in the water...she felt soothed.

Swimming length after length, the artificial human did not stop or pause once. It was difficult for her to become exerted or out of breath, owing to her unique origins. So she kept pushing her arms through the water and kicking her feet.

Rei's mind however, was not entirely focused on exercise.

Why do I doubt? The Commander is correct, is always correct. And yet...he seemed so dismissive of what happened today. Of...that...

Those red eyes so like her own flashed in Rei's mind.

The enemy bears similarity to me. Is that not cause for questioning? The Commander has often described the spawn of Adam as mighty yet unintelligent. At least, in the way the children of Lilith understand. And yet...and yet...such anger. Such hate...

She knew little of human interaction, but even Rei recognized that emotion when confronted with it. The albino stopped halfway through her 21st length, resting on the side of the pool. Her inherent inquisitiveness had got the better of her.

What are they?

"Meadow-san..."

"Yes?"

Shinji paused, mulling over his words in an attempt to find the right ones.

"Well, out with it." Samuel demanded, his eyes sparkling with mild irritation.

"What do you make of them? Our enemy I mean..." The younger boy shifted uncomfortably. "You're not buying the whole monsters beyond our imagination thing any more, are you?"

The Imperial breathed in, slowly but deeply. As if...unsettled by the whole thing.

"No...no I don't. What baffles me is how command is handling this. Just outright ignoring it..." The elder by a month bit his lip. "In truth, I don't know what to think of them. I'm a soldier, I just know that the Empire's enemies must die. But...no threat should be underestimated. Nations have fallen in the past because of such mistakes, Britain shall not."

"At least you believe me." Shinji huffed a little.

"I assure you, Asuka probably thinks something similar. As for Rei...she's a plank, but she's no fool." Samuel added.

"...would you mind not calling her that? Ayanami-chan is actually quite thoughtful, she just doesn't understand how to show it."

"I've yet to see proof of that-"

"Please, Meadow-san."

"Hmph, fine. I'll try and tone it back a little. I hadn't really thought about it because Rei never seemed to take offense."

"As I said. She's not the best as voicing her feelings."

"Really now? She certainly seems to have come capability of doing it around you."

Shinji frowned in confusion, pulling his head back slightly as if he were some frightened owl.

"What, you must have noticed? That clone is ferociously protective of you." The Imperial added, as if this were obvious.

To the brown haired boy, this was a strange notion. It was he who felt protective of her. He who wanted to wrap her up in his arms and shield her from this awful world. Could it be...she wished to do the same for him?

"I...it never occurred to me...Ayanami-chan is dear to me, and I know that's reciprocated a little, but...I didn't think to that extent?" Shinji felt his cheeks warm up.

"Well now you know." Samuel grinned at Shinji's red cheeks. "You have good taste, my friend. She's a pretty girl, quite ethereal, takes care of her health, reasonably well endowed, you really could do worse."

The other boy's eyes turned into saucers as his mouth frantically opened and closed.

Really!? Why, why, why, why, why, fucking why, do people keep thinking this shit!? Rei is not my girlfriend, damn it!

"It...it really isn't like that. Seriously, Meadow-san!" Shinji threw out his arms in exasperation, much to the amusement of the Imperial whose grin only broadened.

"Very well, I shall say nothing, Casanova." He chuckled a little. "You can call me Samuel, you know."

The other blinked for a moment, surprised and taken aback by this. Of course the Brit was aware, or at least had a vague awareness of, honorifics. Even then...this was quite a leap forward in terms of relationship. Was it just cultural blindness on the part of the blonde aristocrat (as Shinji suspected) or...did he actually see him as a friend.

Regardless, he'd asked to be referred to as such, so he did just that.

"Very well, Samuel-san." Shinji nodded. It was Samuel's turn to splutter for although the former's intentions were unquestionably noble, it had come out as "Sameuru-san" due to lingual differences.

"Jesus Christ...Samuel...Samuel, say it with me!"

The Japanese boy did as he was told, but to no avail. The "L" simply wouldn't come.

Samuel slumped into the jacuuzi, utterly defeated.

"Good Lord, it's going to take years to properly civilise you lot." He huffed and puffed, but not with hostility.

For a moment, the younger boy pondered something. With the Imperial's request to be referred to by his first name...what about Asuka? She was calling Shinji by his first name now...did that mean anything? Of course that could be down to gaijin mannerisms, but, perhaps this warranted inquiry. If she wanted to be spoken to in the manner that friends did...he wouldn't decline.

Shinji smiled slightly. Perhaps they weren't really close friends so to speak, but Samuel and Asuka were people he could rely on in battle, and Rei was outright family as far as he was concerned. The four of them had proven they could get the job done thrice now, so he really shouldn't be worrying. The squad wasn't perfect, but it was by no means incompetent, they could do this.

But still, as was his nature...Shinji worried.

That was the most powerful Seraph we've ever faced. It killed thousands of people with a flick of the hand and could easily have murdered any one of us if we hadn't been careful...ugh, it's probably because I'm such a coward, but I can't shake this feeling that we've only touched the tip of the ice burg...Spirits help us.