She could hear his footsteps. After all those times of making her jump, Misato had practically memorized them. And in her weakest moments…somewhat missed them.

"Can I help you, Kaji-san?" She said professionally, stopping mid step and turning to face him. For a micro-second he froze like a dear in the headlights before those brown eyes, then immediately composed himself.

"Oh, um…well, Sub Commander Katsuragi, I was just wondering if you were having any trouble with work?" Ryoji put on a winning grin.

Misato rolled her eyes, but felt a little warmth deep down. Back when they were an "item," with so many other college students running around, they'd had to come up with strange code words or phrases. And this one, she knew very well.

Do you need to talk?

Misato thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Could do with a little bit of it." She gestured for him to follow her. After a walk that lasted merely a minute, they arrived at a small computing server room, which was not to be inhabited for another thirty minutes as staff were on a break. Folding her arms and leaning against the wall, Misato sighed.

"Can't get it out of my head, Ryoji. Don't think I ever will." Her hand reached into her shirt, instinctively clutching the cross hidden beneath it.

Slowly, he idled over to her side and leaned against the wall as well.

"You don't let it paralyze you though. I…" Ryoji shook his head. "I don't think I could manage that."

"Heh, when was waking up in a cold sweat ever handling it?"

"It's better than nothing. You're a tough old warhorse, Misato. Always have been."

Her eyes flickered over him for a moment, before her lip curled upwards slightly.

"Old?" Misato said with a hint of her old teasing tone.

Ryoji instantly kicked himself inwardly. Rule number one with women, never call them old. He remembered getting a death stare from Misato the day he met her. The day where he'd estimated she was 20, when in fact she was 19.

Well, no saving this. Just accept it.

"Well…you've perfected aging with grace."

The elbow that drove into his side was not a hard one, but it did make him wince.

"I am 30! That is not old!" She hissed, at least playfully.

Ryoji chuckled at that, then shifted awkwardly.

"You've hardly changed." His eyes, similar in colour to hers, appraised Misato Katsuragi. Even after all these years, she was unmistakeable. Despite having clearly changed and…grown, in more than one area, this was still the young woman he'd fallen head over heels for.

She was still beautiful.

"Well…you haven't much either." Misato looked him up and down, before raising an eyebrow. "What is that bristle there for? Are you trying to look manly or something?"

"It is manly!"

"It…really doesn't suit you. I mean, the pony tail still works and I'm kind of glad you didn't mess with it, but aside from that…"

"I can do what I like with my face." Ryoji huffed, mentally making a note to shave at some point.

"But I must admit…you do look healthier…" Her brown eyes widened, aghast. "Did you give up smoking?"

Her old flame sighed humouredly, running a hand through his mop of brown hair.

"Yes. The withdrawal symptoms were difficult to begin with, but I got through them. You'd be surprised what a decent amount of cajoling and threatening can do…" He could already picture it, the time she'd caught him having a quick one. And how hard her hand impacted his cheek.

Ficking dummkopf! What have I told you about those death sticks, gott give me strength…

"Asuka-san made you give it up? I see why you did…" Having been the redheaded countess's care taker once, Misato knew well enough that teutonic wrath. It had only been because drunkenness was something Asuka found amusing, that she was permitted to drink.

She'd make for one terrifying Empress, that's for sure. Misato smiled.

"In all my years of undercover operations, and other stuff I'm not allowed to talk about, she is the scariest person I have ever met…barring you of course." Ryoji quickly placated her. Kind and fun, she may be, but Misato had a wicked temper that could be coaxed out all too easily. Many of his fellow men had learned that the hard way when they'd tried to "come on" to her.

…not that he ever felt truly sorry for them. After all, the purple haired woman had caught his attention from the moment she walked into class. It hadn't been like he'd "staked his claim" or wanted to get into her pants instantly, not at all. But…he did shift seats to be next to her.

I had some smooth moves back then.

"How long have you been looking after her?" Misato inquired.

"Three years. Even though she's technically Kaiser Rudolf's ward and lived at Sansoucci for about half her childhood." He gestured with his hand as Misato nodded. They both knew this, he was just making sure she was clued in. "When her training intensified they had to put her in Berlin, and I was on hand to provide care. I am absolutely certain she had a crush on me…13-year-old hormones and all. Probably why she was reasonably well behaved most of the time…" Ryoji shook his head. Clueing Asuka in that he was too old for had been the most dangerous mission of his life.

He scarcely survived the 6-month long sulk.

"The ire of Asuka Von Zeppelin…not something I'd wish on anyone." Misato laughed, knowing full well how hazardous it was to be on the redhead's wrong side. Not that the girl ever meant to cause lasting damage, but she did vent. By the Spirits, did she vent.

"Hence how, in my desperation to escape it, I managed to cast aside the shackles of smoking. And now, my lungs breathe freer than ever!" Ryoji grinned, entirely naturally. Smoking had been quite therapeutic in times gone past, a necessity for dealing with…terrible memories. Those of friends long lost lying dead in a pool of blood after the soldiers had done their work. Now however, he didn't need it so much.

Between work and taking care of Asuka, Ryoji had plenty to occupy his mind. And the feeling of openness in his lungs, of health and vitality…he'd trade it for nothing.

"Good for you. I've been trying to get Rits-chan off that crap for years, and-" Misato stopped mid-sentence upon seeing that knowing look in his eyes.

"Absolutely no success?"

"Yes. Absolutely no success."

"That doesn't surprise me, always was a stubborn one. Really do need to meet up with her, catch up and all."

"I think she'd like that. Rits-chan needs as many good memories to dig up as possible these days."

"…how do you mean?"

Misato's cheerful expression darkened at that, eliciting a confused tilt of the head from Ryoji.

Despite the three of them still very much being friends, contact had been brief and strained over the past decade since they'd parted ways. It was only natural her old flame wasn't aware of what their faux blonde friend had been through.

"You know how…she was getting close to the Commander back then?" She said quietly and awkwardly. No one should overhear, and this was a difficult thing to describe. Owing to how damn disturbing the whole thing was.

Realisation dawned on Ryoji, and his eyes widened.

"They didn't?"

"Yeah…" Misato sighed, scratching the back of her neck. "Thank the Spirits she broke it off a few years ago but the damage was done. Poor thing probably won't have another relationship until we're past 2030."

"…holy shit." He closed his eyes and winced, fingers pinching his nose. How awful, such a spirited and beautiful young woman being used as the personal plaything of a man Ryoji knew to be a monster. A monster who legitimately frightened the various tyrants, autocrats and Emperors of the world.

And considering what he'd dug up about NERV's predecessor, GEHRIN, he knew they had every reason to be concerned.

No specifics, he's covered his tracks nicely. But with the little I know about what happened there…why hasn't the UN shut him down? Who'd have thought abandoning your only child on a train platform would be the least of your crimes.

Ryoji allowed his eyes to open again, and look back at Misato.

"Pretty messed up, isn't it?" She said.

"Hmm." He grunted, worry clawing at his heart.

And he has you on his payroll. Misato-chan, you're so smart, why can't you see him for what he is? Is it your vendetta against the Seraphim? Oh Spirits…

How he wished to go back to those warm summer days, of a single bed in a college residence, and a weekend of passion and rightness he hadn't experienced the like of since. For although he was something of a dashing secret agent…there was only one his heart belonged to.

XXX

Twelve years before…

The Japanese were used to warm weather. Ever since the Impact, air had become almost claustrophobic. His room's fan was on at full blast, but it did nothing to abate the heat. Not that Ryoji would have wanted it, as the heat he held…was not that of the sun's.

"Mmm…is it already Sunday?" Said a tired but happy voice. Purple hair was pressed into his neck, finger tips tracing over his shoulder. Clammy, sweaty flesh was pressed together by the two lovers. They'd never been more comfortable.

"Heh, yeah." Ryoji chuckled, still wrapping his head around it.

"So you've kept me trapped in this bed for two days?"

"Me? I've been the one holding on for dear life at least half the time! Thank heavens we stocked up on birth control…"

This had been inevitable. For that full week the two had been crammed into a bunker during the decisive battles for the future of Japan. In those dark days, it really seemed like the Communists would overrun them completely, and the thought of that…was terrifying.

And so, to alleviate their fear, the two started dating. They knew they liked each other and decided "what the hell, why not?" Of course, in a public place like that, Ryoji and Misato couldn't get too frisky, they could just kiss and cuddle up in one bunk. However, as soon as they got back to college and reached the weekend…he'd nervously asked if the woman of his dreams would like to spend the night with him.

The result had been a very long kiss…and a very long weekend.

Not that he minded. And the same could be said for Misato.

She lifted her head up from his chest, and laid her lips upon his. Ryoji's arms remained wrapped around her slender frame, enjoying the purity of this moment as much as he could. For all things were temporary…which was why one had to make the most of today.

Leaning back, Misato tilted her head with that mischievous look which he knew all too well now.

"Oh dear, I'm getting tempted to leave again...don't let your prisoner escape." She battered those lovely eyelashes.

Ryoji reached up slowly, cupping her cheek gently.

"As long as you want me, I'm yours, Misato."

A moment of indecision, apprehension, or fear crossed her features, but it was swiftly smoothed away. The future didn't matter, she could enjoy the now. Misato let herself be pulled into an embrace, and a kiss.

Their bodies soon became entwined once again.

XXX

"Hello? Anyone in there?" Misato's eyebrow had risen again, knowing that distant and blissful look on his face.

"Hmm, what?" Ryoji blinked himself back into reality.

She looked searchingly at him for a moment, then scanned downwards. Immediately, Misato sighed and rolled her eyes.

"Oh for heaven's sake, Ryoji…"

Suddenly, the composed and collected secret agent realised his predicament, and lost his composure. Ryoji's cheeks turning red coincided with a deep wince.

"I'm…I'm sorry…"

"You're thinking about that weekend again, aren't you?" Misato folded her arms.

"No…no…"

"Yes you are. You're a man, and all men think with those." She nodded at the bulge in his trousers.

"You aren't helping!" Ryoji hissed.

"Ugh…just think about waking up in bed with the Commander."

Her former lover's "predicament" deflated faster than a dying flower as he looked at her in horror.

"Don't do that…I might have to bleach my brain to get that out of my mind." He shuddered only partially hyperbolically.

Rits-chan…you're one of the cleverest people I know, so how the hell did you end up with him?

They both chuckled awkwardly over his little exaggeration. Little as in, Gendo Ikari was the last person in all the world anyone wanted to wake up with in the morning. Or even be around for extended periods of time.

The mirth died away, as Ryoji smoothed out his expression.

"So…you're alright?" He asked, concerned. Misato knew in her heart he always would be, no matter what corner of the Earth he was in.

"I'm fine. Just silly old me." She half lied. The horror of Second Impact ground zero would never leave her, but talking about it with this man…helped.

"There's nothing wrong with silly old you." Ryoji grinned that cheeky grin of his.

Misato's eyebrows furrowed at that.

"Hey, I'm not trying anything." He raised his hands in mock surrender. His face then softened. "Wasn't all bad though…was it?"

She looked thoughtful for a moment, then genuinely smiled at him.

"No, I guess it wasn't."

Ryoji returned her smile, and for a moment it felt like some of that old connection they'd shared was burning brightly again. But then Misato forced her smile down, and the flame was snuffed out.

"That's all in the past now. We've both moved on, and that's for the best. But…" She pressed her lips together. "…it is good to see you again, Ryoji."

She turned away, and briskly walked out of the room to attend to whatever business she had. Ryoji looked on wistfully.

"See you later...Misato." He whispered, as if his very soul were put into these words. It would take another half an hour for him to wipe that silly little smile off his face. Even longer to stop thinking about the purple haired beauty who'd made herself an intrinsic part of his life.