A/N: Ah, no school is refreshing :) It's complicated when you take PSEO, but I'm valedictorian since my school weights it. That only leads to the stupid interviews and speech writing. Why can't they accept that I'm lazy! Whatever, it's about time I wrote another chapter. Thanks for waiting.
Italics: 'Thoughts/Yui/Kyoko'
Bold: Sounds
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When we last left our heroes, they had kicked the crap out of Israfel and were back at NERV docking their respective Evangelions.
Asuka mindlessly ejected from her mother's vessel and headed to the locker rooms looking shaken, all mission protocol no longer in effect. Shinji was happy with what happened, sans the ever prying eye of big mother and her love of perverted gossip. Rei was Rei, a little bit more curious about the soul of Unit 00, Unit 02, and why would Shinji keep blushing and gasping when piloting Unit 01?
A little while later Shinji entered the debriefing room, 'Mom is gonna be pissed next sync test for cutting her off, she's probably thought of a way to bypass dropping my sync already. There's Maya.' "Congratulations Maya, your plan saved us!"
Maya stood up from the rest of the techies preparing the battle schematics and hugged the pilot, 'I don't know why Shinji-kun keeps giving me ideas for plans... or why he doesn't want to take credit?' Letting him go, she said, "Thanks, but you kno…"
Kaji had just showed up beside Shinji, "Hey, my plan would've worked too."
"Yes, but your plan didn't get used Kaji-san, Maya's did," Shinji stated with a smile.
"I know, I know. Anyways, congratulations Ms. Ibuki, would you like to go out for dinner to celebrate?" Kaji grinned.
"Um," Maya looked around for an escape, but couldn't find one, "No thank you Kaji-san, why…why don't you ask Misato over there?" She felt a little bad for Shinji's guardian as she entered the room, and she might as well send him towards his next direction anyways… "Thank you Shinji-kun, I'm getting a raise for my contributions… if you want anything, just ask and I'll see what I can do."
As Maya turned her attention back to the post-battle report, Rei was taking the long way to the meeting as per se her orders. "Commander?"
Commander Ikari stepped out of the shadows like a child predator, he was concerned over Rei's living arrangements, "I am concerned over your living arrangements report on your status."
"I am fine. Shinji is a good cook and is aware of my dietary requirements, nutrition is no concern. I am sharing a room with Asuka and she does not interfere with sleep nor hygiene. Misato enjoys her alcoholic beverages, as does PenPen, but she is always armed and trained to protect us. Continuing to live at the Major's apartment would be preferable," Rei stated in the way the commander had become accustomed to.
'Yes, Katsuragi has always been reported to enjoy her beer…and this way I cut costs of security and rent. Well worth the small stipend Katsuragi will receive.' "Very well, you shall remain at the Katsuragi residence," Gendo adjusted his cheap bastard glasses and left to the meeting.
The presentation went like normal, except at the end Ritsuko came forward. "Now, after this last battle, we have decided to upgrade Unit-00. The operation will take several weeks and we will also be developing an extended battery attachment. Rei, you have a sync test tomorrow."
Everyone in the room scuffled about and the pilots waited for Misato in the lounge. "I am staying at Misato's."
"That's great, right Asuka?" Shinji looked to the zombie-Asuka.
"Huh? Yeah, you need someone to control PenPen…" Asuka referred to the penguin's affinity towards Rei.
"Hai, I will do my best, but no guarantees. Are you alright Asuka?" Rei joined Shinji in staring at the redhead.
"I guess…"
"Don't worry about it, just forget what you thought happened and be thankful for what happened," Shinji counseled Asuka, glancing at the security camera. 'Wait, do I really care if the bastard figures it out? He can't do a bloody thing. He knew what would happen when mom disappeared and still let Kyoko pilot. Maybe Asuka and I can chop his hand off together? Nah,…'
While Shinji was pondering and sniggering every so often, which may be the reason people were taking a step away, Misato had returned and was leading them to the garage. Rei spoke up after turning her attention away from the plotting third child, "Misato, could we visit the storage lockers? I require the rest of my belongings?"
"You mean you had more than what you brought? I thought you were just plain," Asuka said as the group entered an elevator. Shinji mindlessly pressed the button while thinking.
"Yes, I did not know if the housing situation was temporary or not. So I brought what was necessary. There are some…nice things and clothing I want."
Unkowingly to Rei, Asuka's eyes lit up. She was interested in what Rei had and if she liked shopping. Despite the week or so together, they had mostly trained, played games, and did school work. Rei was still irrational to her.
"Great! We'll need a proper party to welcome our new room mates!" Misato cheered, disturbing Shinji from happy-go-torture-Gendo land.
"What!" 'Not again.'
"Yes, Shinji. You're in charge of the food of course! Rei and Asuka can do the partying, since they're the new guests!" Misato sprouted a chesire grin, Asuka laughed at his misfortune.
"You're right Misato," Shinji hung his head down smiling, Rei was confused again.
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A couple hours later, Rei knew why Shinji was smiling. Misato's definition of 'partying' was cleaning the house, moving boxes in, and unpacking. She felt the urge to knit her brows and stick out her tongue as she moved the last box into Asuka and her's room.
Asuka was much more verbal, "Why isn't the baka helping?"
"Because I don't have any chores dealing with cleaning or garbage. I only know how to cook," Shinji grinned and Misato lifted her hand in the air. A second later an airborne Yebisu flew into her hand from twenty feet away.
"Wark!" "Damn right!" PenPen and Misato agreed.
Asuka grumbled, and she would normally fight back, but she was tired from a day of fighting and finding her mother. Also, the logic of not wanting to piss off the hand that feeds you would fit in quite nicely.
Rei slumped down on the couch in an uncharacteristic fashion. She had a long day coming up tomorrow with imprinting the dummy plugs and several synch tests, 'Ok, this will be one of the last imprints. Just get thru it, maybe Shinji will make me some vegetarian pizza and I can finish Final Fantasy (Don't Own) tomorrow.' Rei smirked and decided to try something out of pure curiosity and tiredness as Shinji turned back to making snacks: she raised her hand in the air.
A second later a water bottle flew into her hand and she blinked, "Shinji, how did you know I wasn't Misato or that I wanted water?"
Shinji turned around and just realized he had thrown a bottle of water. 'Okay, that was weird' "I'd have to guess my instincts as a Kami did it." He grinned and turned back around.
"Yeah right Shinji, you're good, but not a god," Asuka snorted as sat besides Rei, who in another experiment lifted Asuka's right hand into the air for her. A Heineken flew thru the air and into her hand a second later.
"SHINJI! No giving out the private stash!"
"What?" Shinji turned around and looked at Misato, "That wasn't you? OH, sorry Asuka."
The second child stared at the can in her hand, since she attended college, she had tried the stuff before. She was more stunned that she had been thinking: 'I need a drink after today.'
"Um, that's alright, catch," the can never made it back as PenPen jumped five feet in the air (he is a swordsmaster in my story) and bolted towards his fridge, closely followed by a pop and fizzing sound.
Asuka walked to the fridge and grabbed a water herself before Rei could raise her hand for her again. 'I really don't want to know how he does that.'
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Later, Rei was finishing up unpacking as Asuka lay down on a futon. Their room was a clash of colors, but not a violent eye-gouging kind. Rei had kept most of the blues and greens that Shinji had bought for her with some of the nature posters, rugs, and her bedding. Whereas Asuka loved red and yellow, with posters of her next to her eva and some German band she liked. The room looked much better than when it was filled with garbage and Misato's old college stuff.
"Hey Rei, who do you think is in your eva?" Asuka asked looking at the ceiling.
"Somebody who didn't like me or the commander. I don't know if I want to find out," Rei replied.
'Hm, maybe she's the commander's ex,' Asuka wondered.
"So, I assume your mother is in Unit 02 Asuka?"
"Yea, maybe yours is in Unit 00? It would make a nice pattern,"
"I don't have a mother, I never have," 'The commander made me, does that make him my mother? He is not female though, or is he?' Rei was confused and silent.
Asuka felt like she hit an awkward spot, "Um, good night." She'd had enough of today by now and fell into the bliss of sleep.
Rei went to sleep and grabbed an extra blanket, it was cold sleeping without Shinji and Asuka.
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(Argh, what happened to the days of slapstick and no plot development?)
The next morning Rei left with Misato for NERV and Asuka and Shinji finally returned to school after their training break. The fangirls of Shinji cheered as he showed up with Asuka, 'You know, there's something wrong here. Maybe mom did something to my pheromones?' Toji and Kensuke had arrived as well, "Hey guys, I'm afraid to go inside without my two women repellers."
"Ha Ha Shinji, so I guess you didn't screw up since we're still alive," Kensuke said as he entered the building.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Women love my bod," Toji motioned to himself for emphasis. He did have some admirers, he just wasn't too sharp in how to relate to them.
"Yeah, we kicked ass and I'd gladly give you my fanclub if you want Toji. Why's everyone actually headed to class?" Shinji motioned to the emptying hallways.
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Asuka had met up with Hikari in home room, "I'm so glad to get out of the apartment and talk to some normal people!"
"It can't be that bad Asuka."
"I didn't say it was bad, it was just getting old seeing the same people day after day in the same training routine."
"Ah, the same thing happens sometimes with my sisters and me in the summer. I hear that Shinji's a good cook."
"That's all he does! He doesn't help out with anything else, Rei does more stuff than he does…but he is a good cook. Why's everybody here?" Asuka motioned to the kids actually in their seats.
"Boring-sensei has an announcement that concerns the school trip, and with attendance lately, he threatened that if we didn't show up for the next two weeks, we couldn't go. Looks like the stooges and sensei showed up," Hikari said as she left to perform her class representative duties.
"Good morning everyone, I might as well tell you where we are headed and what the itinerary is. After a short lecture on Second Impact" Collective Groan 'I wonder why they always do that?'
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The rest of the day and week went on like normal, except for the constant buzz about the school trip. They were going to Okinawa to spend the week. There was a monument to second impact, 3 sessions of scuba diving, hot springs, and a co-ed hotel (Not rooms you hentai, just floors…yea, that's not much better with teenagers).
Rei came back the next day and was being told the glorious wonders that they would experience by Hikari and Asuka at lunch, who were very excited about the trip. It was quite amusing for Rei to sit there with a blank expression and the other two would just keep talking. 'I don't know why Asuka is so excited…maybe she is encouraging Hikari to have fun. She couldn't have forgotten that we have standby duty.'
"Hey Rei, you only have the school bathing suit. Let's you, me, and Hikari go shopping two weeks Saturday. I have a sync test this Saturday unfortunately."
"That's a great idea. Maybe you can make some more friends on this trip as well."
"I don't think that is possible, I …"
"Nonsense, you're just a little stranger than most. You just need a tan and a smaller suit will make people forget your social grace," Asuka examined her.
"I don't know about that Asuka, but it can't hurt," Hikari responded. Class Bell "Let's plan the details later."
And so Rei would be dragged to the mall two weeks later. Shinji simply waved goodbye as Hikari and Asuka left shoulder to shoulder with Rei in the middle. Why should he care? His week was like a normal teenager's and he wasn't going to chance it by taking an initiative in anything right now.
-----------------------------Finally, there's script I can use again----------------------------------
"We're so lucky Kaji-san! We get to shop with you!" Asuka cheered from beside Hikari and Rei.
'Why the hell am I chaperoning this?' Kaji thought with a straight face, 'at least she doesn't hang on me anymore. Those stares were awful from all the 'date-able' women. I can't believe that one slapped me and called the police.'
"Well girls, we are we headed first?" Kaji sighed as he resigned to his fate. 'Now I remember, Misato bribed me with beer battered shrimp. Damn my weakness. Hey, pretty lady.' Kaji turned his head at a passing blonde, missing Asuka's response completely.
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"What the…? This's the swimsuit section," Kaji stood on the aisle and the three girls walked past him. Kaji found a conveniently place bench and sat back staring at the ceiling, '1, 2, 3…'
Filing thru the racks of bikinis, we see…er, we observe…, um…whatever I type sounds bad. The XX chromosome trio tried on different suits. Asuka found a red and white striped two piece that zipped up the middle. Hikari was more daring and grabbed a string bikini that was green (Asuka: "I'm sure you can get the stooge's and the rest of the male population's attention with that"). And Rei finally found a white one-piece, although the sides were cut out with blue trim (Hikari: "Not bad, I guess it's a matter of comfort zone").
After collecting Kaji and making their purchases, the chaperone offered to buy them lunch at an outdoor café. "Where are you going on your school trip?"
"O-ki-na-wa" Asuka chimed as Hikari ate her meal. Rei was disappointed in the lack of suitable foods, but Kaji assured her that 'ice cream' would be fine for her. So she currently was poking it absentmindedly with her spoon before trying it.
"It's going to be so fun Ryouji-san, we get to go scuba diving," Hikari spoke up. Rei had finally started eating. She decided that she really like the strawberry and chocolate, but vanilla was ok.
"Don't call me 'Ryouji-san', it makes me feel old," Kaji told the girl, "Hm, scuba diving. I haven't done that in three years."
"Hey, where'd you go on your school trip?" Asuka asked.
"What school trip? We were a little preoccupied with Second Impact at the time," Kaji was still a little disgruntled about that, 'Damn angels, I hope Shinji kicks your asses.'
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PenPen was glad that the pale one would be staying with them: he had Kami-sama for food, Misato for beer, Asuka for tormenting, and Rei for back rubs. The penguin couldn't be much happier with his life, it was busier, but the rewards were worth the work. At the moment, he was lying back in a bath of warm water floating alongside a can of beer with a straw. 'Long live Kami-sama, the pale one, beer-bringer, and play-toy.'
Crash! "What do you mean we can't go on the school trip!" PenPen was startled and he barely managed to save his beer. 'Forget about the play-toy. Why the hell is she upset? The pale one knew.' "Wark!"
Outside the bathroom door, Misato was trying a Kurishio Bussa BOA beer at the table as she informed Asuka of the situation, "Right." 'Jeeze, Shinji and Rei knew about it.'
"Why not?" Asuka demanded. Shinji had brought back a tray of tea and one lemonade and set it on the table.
"You have to wait here in case of an angel attack," Misato replied. Rei had left to put her shopping bags in her and Asuka's room.
"I didn't hear about that!" Shinji was quietly sipping on tea now.
"You just did now," Misato smily-eyed and looked to Shinji.
"Who decided this!" Asuka tried to stare Misato down.
"I did of course, I'm the Operations Planning Manager you know," Misato continue to drink.
"Hey stop drinking tea you," Asuka scolded Shinji, "Say something to her. You're a man, aren't you?"
"Hm, am I a man Misato?"
"Of course you are, remember when I forgot to do laundry and you got out of the shower without a towel."
"How can I forget? You got a shower afterwards and walked around, claiming you needed to 'air dry'"
"What!" Asuka screeched.
"That's right, you don't know. The longer you live with Misato, the more comfortable she feels around you. We're lucky the guys haven't died from blood loss."
"Too true. I am amazed that you haven't as well, am I losing my touch?" Misato pouted.
Asuka was varying from shock, to disgust, to rage, and to slight jealousy in a kaleidoscope of emotions.
"Of course not. It's all I can do not to stare, take pictures, and tackle you to the floor. But I don't think that would be right and the commander jackass would split us up anyways."
"Damn him. Heehee," Click Click Click "Got it," Misato celebrated as she put down the camera. 'I can't wait to develop these. I didn't know Asuka could change to that color.'
"You're welcome," Shinji said as Rei sat down and thanked him for the tea, "How was your shopping trip?"
"It was fun, do we have any strawberry ice cream?" Rei inquired.
"No, most of the freezer space is used by PenPen, TV dinners, and some different meats. I'll buy some next time out."
"Thank you," Rei smiled.
Asuka's mind had finally caught up to real time, "Rei, what about you? Did you hear about this?"
"Hai, I could hear your conversation from our room," Rei took a sip of tea.
"I know you want to go Asuka. But there's nothing you can do. It's likely that an angel would attack when you were gone," Misato sighed.
"We always have to wait, wait, wait, wait! We're always waiting for an enemy whose appearances we can't predict! Can't you figure out where they are and attack them first?"
"If we could, we would. Well, I guess you must think that this will be a good chance-- after all, while the others are away, you can get some studying done. Did you think I didn't know about that?" Misato held up a single memory stick to Asuka, who recoiled slightly, "You do realize that I know everything even without you telling me. I can easily access any information on your exam results. Good job Shinji, Rei."
"What's the point? I already have a freaking diploma! Who cares about the system?"
"You shouldn't have a problem then, but you do. As long as you're here and working for us, you'll do things like we want you to."
"Here's some lemonade Asuka, just don't go ballistic and spill it. If anything, we could try to scuba at NERV and you'll do better next grading period."
Asuka slumped down in the chair and took the drink, "It's not fair…"
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Monday morning, the three pilots said farewell to their friends. Hikari said she'd bring Rei and Asuka a souvenir. Kensuke and Toji were cruel with "I feel sorry for you guys" and "We'll have fun for you, hahaha!"
Later in the week, Asuka had raided NERV for a set of scuba gear and was on her way to the pool. She had to wear her new bathing suit and convinced Rei to as well. As she walked past the glass doors, she saw Rei and Shinji in their swim suits…typing away on their laptops. 'Jeeze, they can't be working ahead. Thank God I don't need to.'
-----------------------------Flashback to Last Saturday's Sync Test-------------------------------
"Borderline passed. Eva Units 01 and 02 are online," Maya was in charge today, Ritsuko was busy upgrading Unit 00. "Okay Shinji-kun, Asuka. You know what to do. We will have simulator mission in twenty minutes. I have to run some paperwork to sempai, so I'll be right back."
Shinji sat back in the seat, 'Hey mom, I'm really sorry for cutting you off last time.'
'It's okay Shinji, I've already thought of a way around that trick. How's everything with Asuka? Have you let Rei into the mix? How 'bout Hikari? I remember her mom was one of my literary correspondents…'
'The answer is no to all of the above, actually I need you to send a message to Asuka…'
Asuka was nervous until she heard her mom, 'Relax, I'm still here. I'll let you begin, what do you want to talk about?'
'Wh-what happened?' Asuka was not in her element.
'Same thing that happened to Yui apparently. I tested the eva, my mind was absorbed, and my shell decided to destroy itself. I can't begin to tell you how much I missed you. My turn, what's up between my little girl and Shinji?'
'I-'
'Sorry, but Yui's telling me to relay a message: 'Hey Asuka, I've noticed you're having some problem with the Kanji. My mom implanted German into my head, so ask yours to implant the Kanji. A warning though, it will hurt like a bitch. Oh, and Mrs. Soryu, you could take the opportunity to get to know your daughter better if you know what I mean.' I wonder what he…oh, yeah that would be painful.'
'You can do that? Would you? I can't stand not being able to read the questions when I know the damn answers!' It was painful to her pride in class when she couldn't just ask for help. She was supposedly a genius and everyone else knew the kanji already.
'Ok, but it will hurt. Turn off communications, I'll handle the data being recorded, and then hang on to something,' Kyoko said in a concerned tone.
Asuka turned off the controls and braced herself. After three minutes of uber-migraines, Asuka leaned back, panting slightly and sweating. 'That was bad…'
'I'm sorry, but it could have been worse. Turn the com back on.'
'Worse?' Asuka switched it back on. 'Ask Shinji if he has a method for removing headaches.'
'He relays a no Asuka. Sorry, but I also took the liberty of looking thru your memories.'
'Okay, I guess. You are my mother, so I'll trust you on this.'
'And don't forget it! By the way, Shinji had all his memories ripped from his mind in an instant, so consider yourself lucky. So, what's up with you and him?'
'Argh.'
'Nope, I didn't forget about it, although I'm pretty sure I know how you feel from your memories. You can just take your turn and I'll assume what I want to,' Kyoko would have smirked if she could. She was a closet pervert, but if she got started openly, she could compete with Yui easily. Maybe she would hack into the government records and marry them. Nah, Shinji just had too much potential to be tied down and Yui would kill her.
'No, he's just a close friend. He's a little arrogant at times and seems to do no wrong, but he can be really nice. I just like him as a friend.'
'Ah, okay. But here's a warning: he has many admirers, you may end up having to share, not that that would be a bad thing, haha'
'Mom! Ew!' The conversation would go on, Kyoko told her daughter more about herself and how to manipulate her sync. The whole time there was an extended Kodak moment.
'Whatever, here's my next question: why did you want to pilot after what happened to Mrs. Ikari?' Asuka had thought about that after she discovered her mom was friends with 'Yui.'
GRRRRRR! The eva rumbled and Asuka felt a surge of hatred. 'Have you notice how Shinji calls his father bastard, commander jackass, he-who-must-be-slaughtered, and never father or dad? That's because he is. He knew that more pilots were needed and that you were the right age, so he held back all information of Yui's demise until I performed the contact experiments. Why were you chosen to pilot only after my shell killed itself? All the crap we will put up with is his fault because he's trying to resurrect his former wife with a Third Impact. Only a few…'
Asuka listened on as her mother explained Second Impact, the Evas, LCL, and SEELE. Kyoko hadn't been informed about Rei yet. She was told to keep it a secret and Kyoko was pained not to tell her what the future would hold. One plotting 15-year was enough, but Shinji had an accomplice in the 'give Gendo migraines' task now.
----------------------------------------------------End Flashback--------------------------------------
Anyways, Asuka was proficient in Kanji thanks to Kyoko and she didn't feel the need to work ahead. Now it was time to scuba once she dragged the two other children from their computers.
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A/N: Damn, this chapter was taking longer than I expected. I think I'll split it here because I discovered you aren't alerted when I replace content. So I have to add a chapter to get everyone's attention. So don't review until the next half of this chapter comes out. Omakes will be there as well.