Chapter Six: The Scorpion Sleeps
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"Yuuto! Yuuto!" Deneb said, trying vainly to catch up with the boy while weighed down with the souvenirs he had purchased. He had promised himself that he wouldn't but when he couldn't resist! The KingLiner was like a candy store for the Imagin. Yuuto finally stopped, massaging his temples. As Deneb caught up the Imagin apologized, "Forgive me, Yuuto, but I….well…" Deciding just to bow, he ended up dumping the various shirts and plushies upon the boy. "Yuuto!"
"DENEB!!" Bursting forth from the pile dumped on him, he grabbed Deneb before DDTing the Imagin against the ground. Deneb apologies were muffled as one plushies of the Station Master was pressed against his mouth. Getting up, Yuuto sighed, "Deneb, let's go." He commanded before heading towards the ZeroLiner.
If what the Station Master told him was right, they didn't have time to mess around: The DenLiner was lost.
--
With the chiming melody of the bell, lunch had began.
"Damn, what was boring day!" Touji lamented as he leaned back his desk, giving out a large yawn. Smiling some, Shinji couldn't help but agree, but he couldn't help but enjoy such days, especially after the last Angel fight.
Man…they're never going to let me hear the end of that…
Not only did Ryuutaros ruin the mission plan, but the damages were almost worse than the previous attack! Not to mention Asuka hadn't spoken to him since then. "Hey Shinji…" Glancing over to Kensuke, "What is it?" "A lot of girls have been asking around about you." Touji broke in, "Yeah, a lot of hotties. Man! Who knew you were such ladies' man."
Ladies' Man?
Now he was confused, "What the hell are you talking about?" Unfortunately, before either could answer, it seemed he had been found.
"Shinji-sama!"
Turning to the door, his jaw nearly dropped to the floor as he saw the crowd of girls fighting to get through the doorway first. On cue, a flash of blue shot through him, or rather, in him. Running a hand through his hair, a blue streak appeared. When that same hand passed over his face, a pair of glasses could be found upon the bridge of his nose. Rising from his seat, a smirk came to Shinji's face, "Girls, girls. I assume you that the wait is well worth it, so there is no need to fight." The words were enough to make their knees weak and a collective swoon on their lips.
Turning to them, he gave a small smile, "I'm off to lunch." With that he made his way towards the crowd of girls.
Kensuke and Touji simply stared at each other, then back to Shinji in disbelief.
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Nursing a cup of coffee, Misato wearily sighed in relief as the last of the paperwork from the last battle was finished. The whole thing had played out like her own personal nightmare though it was worse than any nightmare since she couldn't wake up from this one. Taking a sip of her coffee, she grimaced as she found it ice cold. Putting it down, she found a new cup of hot coffee extended to her from Ritsuko. Smiling weakly, she took it, "Thanks."
"You should be thankful that the Commander left before the second attack…" Ritsuko said before taking a seat. "I guess you know why I decided to stop by." Misato nodded, "Because of Shinji, right?" Ritsuko's nod confirmed it. "What do you think it is? Could it be another Angel?" "The thought did occur, but if it were an Angel, we would have picked it up either time. We need to figure what happened to Shinji quickly before someone else gets too interested." Misato frowned some as the thought of it. Shinji was already uneasy being just as EVA pilot, and she didn't even want to imagine him being some experiment.
Taking a sip of her fresh coffee, Misato sighed, "We better get started."
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"Just look at him!" Asuka seethed, "That two-faced little…is this how he always acts here?" She asked Hikari, who shook her head, "No, he's never act like this before. Maybe being an EVA pilot's gotten to his head?" It seemed her answer was enough for Asuka, who huffed and walked away.
Once more reclined in that yawn chair, Shinji relaxed like some Greek king while a harem of girls ranging from his classmates to girls who had never met Shinji before today seemed to be happy doing anything to make him comfortable. Two smiled as they waved makeshift fans to cool him off while another giggled as he whispered sweet nothings in her ear in between eating grapes given to him one-by-one from another.
As she watched, Hikari noticed something strange. Shinji's eyes; they were as blue as the oceans and they seemed almost as deep. Finding herself almost hypnotized, she shook it off, looking away from him before it hit her. "Shinji doesn't have blue eyes."
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Storming down the hallway, Asuka felt like a pot that was over foaming with boiling water. "He acts all innocent alone, but here he thinks he's some god! Someone needs to put him in his place!" She grumbled to herself. Feeling as though someone were following her, she paused and turned, yet found no one. Turning back, her eyes widened as she found herself nearly face-to-face with something not human.
To be honest, it was more like face-to-foot, but it only made the thing stranger. It appeared to be made of sand; its upper half rose from the ground while its disembodied lower half hovered over its head. Its hands were giant pincers and its lower half possessed a barb-tipped tail, no doubt suggesting the thing was a scorpion. Multiple glowing eyes fell upon her before its hollow voice spoke out.
Your wish shall be granted…
Rising from the ground, the creature's appearance changed; its sand-like surface became smooth and ink-black. Transparent purple fluid leaked from its stinger and its glowing eyes now blazed with a dark crimson hue. Asuka backed away, her mind taking a few moments from shock before confusion struck. "Wish? What wish?!" By then, however, it was gone.
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Impassive eyes, the color of blood, watched from the distance as Shinji conversed and flirted with the girls surrounding him. No, it was someone masquerading as Ikari, as strange as the thought was. Approaching with silent steps, the group wouldn't realize her presence until she was in front of them and announced herself with a soft, quiet question.
"Who are you?"
The being in Shinji's body looked at her with blue eyes only before giving a smile, "Rei-chan, you're looking well today." Rising from his seat, he gestured to the girls, "These are my friends; Hitomi-chan, Sakura-chan, Mio-chan, Setsuna-chan, Yayoi-chan, Tomoe-chan, and last, but not least, Kasumi-chan." He replied.
"Who are you?"
The repetitious question struck much harder now, as a faint flinch in the imposter's eyes held. Laughing some, he turned to the other girls, "Forgive me, but it seems Rei-chan has forgotten her memories. I'll be back after I take her to the nurse." With that he walked away, followed by Rei.
Everything was wrong about him; from the way he spoke to his walking gait to the aura of confidence that surrounded him. None of it was Shinji's. Once they were alone, Shinji paused, "I must confess, Rei-chan…I am not who I seem to be." Turning to face her, he took her hand, "This is my true self. Like an oyster, I shut myself out of this world most of the time, but now…I have began to open up." Those blue eyes of his seemed to shine brightly, as if suggesting that he was telling the truth. They seemed almost hypnotic.
"Liar…"
He was someone who was gifted at lying, no doubt, for he had another one up his sleeve. Before he could say it, however, they were interrupted by several screams. Turning, they saw a creature resemble a scorpion approaching. Shinji frowned somewhat before muttering, "An Imagin…"
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Like a lightning bolt striking home, Momotaros sat up from his seat on the DenLiner, "An Imagin! I knew it!" He recalled sensing an Imagin the day before. Chuckling like a madman, he made a dash towards the exit…only to be flung back. "What the?! What gives, you perverted turtle?!"
I just found a nice little fishing spot, senpai. I'd like to fish a little bit longer.
"What the hell does that mean?!"
--
"Excuse me, Rei-chan." Urataros announced. Taking out the Den-O belt, he whipped it about his waist as he approached the Imagin. With an audible click, the belt was fastened, allowing him to withdraw the pass. Casually he swept it across the buckle of the belt.
"Henshin."
ROD FORM
The black spandex-like armor of Den-O's platform form appeared instantly, surrounded by several pieces of glowing armor that turned and twisted before attaching and fastening themselves upon the platform in bright blue plates. The mask piece descended down across head before coming to a stop and fastening itself on. The armor held a turtle motif, resembling Urataros' nature.
When he was less than two yards from the scorpion Imagin, he spoke. "You just ruined my pleasant lunch. Won't you let me string you along?" The scorpion didn't say anything, instead slashing out with his pincer hand. Sparks sprayed from Den-O chest plate, the impact of the blow causing him to stumble back.
Don't be so cocky, you perverted turtle bastard! Momotaros shouted in his head. Urataros chuckled some, "It isn't fun unless you let the fish fight back, senpai." Taking hold of two pieces of the DenGasher, he began to assemble his weapon. The Imagin charged forth with another pincer slash, but the Kamen Rider kicked him square in the chest, throwing him backwards. With the DenGasher complete, it extended out into its full rod length. The Imagin charged again, only to get slapped away by the tip of the DenGasher. Twirling it about him, Urataros swung again.
As he attacked the Imagin, he noticed two things; one, the Imagin was putting up a very weak fight and secondly, Rei had yet to move. He didn't think she had been fazed by the out of ordinary events that had just taken place. Suddenly something shot forth from behind the Imagin; its tail. Bringing up the rod, Urataros let out a small gasp as the tail curved in the air, striking him in the chest. Flying backwards, the armor scattering as Urataros separated from Shinji, both hit the ground hard. A hollow chuckle came from the scorpion as it raised a pincer toward them.
The poison from my tail will soon kick in. You'll be squirming and writhing on the ground like the pitiful insects you are!
Turning, the scorpion Imagin found Asuka just approaching the scene. Another hollow laugh was given as it directed its attention to her.
I have granted your wish, I have put them in their place…now, it is time for you to fulfill the end of our bargain.
Though the Imagin's experience with mortals was few, he knew that most would be frightened alone by his appearance. All he had to do now was slip into the past through her. It should have been easy, but it seemed the girl was not afraid as she sucker punched him.
"I never agreed to this!" Asuka shouted out as the Imagin doubled over, taken by surprise. A swift kick pushed him back a few feet, groaning as Asuka rushed over to Shinji. His flesh was burning and slick with sweat. Turning back to the Imagin, she began to crack her knuckles, "All right, where's the antidote?"
Ugh…like I would tell you!
Rising, the Imagin it reared by its pincer, ready to attack its contract holder for her defiant ways. Unfortunately a sword slash interrupted it. Gripping its chest, the Imagin ran off, leaving them for now. Chuckling to himself, Momotaros rested his sword on his shoulder, "What a wimp!" "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" A kick launched the Imagin forward and onto his face. "What the hell was that for?!" Momotaros shouted back as he got up, gripping his face some. "I was about to get that bastard to tell me where the antidote was!" Asuka replied. Grumbling to himself, Momotaros had briefly forgotten about that, having gotten caught up in his heroics.
Walking out from behind Momotaros came Hana, the small girl looking to Urataros and Shinji then to Asuka and Rei. "Let's go." "Go where?" Asuka asked.
"The DenLiner...then I'll explain what's going on…"