I don't own anything.
Intelligence
-Chapter Two: Greetings
Misato watched as the monorail slid smoothly into the station. She glanced at her watch and smiled. For once, the monorail was actually on time. The doors hissed open and Misato began to scan the people filing out. Finally she spotted the black-suited man she was looking for. "Shinji!"
"Misato!" Misato jogged towards her former charge and leapt. He caught her easily and swung her around laughing, both ignoring the people around them.
"It's so good to see you again," Misato stated as he finally released her. She glanced at the young man standing slightly behind Shinji. "He's so cute! Is he your new boyfriend?" The man's face turned bright red. Much to Misato's annoyance the only sign that Shinji had heard was the cocking of one eyebrow.
"Ignore her," he told the man behind him. "She likes to tease people. You'll become immune to it. . .eventually." Misato pouted.
"You make me sound like a virus!" Shinji's lips twitched and she quickly clapped a hand over his mouth. "Not a word Ikari!" She felt Shinji smile and took her hand away.
"It was too easy," he stated. "This is my new partner, Takeo Yoshikawa."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," the young man greet formally, bowing deeply. Misato was stuck for a moment, but quickly returned the bow.
"What happened to Nasuki?"
"He got a promotion," Shinji answered simply. It seemed like every time he came to the city, he always had a new business partner. Every time she would ask what happened to the last. Some times the answer was simple, other times the smile would fade from Shinji's face. Misato never asked further in the later case.
"Well, le'ts get going." Misato suggested as she turned and began leading them through the crowd. "Don't get lost Shinji. Do you want me to hold your hand?" She felt an arm slip around her waist and a hand come to rest on her hip.
"I can hold other things, if you'd like," Shinji commented. Misato grinned and wrapped her arm around the young man.
"I've taught you well," she stated.
"So you were teaching me all along?" Shinji asked. "I thought you were teasing me."
"I teach by example," Misato replied. It was fun having someone who could tease her as well as she teased them.
"Of course."
(:ii:)
"So, what are you doing here?" Misato asked as they sped along Tokyo-3's main thoroughfare.
"Just business," Shinji replied.
"I see," Misato began, "Mister Accountant, off to see if NERV is still embezzling funds, huh?"
"Something like that," Shinji answered. "How's everything been since the last time I came?"
"Boring!" Misato announced. "There's no real use for a tactician in NERV no more. No battles means no tactics and no tactics means a very bored Misato."
"You should put in for a transfer if you want to direct soldiers," Shinji commented. "I know of at least three bush wars that could use an unconventional thinker like you."
"What?" Misato asked in mock indignation, "and help men kill men? No thank you. They can do that just fine without my brilliance." Shinji chuckled at her over the top antics.
"I see your point," he conceded. "So, what are you doing if you aren't rewriting the book on tactics?"
"I pretty much sit around and pass on orders from the top," Misato explained.
"Smart move on the Commander's part," Shinji commented.
"How so?" Misato asked suspiciously.
"He knows that men would practically kill themselves to follow out orders coming from a beauty such as you," Shinji stated. "I would."
"You're so sweet." Misato had long ago gotten used to the occasional flirtatious comment and had grown to enjoy them. "Did you call the rental agency already?"
"Yeah," Shinji answered. "They're already waiting for us."
"Good," Misato stated. "So, are you staying with me?"
"We have barracks in the Geo-Front," Shinji explained.
"You're staying with me," Misato stated. She saw one of Shinji's eyebrows slide upwards. "Have you ever seen the Geo-Front's barracks?"
"Not really."
"Let's just say that there's a damn good reason why I chose to spend my hard earned cash on an apartment," Misato replied. "Takeo can stay too, if he wants."
"I don't want to be a bother," Takeo replied from the back seat.
"Now I know why he seems familiar!" Misato exclaimed. "He reminds me of you!"
"Hah, hah."
"It's not a problem," Misato stated. "I already have someone using the other bedroom, but you can sleep on the couch." She glanced at Shinji. "That is, unless Shinji wants to stay in my room."
"Maybe next time," Shinji stated. "It's this turn." Misato pulled into the turning lane and then into the rental agency's parking lot. "So, who else is staying with you?"
"It's a secret," Misato sang.
"Great," Shinji grumbled as he climbed out of the car. "I love secrets."
"Part of the job sir," Takeo added as he climbed out as well.
"Can you find your way back to the apartment?" Misato asked.
"I'll be fine," Shinji replied. "See you there."
"Right."
(:ii:)
"She doesn't know?" Takeo whispered.
"Of course she doesn't know," Shinji replied as he pushed the door to the rental agency open and stepped into the air-conditioning. "How would I explain it anyway? I hunt down and kill spies, or I capture them so my superior can torture them?"
"Good point," Takeo allowed.
"This isn't a family friendly occupation," Shinji continued. "Ask around. Probably about three fourths of the people at the agency are divorced or single."
"Then what does she think you are?" Takeo asked.
"She thinks I'm an accountant or something," Shinji explained as he led his partner around the line and up to the counter. 'God bless the express lane."
"Can I help you gentlemen?"
"Give her your license." Shinji watched as the woman behind the counter took Takeo's license and began typing something in her computer.
"Alright." The computer printed something out and the woman took it. "Here it is." She handed the paper to Takeo. "Take this to the man in the small building out back."
"Thank you." Takeo took the paper and his license. Shinji led them to the door leading to the back.
"Anyway, she thinks I work for the government and travel around to make sure that no government agencies are embezzling funds," Shinji finished.
"That's an interesting cover," Takeo commented. "How did it come about?"
"I gave a little information and she filled in the rest herself," Shinji explained. "The best covers are the ones people want to believe and are comfortable with. Remember that."
"Yes, sir." Shinji saw the building and walked up to it. The man behind the counter took the paper and led them to a blue sedan of some sort. They did the visual check for damage and the man handed Takeo the keys before walking off. "So, which way is it to Miss Katsuragi's?"
"She'll slap you if you call her that to her face," Shinji warned as he climbed in the passenger side. "Besides, we aren't going there."
"Where are we going?" Takeo asked as he climbed behind the wheel.
"Another rental agency," Shinji replied. "They have a motorcycle waiting for me."
"Why?"
"Because I can't drive cars and I can list it as a business expense," Shinji stated smugly.
"And you're supposed to be checking government agencies for embezzling," Takeo commented dryly.
"That's just a cover," Shinji replied.
(:ii:)
"So, where did you meet that woman?" Takeo asked. "No offense, but she doesn't seem to be the kind of woman you'd be drawn to."
"And what kind of woman would I be drawn to?" Shinji asked.
"I don't know," Takeo replied. "I've never seen you date. I just don't think it'd be that type of woman."
"Touché," Shinji commented. "I don't date. Like I said, not a family friendly job. Anyway, Misato was my guardian."
"Kinky."
"Don't start," Shinji groaned. "Nasuki used to tease me about that for hours."
"Nasuki was your partner before me, right?" Takeo asked. Shinji nodded. "Is that Instructor Nasuki?"
"Instructor," Shinji repeated. "Year, that's him. He got sent to me for polishing. The kid was good, but I'm better." He saw Takeo's jaw drop out of the corner of his eye.
"You trained Instructor Nasuki?" he asked in amazement.
"Yeah," Shinji replied. "Turn here."
"Right." Takeo turned into the rental agency and Shinji climbed out. His partner climbed out as well. "So, why can't you drive? Did you never learn?"
"I learned," Shinji replied. "I'm kind of surprised you haven't heard already."
"Heard about what?" Takeo asked.
"I was in an accident with a French officer," Shinji stated. "He blindsided me. Ever since then every time I get behind the wheel, well, my hands just start shaking."
"Were you hurt?" Takeo asked.
"Severely," Shinji replied flatly. He knew that Takeo had heard what he wanted to hear and wouldn't probe further. For that, Shinji was extremely grateful. The rest of that night's occurrences were buried deep inside him and he was going to keep them that way. "Let's get going. We shouldn't leave Misato waiting, she'll get bored and than we'll be in real trouble."
(:ii:)
Shinji brought his new Kawasaki to a stop and leaned back, looking up at the building. Takeo pulled into the parking spot beside him and rolled down his window. "Is this it, sir?"
"This is it," Shinji replied. He climbed off his bike and pushed his sunglasses up onto his forehead. Takeo climbed out of the car and looked around.
"This is a pretty nice place," he commented. "You grew up around here?"
"No," Shinji replied as he opened the sedan's trunk and dug his overnight bag out. He slung it over his shoulder and grabbed Takeo's as well. "I grew up in Sendai."
"That's where I'm from," Takeo commented.
"No kidding?" Shinji asked as he shoved the bag into the other man's arms.
"Nope." Shinji chuckled. Sometimes he forgot that he had only known Takeo for a few months. He led the way to the elevator and hit the call button. The doors slid open and they stepped inside. "So, how are we starting this OP?"
"First we get a list of all foreigners with connections to their government's intelligence agency," Shinji explained as he hit the button for the proper floor. "What could be wrong with that?"
"Too obvious," Takeo pointed out.
"Good," Shinji stated, "but they might be counting on us thinking that way."
"So always check things even if they're too obvious?" Takeo asked.
"Right," Shinji replied. "After that we begin inspecting foreign citizens and Japanese citizens who have been abroad lately. We start with the foreigners, why?"
"Officer," Takeo replied. "The officers are normally foreign-borne and the agents are native citizens recruited by the officer."
"Right," Shinji replied as the doors opened. "Kill the roots and you can kill the tree much more easily." The doors opened and they stepped out into the familiar hallway.
"Who do you think the other house guest is?" Shinji frowned and glanced at Takeo out of the corner of his eye.
"What makes you think I'd know?" he asked.
"Well. . .you're. . .you're you, sir," Takeo replied. Shinji laughed and stopped in front of one of the doors.
"Well, thank you. I think." He knocked and the door swung open.
"What took you?" Misato demanded.
"Traffic," Shinji answered as he stepped past his guardian and set his overnight bag down. He kneeled and began pulling at the laces of his worn, black combat boots.
"Our guest is here!" Misato crowed. Shinji managed to wrangle his boots off and straightened up.
"Don't you're neighbors complain enough about the noise as is?" Shinji asked.
"If you want to swing by my bedroom a little later, we could give them something to really complain about," Misato commented sultrily.
"Don't tempt me," Shinji replied. "Now who's staying with. . ."
"Hey Dumpkoff." Shinji looked up and stared at the red-haired woman who had just stepped out of the kitchen.
"Hey Asuka."
-End
(:ii:)
-Author's notes. Sorry, got nothing to say.