"Rei!" Shinji shouted as the children were happy to see the blue-haired girl alright. They were by the central gate where everyday the children would go. Misato left a bit earlier to meet up with Ritsuko to get everything ready for their synch ratio testing, as well as getting Kaworu ready for his first day. As usual, Rei was nonchalant about it but she smiled as her friends came over and talked to her a bit. They told her of the events that occur at school and that she wasn't really missing much out of school, other than homework. And thankfully the Angels hadn't come while she was gone, though Asuka and Toji complained how boring it was. Just as Rei's ears are perfect for listening, her eyes were fine tuned to attentive watching any sensitive detail despite the fact they gave a hollow or bored look at times. She looked over everybody and for the most part, nothing seems to be out of the norm, but sensed something new in her territory. Something that for once she didn't like. Rei's heart was pounding in fear, but she couldn't figure out why.
While the children were socializing among themselves, Ritsuko and her loyal technician Maya were looking over their data from the past weeks and ready to greet the children. While Ritsuko isn't so thrilled on having yet another child to worry about and to conduct studies, needless to say she was glad with the extras. After all, with the Vatican Treaty on hand, if anything were to happen with any of the pilots, there is always a spare ready on hand. Of course this would also lead to other problems, but that is not of a concern at the moment for Ritsuko. For her, it's another day for her to contribute the work of preserving the fate of the planet from a certain grim future. As usual, she sipped her coffee as she can hear the tap and the scribbles from Maya. Just around the corner they can hear the footsteps of Misato and Kaworu as they entered into the main lobby. Already the sight of him made Asuka moaned with dread. Mari knew a storm was about to come, but was surprised that Asuka didn't lashed out and to make a scene. After last night, Asuka just went on the day as if nothing bad was going to happen and what occurred last also didn't either. Misato also notices Asuka too and was happy that a follow-up would occur as Kaworu stood next to her in front of the group. Abound making eye contact with each other the Sixth had smiled with the Fifth. He smelled of LCL, and it was very potent to her. It was still fresh.
"What a small world we live in! I didn't expect to find you here Mari." Mari chuckled as Shinji and Toji looked on at the two children; Asuka just stared at her feet, suppressing her anger; Rei stood there observing at the boy. This boy was not making her feel not even the smallest level of comfort. Her heart rhythm faster, but nobody else seems to notice her. Kaworu smiled as he looked into her eyes. He had finally met with Rei Ayanami, the First Child. "You must be Ayanami, why I hope on my behalf, that you are feeling much better." His spacey manner made Toji creep out. He leaned over Shinji into his ear.
"I already I don't like this guy Shinji."
"Are you always the type to judge others based on first impressions? I mean you initially were in spite of me remember that?"
"That's a bit different. At least it was because you are insecure and..."
"Insecure?" Shinji whispered. "That makes me feel a bit better about myself thank you very much."
"No it's not like that! At least you are sane just jaded. This guy..."
"Cut it you two." Mari tapped Toji with her elbow. Kaworu appeared to not have noticed the commotion and Misato and Ritsuko felt that it was time to proceed. After all, the children already knew each other it was time to take their tests. So they went into their locker room to put on their plugsuits and by the time they got out, Shinji, Asuka, Toji and even Rei noticed that the plugsuits for both Mari and Kaworu were the same just that the color were different. The brightness of the pink had bounced off the blackish navy in a glowing effect. Kaworu looked over Mari as if he was a buyer taking a final look at a prized horse before deciding on whether to buy the animal or not. The scent from the plugsuit, of LCL, was the only thing that was luring Mari into looking at it. Otherwise it wasn't a big deal to her. After all, the suits had come in all shapes and colors. But Toji was curious to figure it out why theirs was the same style as opposed to the sexual dimorphic difference between the others including his own.
"Say Nagisa..." Toji said but Kaworu waved his hand to him in an offering gesture.
"Please, call me Kaworu." He smiled at the Fourth Child. "After all, we will know each other soon enough."
"Okay, Kaworu, you and our friend have the same plugsuit design! Any significance of this?" He asked. The gray-haired lad closed his eyes and smiled. He flashed his red eyes and smirked as to be glad of being asked.
"There is no significance. It's just a plugsuit and nothing more of it. Though I must say, hers is prettier than mine." With that he chuckled and went on to the cage. Mari blinked and watched as the boy walked in a humble gait. The way he walked was very silent, almost as if he was walking on a soft field or on water. His hands were on his waists though as if this somewhat regal posture of the upper waist seemed to contradict the humble gait of his legs. Still his scent of LCL was strong to have Mari be enthralled in pure internal ecstasy, stronger than the scent of her other co-pilots. Like a hound following the scent of prey, she soon went after him and following her were the others to their respective testing plugs.
In she goes and as usual the entry plug was filled with LCL. This is one of her favorite places to be, arguably her most enjoyable moment of the day. No one understood why it excited her to the point where she had admitted once to be a sort of fetish to her. Sure operating the Evangelion would be cool to some people as in the case with her friend Kensuke. But to be excited of LCL? One time she had a conversation with Shinji of their reasons of piloting the Evas. She remembered Shinji's comment on how LCL makes him a bit uncomfortable at times and his reason was that it smelt of blood to him. Yet at the same time it brings oddly enough comfort to him. Perhaps this was the source for Mari's case? In that it brings her an extreme level of comfort to the point that she fanaticized herself being nude in LCL and could pleasure herself? Whatever the case was, as with all the pilots here, this was probably the most relaxing (and the most boring) part of the day. It was the only part of their work hour that they can be relax and have a peaceful moment for them to think and wander in their thoughts to themselves. Of course in order for their sync ratio to go up or at least keep up with their pace, they must have a calm and a content mind. For Mari, the best way into doing so was to remember all the fun memories she had back in Europe with her sister Asuka and their innocent adventures they had. Once they played a game with Kaji was Kaji was a big scary monster. The only way to defeated was to ring a clock and that stops the monster. If they failed, then they had to face a full wrath of tickles. The memory made her smile and was happy that there were moments in her youth that were pleasant. Still, there was some pain that still lurk in her mind...
As her body went limp as Mari concentrated on getting a good reading. Both Asuka and Mari had the highest scores of all the children, though lately Shinji has been catching up with them. The range for scores that Rei was in was the average, after all what could possibly affect her mind? Toji was the lowest, but that's his fault. Since he was one of the newer team members he has some time before getting into the zone with Rei and Shinji. And it will be a long time to catch up with Asuka and Mari. With all of these scores and ranges, everyone would have expected Kaworu also to be low on the list as well. However through the speakers, they could hear Ritsuko saying to lower the Sixth Slot. Mari was surprised by this. Normally such a procedure would be waited until the pilot is used to this, but they were already doing this on Kaworu's first day! Now was not the time to think as right now Mari wasn't worrying about that as she had to focus on getting a good score. Besides, strange things have happened before so what else could top them? But the harder she concentrated, the more Kaworu appeared on her mind. Something about him seems odd. Earlier before Mari thought it is a strange coincidence that Kaworu was going to be helping them to defeat the Angels and that she would help him patrol the hallways in the school. At least it can explain why this boy always smells like LCL but why is it fresh? And she still pondered why everyone was creep out by this kid. Sure Kaworu seems to be eccentric based on the information that she had heard of him, but his mannerism were not harmful. Kaworu seems to be nice and there was nothing wrong with that. He certainly could not be the creeper that was told to be.
From the speakers she can hear the adults in the monitoring room discussing something important. From what she can hear from them, they were saying that something wasn't right with Kaworu's data. It wasn't in panic mood rather they sounded amazed and bewildered with this new kid that they selected.
"Amazing!" Ritsuko said on the microphone. "Alright children you can come out." As the children left their slots, Kaworu was no where to be seen. Neither was Rei. The remaining four looked at each other to see if one of them knew what was going on. Then they noticed that Rei and Kaworu were already at the control room with Ritsuko and Misato. From the way their lips were moving, the two women and everyone else in there were excited. This could only mean one thing. Mount Asuka was blowing smokes.
"He better not." She said as if she expected the worse. Asuka ran to the room and the rest followed her. As all five children ran, their footsteps echoed in a tune as if it was written for drums to play. Of course running in plugsuits wasn't exactly easy as they slipped and sledded with LCL still embrace on the surface of their suits. Toji almost slipped with Shinji catching him during his falling. Mari also came close to injuring herself, but grabbed hold on the bars. Finally maintaining some balance, they went after Asuka. As they finally caught up to her, Asuka was already opening the door and all four children went. Maya was by the door looking over the data which soon slammed on her as Asuka came. Ristuko and Misato turned to see all the kids bursting in with Asuka trying to snatch the data sheet from Maya's hands. As she looked over her eyes went wide and her face was turning red. Mount Asuka has just erupted.
"How the Hell is this possible!" She shouted. She was looking at the sheet over and over again as if she was searching for something, something that will tell her that this is just a dream or that the whole thing was rigged. But whatever she was looking for was not there and just flung on the floor.
"Asuka!" Misato shouted. Ritsuko helped Maya off the floor as Maya was rubbing the area on her hip that the doorknob had hit. Ritsuko picked up the sheet once Maya was all right and steady. "Don't start! I don't want a sequel to yesterday's show!"
"I will give you a sequel! No one has ever beaten me!" Asuka shouted as her hands went all over the place with exaggeration. The three women in the room gave each other looks; the rest of the people in the room try not to stare at the scene. Toji looked on without a care in the world. Secretly he was happy that snob was upset and not so thrilled that now he has to hear Asuka whine and cry all day. Mari and Shinji were the only ones that were left out in the dark. Shinji had walk towards the women as Mari went to her sister.
"Calm down Asuka." Mari said. "Beaten? What do you mean?"
"I know that freak was no good!" She snapped at her. She had spit her sister on the face as she was shouting. Mari didn't know what she was saying as turned towards Kaworu, who was standing with his usual look. His hands were on his waist and closed his eyes and a humbled grin grew on his face. Shinji was also trying to connect the event that was unfolded until he realized about the tests.
"Um, Ritsuko?" He asked as he was unsure if doing this would risk Shinji's head getting chewed off latter from Asuka at home. "How was... you know? Our tests?" Even Ritsuko, who was usually the one that would discuss about the results with great confidence and with no regrets, that she herself seemed a bit cautious about talking about them. The female scientist was still lost at words
"Well the same almost. Shinji you actually increased a bit more since three weeks ago. But that's not what makes the data so weird." She showed Shinji the data. As usual Shinji was lost in all the technical stuff; it was awkward being the son of a brilliant scientist that barely knew anything the field that his mother had devoted her life into. Knowing that he lack the understanding of the complicated data Ritsuko tried to put in it simply, while giving uneasy looks at Asuka who was now giving sinister looks at the newest pilot. Mari was standing there now giving her attention to Ritsuko. Where was that cigarette when you need it? "Basically for the first time in a while, the Langley daughters no longer have the highest scores. In fact, this is the first time we have this kind of occurrence. With absolutely no experiences and just in a matter of 0.000000093 nanoseconds, the Sixth Child has managed to gain the highest possible of the spectrum of the scores. His wave pattern is identical to the wave pattern of the Evas. Meaning he can control his very own with no problem." Mari was shocked and turned towards Kaworu who still at his posture. This was quicker and stranger than Shinji's first time piloting Unit-01. But with a sister that was a sore loser, there was no time for Mari to be amazed by this. Asuka back at her tangent again.
"I don't believe this! This has to be a nightmare!" She shouted.
"Asuka please stop," Mari asked her sister as now the crew were staring at the Second Child's tantrum. "You are making a fool out of yourself!" But Asuka could care less. It didn't matter whether she was calm or not, it still didn't change the fact that someone inferior to her was superior over her.
"Oh shut up! You never would understand how it means to me!"
"Of course I do! But you can't always be the best at everything. Come on, you need some fresh air." She tried to take Asuka's hands, but Asuka whacked Mari's hands really hard. Mari rubbed them quickly to get the stinging pain off and tried again to reason with her.
"I am not going to breathe the same air that the Sixth Child breathes!" She hissed and pointed her finger at Kaworu who now had his eyes open. The redness of his eyes seemed to mock Asuka. In fact it was an insult to her as red was her favorite color. Yet now the one color that she loved was now making her angrier by the minute. Worse was that the boy was grinning still.
"Stop grinning at me damn you! Just... just... oh fuck you!"
"Hey, hey. What's going on here?" A familiar voice had entered the room, a voice that of all days he has to be here at this moment. Asuka turned towards the door and there he was Ryoji Kaji the man of her dreams. His usual charms and sly manner echoed across the room as he made his way towards the crowd. He nodded at Misato which as usual was not happy by his presence. Of all days he had to be here at this moment. He greeted everyone else and went back to his attention to Asuka. "Now I must say there is no need to be upset like that! You should still be happy to have the same score as the last time." Misato gave Kaji a nasty look to him. She hated when Kaji was always spying and listening into people's agenda. Misato at tops wanted to shoot Kaji at the spine to stop snooping around the place like a sneaky fox. Asuka mortified of just everything that had happen in the last two minutes, covered her face to hide her shame. Toji was mentally laughing to himself. "No, no, no, please God, no... Not now!" She muttered in her hands. It was a nightmare.
"Kaji I don't think now is the best time to be here." Misato said as she crossed her arms. "Now can you leave at once!"
"That's not nice to say that to your friend." He said sarcastically. He reached over and comforted the young girl who was now crying. Mari couldn't believe how immature her sister was acting, but she saw this as a great opportunity to end this madness. Or at least to get Asuka out of here. Went over to Kaji.
"Hey Kaji. Can you please take her outside? You know, go some place just to calm her down a bit." Mari asked. Kaji grinned and nodded.
"No problem. Anything for you Mari." He gently nudged Asuka as Kaji lead her outside. "Asuka dear, you want to go outside for minute? I know I will take you shopping!"
"But I can't..." Asuka whimpered. "Not like this... I want to be happy with you at least..."
"Trust me, I know how to cheer up people at a time like this." Kaji gave a quick wink at Misato which the purple-haired woman flustered in anger as memories of the two of them at college were coming back. Ritsuko stifled a chuckle as everyone else didn't noticed. Ah, the good old drunken days! "Let's go Asuka. Say they have a pretty dress on sale!" And so the two of them were walking out of the room, with Kaji smooth talking and Asuka innocent whimpers becoming quiet and quieter. Finally they were out of the testing zone, and knowing that Asuka was finally out, Toji laughed loudly at the world. Shinji looked at his friend who now had tears in his eyes. Toji wiped them and started to pretend that he was Asuka, regardless the ever glowing rage from Mari and the adults in the room shaking their heads. With his fake sobbing and his really bad impression of Asuka's voice, Toji went around the room. Kaworu was right about the Second and the Fourth Children, but made no comments about it as usual. Shinji waited to see what will happen next as Mari looked like she was ready to punch Toji's face, but to his relief Mari grunted at him. Needless to say, Toji stopped and walked over to Kaworu.
"Geez kid, you're not bad after all! I mean, for once that will stop her into being so cocky. Forgive me for saying this Mari, but your sister is a bitch and I am happy Nagisa here just toppled her!" Kaworu just looked at Toji as he lost respect to him. He really was stupid to his liking and had no problem if Gabriel were to kill him. Kaworu scanned his eyes back to Mari who was now angry by Toji's action. Noticing this Shinji asked Misato if it was okay if he and Toji went out to hang with Kensuke. Misato had no objection to that and soon the two boys left. Toji can be heard laughing down the hallway. Rei, who was nearly forgotten during the entire time due to her being quiet, just stood there looking at Kaworu. She still felt uncomfortable with his presence here, but at the same time she didn't want to lose sight of him as with a deer trying to be sure that a pack of hounds were at a distance. But with her being quiet and not as much as an expressional person, nobody noticed anything wrong with Rei. Not even Kaworu, though sooner or later he might. For now he was preoccupied with Mari; for Kaworu today wasn't the day to make a small talk with the Third Child.
"Your friends, they seem to be "diverse", no?"
"Yeah, they all nuts." Mari sighed as she pushed her glasses to her face. "Listen I am sorry about what just happen. My sister tends to be..."
"Emotional." Kaworu finished off in a way that was not nasty or annoyed. He didn't seem to mind about it at all. "I know. I know someone like that." Mari made a quick smile.
"I guess I am not the only here." She chuckled. She can't have a bad moment ruined her chance to talked to the new pilot. "I must say that is pretty cool that you got a perfect score for the first try!"
"Thank you. I guess I was born for this role." Kaworu chuckled. The sound of him and the words he just used made Rei's ears trembled.
"Well, it looks that way."
"Say do you have a moment?" His eyes seem to twinkle which made Mari blushed a bit. She never blushed before. This was the first and it wasn't the LCL that was doing their charm as usual. It was his eyes now. The eyes seem to make the room, which is usually dim and bland come to life. Unaware to her, Misato, Ritsuko and Maya had noticed it too. Maya almost giggled as Misato raised an eyebrow. Ritsuko had another sipped of her coffee. Rei too seem to be interested in what happens next.
"Sure. What?" Mari replied.
"If it's all right with Ms. Katsuragi and Doctor Akagi, that I can show you my Evangelion?" Kaworu turned around towards the two ladies. The ladies didn't seem to mind at all.
"Yeah totally! Hey Rei want to come?" Mari chirped towards her companion. As usual Rei would do as she ask, but still a bit shy with the new kid. With Kaworu leading the way, Mari and Rei followed him behind as they walked in the direction to where they hold their Evangelions. Both girls wondered as they made their way past Unit-00 and Unit-01. Kaworu stopped and looked at the purple Evangelion as if something as caught his eye about this particular one. Before Mari can ask, Kaworu continued his way passing Units-02-and-03. Unit-08, Mari's Eva, was the last one before they finally reached to Kaworu's. Mari stopped for a moment greeted Her as if She was her other friend and quickly catched up with Kaworu and Rei. The only talking that was going on was the sound of their footsteps. While they all sounded the same from each other, it was almost as if each pair of feet were talking like a family on a road trip to a destination. Finally they made it; Rei's eyes widen by the horrifying look of the Evangelion. Even Mari was taking away by the sight of Her.
"Is She your's? She is... Different." Mari said.
"Yes, She is. She is Evangelion Unit-06. Her name is Mark." Kaworu said.