"Mark? You named your Evangelion?" Mari said as she still amazed and shocked by the sight of Unit-06. While she was the only one of the pilots that anthropomorphizes the giant, synthetic life forms. But she would never go to the extreme. The whole thing was weird just as was the appearance of the Evangelion Herself. Both Mari and Rei had never such a being like this before. The Evangelion was overall very humanoid like. Let alone the fact that the Units were based on the Japanese demons, the Oni, but this one was the odd one out. The entire body of the Eva was jet black, as black as the plumage of a crow or a raven; Her armor seemed to be very slick and smooth to the touch. The armor design was unique in that it wasn't as noticeable, almost as if the armor was leather skin; skin that seemed to be too human for this. But that was not the reason the girls to be so startled. What was startling was Her head. Her head was ivory white, as white as any pure snow or paper. But it was far from being given an essence of purity, as the skull had a sense of death to Her atmosphere. The head of the Evangelion had an elongated, pointed snout as looked like a beak. Her eye sockets were large and black with no sign of any protective eyewear. Hell She might not even have eyes. Mari and Rei stood looking at those large, swollen black eyes. While She had no visible signs of a pair eyes Unit-06 (or "Mark" as she was called by Kaworu) the sockets still gave the effect that She was staring at their very souls. The thought of Mark being alive was enough to make the girls wanted to see it, especially the hungry appetite of Mari's imagination, as the rest of the Unit's body was covered in LCL.

"Yes well not really actually." Kaworu replied. He bit his lip as if he couldn't decide how to explain this apparently odd thing to the girls. To him it seemed normal and understandable, but what did he expects from them? "You see it's quite complicated. Where I come from, I came from an environment where the Evangelion is seen as a "being", not the plaything for the Lilin." He stared towards Rei and smiling a bit. Mari was proving to be a help to Kaworu as he wanted to meet the First Child anyway more in person. She was just as important as the Third Child. Mari was confused by his statement.

"Lilin?" She asked.

"The children of Lilith, Adam's first wife." Kaworu explained. "Before Eve came out of Adam's rib, God created Adam's first wife Lilith who had repelled against him. Angry, Adam demanded to God that he wanted a woman that would obey to him and to be unequal to his status. And so Eve was born. As for Lilith, she would be the scorn that helps bring the world to its end." Kaworu touched his right rib as if he felt a pain to his side. Indeed he felt it, but the pain subsided. Rei felt as if Kaworu knew something else other than being a smiley, theological person. But she couldn't put her finger to it. Mari pushed her glasses.

"Well, that I don't remember being taught that in Catholic School back home." She chuckled nervously as she remembered all the times that she would fall asleep during Bible studying which would have had the Sister smacking her arm with a ruler. She shuddered off those wasteful days. With a second look around Mark, she felt that she had seen the Evangelion (or a least the look of Her) someone in a book once. And then it hit her.

"Say, Mark here looks like a Doctor, Kaworu!" Kaworu cocked his head and raised an eyebrow. He had never heard of this.

"A Doctor?"

"You know, a Plague Doctor! From the Dark Ages when the Black Death was like the AIDS and cancer of back then!" The boy seemed to have no idea what she was talking about. Mari knew Kaworu was Japanese, and there are some things that Mari and Asuka learned culturally from their days in Europe that a person in Japan might not be familiar with. But everyone must have known about the Black Death! "You know the one when 3 million died from a serious disease that brought with a painful death?" Kaworu had never heard of this before.

"Quite interesting I supposed. I guess I will look into it later." Kaworu said with now a look of sudden interest.

"Well, that is what Mark looks like to me." Mari said. She almost forgot Rei was here with them and checked on to see her over her shoulder. Rei seemed a bit uncomfortable causing Mari's attention to go somewhere else.

"What's wrong Rei?" Rei was staring at Kaworu's eyes. The red eyes made her sick; red was the color that she hated the most. Rei was overall not a person of hatred towards things, but whenever she saw red deep down she was angry. Of course because so quiet and hollow at times nobody knew this, but Kaworu nodded as if he knew already from the sight of her.

"I don't... feel so good." She said softly in her monotone voice.

"What's wrong? Everything okay?" Mari asked as she went over and placed her hand on Rei's forehead. She seemed fine, but Mari can sense that Rei for whatever reason wasn't feeling herself at all. But why? "Want me to take you to Dr. Akagi and see what see can do?" Rei nodded as if she was ordered to as usual. Mari turned around to Kaworu who was still staring at Rei. Mari noticed that Kaworu seemed to remind her of Rei, only more talkative and less monotone, as they both have the same silent posture they have whenever something is going on. But maybe that was another coincidence.

"Hey, it was nice seeing you. And it was really cool that we had chatted a bit." Mari smiled. "I will see you later!"

"Indeed, I shall enjoy us being together as a team." Kaworu said. Mari smiled once more and slightly blushed again, which she turned her face again in fear that Kaworu had noticed her latest quirk. Mari checked to see if Rei was keeping pace and went off. He watched the two girls walked back to the lab to get Ritsuko. He took note of the difference of their posture; with Rei being somewhat stiff and tight and Mari almost as if she was prancing, walking and skipping at the same time. It was an unusual way for someone to walk like that. Mari's twin pony-tails gently swayed back and forth. She had a nice appeal to her and Kaworu smiled about the thought. He turned towards the Evangelion and took a deep breath and let it out.

"I knew she would be of use. I finally got a chance to meet the First Child, now it will be time before I will see Ikari." However his face grew into annoyance once the girls left and turned to his Eva and looked upon the crown of Mark as if someone was there. He knew someone was there and Kaworu also knew who it was. "No sense in hiding! Must you always give people headaches?"

Headaches? The clad in the suit appeared, standing stiffly on top of the Evangelion. Although he had no eyes and no mouth to express his attitude, his words and tone did the trick. I'd be wise at watching the things that come pouring out of the pot that is your mouth Tabris... Flush our cover hound, and Keele is not going to be happy... And then you have me to deal with!

"Well, I guess Keele will also be unhappy that his horse keeps spooking the foxes away." Kaworu hissed. "Besides, these Lilin are too stupid. They forgot the Sacred Scrolls of our ancestors." Kaworu put on a sly smile, a smile he really used often as it was used when he is feeling arrogant about the subject. Azrael moaned and tighten his tie to subdue his aggression.

Don't get so cocky. As the Lilin say, "Don't assume or you will make an "ass of you and me".

"Well I should be the one warning you. Do you realize that some of the Lilin know of your existence in their memories? You always popped out of no where!" Kaworu started to laugh quietly as he continued with what he had to say. "And they were so kind enough as to give you a nickname... "Slender Man" is it not?"

At least "Slender Man" keeps his mouth shut... and kills anyone who dares enough to not have their minds to themselves. Azrael made what sounded like sickly moan but was actually his laughter as he remembered all the horrified faces of people as they scream before they went to their sleeps that they will never wake up from. He had and still does enjoy employing the most horrific actions that people all over the world could imagine when they hear the stories... his stories.

"You could do them a favor and not kill them so violently while they're still alive." Kaworu shuddered after he said that and realized that they were going off-topic. "Anyway, I finally met the First Child, or should I say, Her, as we know what she really is. I must say she is a bit... quiet and quirky don't you think?"

Yet she knows. The Rabbit had and always will sense a Stoat nearby.

"Ah yes, but the Rabbit has to see the Stoat to know for sure. For now there is nothing to fear or worry about. I will be heading back to my quarters and then all will be according to plan." Kaworu started to walk back to where he originally came from as his feet went click and clack on the metallic bridge flooring. But before he continued, Azrael appeared in front of him, an action so sudden that normally most living things get a fright from. But not Nagisa.

And I know you have been talking to the girl with glasses. Kaworu had shaken his head as he smiled with his eyes close. Oh this mission will be easy for sure.

"Don't worry. They were just simple chats. You make it sound like I want to be one with her?"

While they may have no one special in their lives and always stressing the advent an Angel comes, that still didn't stop Misato and Ritsuko from going to a local bar that was five miles by car from the headquarters. "The Lucky Crow Nest" as it was called, an unusual name and indeed an unusual place it was. The bar was open to 24 hours on the day and every day of the year and throughout the days and the years, there were different shifts of the hour that a menagerie of niches that come and go as with the nearly extinct of the now lost continent of Africa had done. The locals, the homeless, the sex driven, the drug dealers, the tourists, the celebrities, the rich, the poor, and so on come here. Now it was time for the local gay men to come which they would come and socialize in hopes that at the end of the night they can smoke a cigarette once the bed is cleaned off. Misato and Ritsuko always come to this hour as they knew that they wouldn' be hit on and the fact the people at their hour were (seemingly) nice. Though there were moments when a drunken Misato would often cause many hopeful man's attempt to be with the hottest crossdresser fail or trying to get a blind man's number while believing he was a Raccoon Dog. Or worse when she sings karaoke night with a fat metrosexual. Times like that often lead to a mortified Ritsuko, who would then look the over way and be to herself smoking. She often questions to herself how she became her friend in the first place.

But fortunately for Ritsuko and the men at the bar, Misato was not interested in drinking tonight. She just wanted to be out for a while away from the drama that was now being unfolded with Mari and Asuka. True she could have drink the beer at home but then she would have to face the hangover. And when Asuka is loud, she was the last person you want to be with if you are having a killer headache. Besides she wanted to go over today's data with Ritsuko. The two ladies go to their usual perch which was an island bar by the window with the lights of the city dashing by as little fish in a tank. With Ritsuko by her right and lighting up a cigarette Misato was reading to talk.

"Geez, what a day it was." Misato sighed as she still remembered Asuka blowing her steam. "I just hope this is not going to be an issue."

"I would also worry about Shinji and Mari who have to put up with her tonight. I just hope Kaji tired her out." Ristuko said. With that Misato grunted which Ritsuko laughing as she had mention Kaji.

"Great..." Misato put her head down as she knew Asuka would carry on of how she was "a mess" in front of him. She rubbed her head as Ritsuko inhaled another and subdue the smoke in the ash tray. The smoke seems like it didn't want to leave but vanished as fresh wind came swiping it away.

"And how was Rei?" Misato asked. Earlier today both the women were concern as Mari brought an ill Rei to them. Ritsuko had done a check-up on Rei and all she could find was that Rei just had a minor headache and had given her pills.

"The last time I check, the agents said she had returned home safe and is resting." Ritsuko said.

"These kids could drive you nuts. I am not doing this job to calm brats; damn those Angels for everything." Misato put her head on the table and made a heavy sigh and thus allowing Ritsuko to change the news in order to keep her friend off of her worries.

"In other news, we do have a new record." Ritsuko still can't shake off that the impossible now seemed to be the possible.

"Yeah a record that couldn't play pretty music." Misato replied.

"Listen this could be a break through. With boy like that, we can be one step closer in a lot of things. Such..."

"Improvements in the name of science." Misato knew her like a driver's manual. Or so she thought.

"Actually I was gonna say defeating the Angels." Ritsuko lighted up another.

"But what good does it do when Asuka will know she is not the best. Besides it still doesn't act as a loop hole with the Vatican Treaty." The Vatican Treaty was an agreement when Project E took root that all the countries that had Evangelions agreed to have three operational Units and two spares, regardless of the amount of pilots does each country have. The reason is that they fear of the worst case of berserk or a war could happen. Both were bullshit to Ritsuko and Misato as there were flaws in these fears. But this was what it was. Fortunately it was all right as Rei would often not be able to help out and Toji was still new to this, so it had been Shinji, Asuka and Mari for the most part. The only problem was that each Eva had special abilities that made one more superior over the other. So they had to be wise on which trio of Evangelions to use for certain cases. And once again, as luck would had it, the best combo was always include Units-01, 02, and 08. Unit-00 was meant as a prototype testing that evolved into a defensive Unit; as expected, She provided uneasy glitches for Rei to pilot. Unit-03 was their first aggressor Unit, but She was more prone to damage while on the field. In addition She was fast, too fast that Unit-03 would damage even more. And with Toji still getting the jest of things, they were always hesitating to use him on the field. Despite this, Units-00 and 03 were important on the team as they can do things at times their trio combo cannot or add alternation to the mix. Now with Unit-06 here and from what Ritsuko has heard and seen of Her, She was really special to have on the team.

"It is what it is." Ritsuko said as she shrugged. "Though it would be hard to choose which Eva should be in storage. It is always a bitch if we decide to take one out of storage; takes nearly a whole day to set everything."

"This whole thing is stupid." Misato said. Her eyes yonder out as she scanned the cityscape around her. It was going to be a full Moon tonight.

"Well now I feel like a fan boy Misato."

"Why?" Misato can only know one thing that can only make her friend truly excited.

"Have you seen Unit-06?"

"Yeah, that creepy thing. I swear this whole thing gets weirder and weirder. And I thought giving Abrahamic religious codenames was bad enough."

"From what I hear, She has abilities on par with Unit-01, but is slightly more offensive in terms of power and speed." Ritusko smiled as she remembers other, more technical information that Misato would not understand, that make it as seem like the doll that she always wanted for Christmas but never did. "She is a remarkable model! I would love to see Her and Unit-01 in action together!" She was starting to become frighteningly out of character. Her behavior now reminded Misato of Mari and Kensuke who always squeal in joy when the latest gadget hits store. She could never understand nerds.

"Hello, paging Dr. Akagi, you seem to forget we have to choose an Eva in storage?"

"Oh right." As quick as the speed of light, Ritsuko joy was killed. "The problem is each Eva has a pros and cons about them... besides, as you recall, we may not have the rights to have Mari and Asuka."

"Still working for the Euro Union branch of course." Misato said. "They only lead them to us as we needed back up. But now that we have more than what the law has required us to do."

"Pretty soon they will be saying that each country must have three with no SPARES." Ritsuko shook her head. "Europe will be chewing our asses for that they don't have anyone to protect them."

"So far the Angels have been coming to us as we have the one thing they have..." Misato was uncomfortable the fact they had Lilith in Central Dogma, but it without Her, the link between the pilots and the Evangelion cannot have existed. Her blood provides the LCL for the cockpits of each one.

"Not to change the subject Misato, but I hear Panslavia has enter yet another controversy regarding the Jet Alone Project."

"Didn't you say the name was "Smok"? The Polish word for "dragon"?"

"It is, but they are not ready to release the name yet. Fearing it might upset the locals. It seems that, in order to bring the beast to life, they are going to use nuclear power that will be in the core of the poor bastard, along with an AI to control its mind. I am telling you they have no regard for the dead."

"Only a fool can think of putting an AI and nuclear power in a monster like that; no regard for the dead? Is it a bit better than being born as a puppet like the Eva?"

Smok, or as it is known from its codename "Jet Alone", was the work of the Panslavia, an international government that was made up of several European countries of Slavic in origin such as Russia and Poland. This formation was created as the result between the European Union and Russia over the dire situations that occurred after the Second Impact; Russia felt that the EU wasn't doing enough to protect their interests globally and the fact that the EU was more focused on Project E. It had almost resulted in another World War III, but Russia did something that was arguably a smart move. Other eastern European countries were in much more dire need as the climate change and several protests had made the Russians use it as a tool. By promoting the pride and the achievements of the Slavic culture and promising a better future, less than two years nearly all the Slavic nations joined into another union of the Old World. And as luck would have it, the giant body of a dragon was found in Poland in which Russia claimed to be the body of the dragon that had threaten Warsaw can now be used to protect them from the threat of Angels and bring back the days before the Impact. As an alternative to the Evangelion, the dragon could function without the use of a child and run on nuclear power, which will be cheaper to use and the money save could save human lives. This of course was without controversy as critics say that Russia is really doing this for their own goals; others say it's like history is repeating itself and mockingly called Panslavia "Soviet II"; the dragon could create a nuclear meltdown and destroy mankind; more or less better than Evangelion and few other things. While the nations under Panslavia are still members of the European Union, it had been question if the EU could ban their memberships. And there are of course many people within the Panslavian nations that still feel the grudge that Russia had treated them in the past and thus have been divided amongst themselves. For the moment now they just want to get this nightmare over with and not to prevent a war.

"Well," Ritsuko said "I can see your point." The fake blonde stared out through the window and had pondered the thoughts of the ethics of their research. Sure the Evangelions were, biologically speaking, "human", and such would surely have Nerv's ass being chewed off by the humanitarian rights organizations. Especially that they were born to be slaves, slaves without their own freewill and be the mercy of the enemy. Of course to some this was paled to the fact that children were the only ones to pull this off. Many critics called this worse than child slavery and labor and many demanded to have older people to do this. But many had fail to realize that Nerv would love to have adults (especially soldiers) rather than young children who never had held a real gun in their life. Yet they're two factors that the Evangelions need 14/15 year old children. One was the age as the Evangelions themselves are also, biologically speaking, "teenagers" and like cloned animals that appear young, but their organs are already those at the end of their line, the Evangelions could not function properly when the adult's physiology comes to play. With a human child's physiology however the problem is absent in the Evangelion. The second, which contrary to popular belief, not all children can be pilots. It was discovered that in addition to the physiology of the child, the Evangelions required a certain blood type as well. That blood type is the rare AB negative; no one knows why but it had been a pain to Nerv to scout for children who contain this blood type. That is why two of Shinji's friends Kensuke and Hikari for example, despite being the right age of being a pilot (and Kensuke determination of being a pilot), don't have AB negative and thus not allowing them to be Evangelion pilots. But the problem doesn't end there as once the proper has been found, there are legal issues to be content to. In fact, during Nerv's time they had found twenty children that matched the criteria and could have been pilots but with international laws concerning the welfare of minors, majority of these children Nerv was unable to use. Only six out of the twenty were allowed because five of them had some connection to relatives in the project and Toji was the only caregiver his sister had which prompt him to be a pilot in return for the medical treatment of his sister. Overall selecting a pilot is not an easy process.

Their time was almost up as there was slow change of seasons of the gay men to the young adults that were now pouring in. A harem of girls was screaming in delight as a proud, muscular man had approached them and offers all of them a drink. Ritsuko watched and she could not understand the courtship of her species. But before Ritsuko could continue being in her thoughts, Misato's phone was ringing. Her ringtone was the roar of King Ghidorah, a ringtone that had often had Ritsuko question her why she had the annoying screeching chuckles of monster.

"Hello?" Misato said.

"Is this Major Katsuragi?" The voice asked from the other line the accent being a heavy Illinois accent. His voice nearly sounded familiar to Misato but could not figure why.

"Yes who is this?"

"Dr. Taylor Langley, head scientist of the EU branch of Nerf." Misato nearly dropped her phone.

"Dr. Langley?" Ritsuko's eyes open in sudden interest.

"Yes," Dr. Langley replied in an annoyed tone "As a messenger of my commander and as well as of Europe, we would like to have our Evangelion Units and our pilots back." Misato moaned mentally as already within six hours of Unit-06's arrival Europe wants Unit-02 and Unit-08 back. "We would also like to have Unit-06 and the Sixth Child as well."

"Wait, what? We just got it!" Misato could tell the man from the other line was huffing; Dr. Langley was a no nonsense type of man.

"Is Dr. Akagi there?" Misato handed the phone to Ritsuko.

"Yes this is Dr. Akagi; I am guessing that you want your daughters back?"

"Yes and Unit-06." Dr. Langley responded.

"You also want Unit-06?" The blonde's soul was crushed as she wanted to see the new member of the team in action.

"Yes and for good reason. There has been a fog of unease all over this madness of the Jet Alone project. We fear something could go wrong in the testing."

"Testing?" Ritsuko asked as she lidded another cigarette and smoked.

"Yes we had received news that the Jet Alone or Smok what ever you wanna call that disgrace will be testing in Poland in about two weeks. Figuring that it will excite the people there of their cultural pride. However Germany is concern that if something goes astray as I mention, this thing could attack us or those fools... perhaps even the whole damned world. You agree Doctor?"

"Yes." Ritsuko said. Misato was in the shadows as she tries to make out what Langley was saying by putting her ear close to the cellphone.

"And since you already way over the limit and Unit-00 is working as well as getting Unit-03, you wouldn't mind this transaction at all, right?"

"No not a problem at all." Ritsuko said though still annoyed that Unit-06 won't be under their grasp of power; smoke was puffing from her nostrils like a scorned dragon.

"Terrific. We will let you know when we want them. Thank you for your time." He hanged up. Ritsuko handed the phone back to Misato and smoke her last one before leaving. By now it was all young, stupid adults partying and drinking and the moon was finally out.

"Well damned the dragon." That was all Ritsuko had to say and subdued the smoke into a valley of nothing.

Mari was in the bathtub; the bathtub has been joked that it had the power for Mari and her roommates to think clearly and come up with the philosophical ideas of the human nature. Indeed, it was the only moment of the day other than waking up from sleep that was Mari's only moment of peace and mind. The water gently caressed her soft skin and numbed her body a bit. While she prefer the feeling of LCL on her skin, water was good enough as a substitute for her. And unlike LCL, water allowed Mari to think everything and not having to concentrate on a narrow mind. And if no one is around, like the one tonight, she often had talked many things to herself out loud.

"I hope Rei is feeling better." Mari said as stared at the ceiling in the bathroom. It had a dull yellow color has a shirt. "Rei is so prone of being absent for such periods of time, that I often fear that she might be ill. Even worse is that Shinji really worries about her... he has gotten so close to her, why it would be a damn shame if something bad would have happen to her. They'd make a lovely cute couple." Mari chuckled softly to herself. She peered down at the glare that was on the water's surface. "And Toji and Hikari, Misato and Kaji, those pairs are some of the funniest but yet bittersweet couples I have ever met... even if Misato hates Kaji." She closed her eyes and a mental picture of her and Asuka as little girls popped up. "You and I would often have dreamed of being swept away by a courageous, strong and handsome prince... And as usual it would Kaji." She opened her eyes and moaned. Asuka hasn't yet got back from Hikari after ditching Kaji from Nerv. Whenever Asuka was angry or upset with Mari or her, she would go to Hikari and play video games all night before passing out in her place. Shinji was out with Toji and Kensuke watching a highly anticipated movie they had been waiting for months. They had offer Mari to come but she politely turned down the offer. It's not like she doesn't want to be with others but she wasn't in the mood after what happen to Asuka today. And speaking of today, it was pretty cool to see Kaworu getting a high score and to see Mark. Her distinctive features still had linger on in Mari's head; the dry ivory bird skull, the lean and black athletic body and the smell... the smell... it smelled of blood and death. The more she is thinking about it, the more she had realized that for her incredible sense of smell, how could she have not noticed it the first time? Was Her appearance really that ionic in her memory? "Creepy... Well I guess I will talk about you Kaworu Nagisa... I wonder what else is there to know." She remembered the boy's key characteristics: the grey hair; the red eyes; the pale skin; the eccentric charming manner. Enough to reassure Mari that Kaworu won't be a living nightmare both at school and at work. "I wonder if he has any cute quirks other than his quiet disposition." Earlier today before the tests Mari had asked Misato if there was any information about him. Sadly even Misato doesn't know much about him; his past is just as mysterious as his nature. All records of Kaworu Nagisa seemed to have been with time. The only thing they know was that of his birth the same day as Second Impact.

She had kept the house phone by the bathtub in case if Asuka, Shinji, Misato or anybody else would call her. Speaking of the evil the phone rang. She had reached over to pick it up and right away knew who it was based on the I.D.

"Hey Fawn."

"Hey Mari, how was the tests? Did it go well?"

"Better be careful, this wire could be monitor by the service men."

"Oh they scratch their asses with a broken bottle; for all they know I could be talking about a make-up test."

"Well it's not the same as a written test so I still have the usual score. But boy what a day it was."

"Oh boy... your sister right?"

"Shit my sister, I love her, but Goddamnit she is such a dreamer." Mari could hear Fawn stifle a cough.

"No fooling I am glad you are the one that is saying this." Mari groaned as the words roll slowly in her ears.

"That's her problem; Asuka always had such high expectations... unrealistic ones in deed. You know what she did?"

"What?"

"Well remember Kaworu?" Fawn giggled and went "oh" really loud which Mari ignored and Fawn decided to go her room to be comfy as she left her kitchen with the phone.

"Well it turns out he too is a pilot and when we did the testing, he had a perfect score. So perfect it was at the maximum range at the scale. And we all know Asuka, she made a scene."

"Oh boy... where is she?" Fawn reached to her matt and laid on its softness with her stuff animals surrounding all over her. They appeared to have been ears dropping too.

"You remember our friend Hikari? Well whenever she is really upset... like really she would crash at her place. I just wish she can grow up a bit."

"Well... at least she wasn't biting your ass about you and Kaworu."

"Oh that was the next thing. She has in her head that Kaworu is the one. I barely even know the guy... other than he has a pretty wick Evangelion."

"I thought your sister doesn't mind having a male on par with you two?" Mari scratched her hair.

"She is all over the place... they can be smart as long as they are not "weird/perverse" and "arrogant"." Mari's voice was getting a bit

"Wow I never hear you so pissed before?"

"Oh trust me; you have no idea what I am like when I am really angry." Sensing the conversation was already making Mari worked up, Fawn plan to change the subject.

"So, what are you doing tonight?" Fawn asked. While she is on the phone Fawn pulled out her magazine of the latest fashion for the year and hot boy bands. Perhaps maybe Mari would like to talk about clothing and music. But she heard once more Mari sighing on the other line.

"In the tube; all naked; probably gonna fingered myself to calm my nerves since I can't drink or smoke." Mari hissed with sarcasm though it may not be bad of an idea.

"That's very nice to know. Thank you for sharing that with me." Fawn said rolling her eyes. Mari chuckled a bit on the other line. "So based on these past two days, what do you think of him?" Kaworu's distinctive appearance in Mari's head had come again. His sweet grin and gentle red eyes flashing at her once more mentally. But most of all it was his scent the smell of LCL. Mari thought for a moment she felt a tingle in her body, but she thought it was nothing. It did however calm her down a bit.

"Well as I said, I really don't know him that much. I mean he seems to be of a nice guy. Though quiet and a bit... eccentric." Mari heard Fawn yawned on the other line.

"Humans are funny animals. In the names of life and death there is no such thing as "normal". Besides he doesn't seem as weird as the other boys in our school."

"No that he is not. Of course, as I said time will only tell."

"So I am guessing that you can't wait to work with him?" Mari paused at those words.

"Well, I don't know if I am excited about it. But it would be interesting to be working with him." She heard something tapping on the door which had been followed by a series of cooing and squawking behind the door. Mari puzzled by the sounds she checked the clock again and realized she had forgotten to feed the penguin.

"Hey Fawn can I call you back? I forgot to feed the penguin." After Fawn hanged up the phone, Mari quickly grabbed the nearest tower and wrapped around her body like a pig in a blanket. She had put her glasses on, though they were covered in steam thanks to the hot bath and opened the door. Pen Pen's head cocked on one side with his exposed cheek fluffed up, like quills of a porcupine. He alternated his head by cocking it the other way. With one eye staring both times at Mari, his bill was pointing right at her and were smacking together loudly. "Oh shit." Mari prepared herself for Pen Pen was angry. Angry that he wasn't fed and no one was paying any attention. As a punishment worthy of the Dante's Hell, the penguin charged at Mari snapping his bill like a snarling dog. Mari trying to hold her towel was bit really hard by the beak causing her to drop the towel. Now nude, Mari grabbed the chair trying to shoo the blasted bird away from her. Several times she kept shouting at him that he will be fed, but that had proven to be useless against him lunging at the chair. For such a relatively small bird, Pen Pen sure dropped the chair as he jumped on it. Then came a game of cat and mouse as the bird chased Mari all over the house; jumping over furniture; running on the counter; throwing pillows, it was madness. With him acting like this there was no way that Mari could reach to the kitchen. Luck would have it, Shinji came through the door.

"Hey I'm... What the Hell is going on?" He screamed as the hellbend penguin was now running towards him and almost had tackled him.

"I forgot to feed him!" Mari shouted back not giving a damn about Shinji seeing her nude, which that had caused Shinji another squealed.

"WHY ARE YOU NAKED?"

"He took my towel! Distract him while I get his food ready!" Without any time for Shinji to protest, Pen Pen flapping his wings as a way of challenging Shinji had charged toward and nearly stabbing him in the leg. Shinji then was throwing all the cushions and pillows at the bird to slow down his rage. Now it was Shinji's turn to be the mouse as Mari grabbed the tuna and poured the bird's favorite whisky all over. She came out and seeing that the penguin now had Shinji curled up in a ball, Mari whistles at him and quickly put the food down. Like something from the days when his ancestors the dinosaurs ruled the Earth, the bird ran squealing like a savage banshee. Reaching for the kill, the penguin devoured his meal savagely having bits and pieces of fish meat splattered all over the floor. He had a deranged look to him especially in his eyes as he was eating. Every now and then he would make quick glances at the nude girl and the pathetic boy making sure none of them will steal his food. He growled as he was swallowing every last part of his meal. As soon as he was finished, the penguin quickly became calm and a little... fluster. He was back. Pen Pen went over to see Shinji who was slowly getting up and making sure to be at a certain distance. The penguin squawked as he rubbed his head on Shinji's leg with affection. He then turns over to Mari who was still naked and purred at her sight. Pen Pen was drunk. He went over gave her leg what appeared to be a penguin hug as he purred. Mari shook her head as she gently patted his head which made the bird purred even louder. Shinji got and quickly sorted the place up and stop to give Mari her towel back covering herself at once. Once the bird settles down a bit, he went back to his freezer and past out. Mari and Shinji looked at each other and scanned at the remaining mess.

"Well looks like we'd better clean up." Shinji said. Not that the house was already a mess to begin before this event had occurred.

"Yeah, let me get some clothes on." Mari said as went to her room and dressed up quickly. It was a pink shirt with black house shorts. Shinji scratched his head unsure what seemed to have been him wanting to ask something.

"You okay?" He asked. Mari nodded though without her trademark grinning face.

"Yeah, other than getting some cuts and bruises I am fine you?" Shinji nodded. The two started to clean up the living room as it was the first place to have been hit.

"How was the movie? Did you guys enjoy it?" Mari was picking up the cushions as Shinji was fixing the couch.

"It was alright, though shoot them up movies aren't exactly my cup of tea. Heard from Asuka yet?" Mari stopped what she was doing and started to grip the pillow really hard.

"No. Hikari as usual had to call in for her. Making sure I wasn't worry..." Mari shook head. Without warning, she had flung the pillow across the room nearly hitting the house plant. "Asuka you idiot!"