Chapter 4

The Meeting

Disclaimer: I do not own anything except my mind, AND YOU'RE NOT TAKING THAT AWAY FROM ME TELEVISION!!!!

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Morning had come rather quickly for the three Riders, as they had sat up all night talking about what to do about Gendo and Blackheart. Finishing their meeting, Shinji had returned home to find that nothing was out of place, and went to work making breakfast. Kaji had returned to his apartment to get some much needed sleep. And Kouzou had to go into NERV for a morning meeting.

Sometimes the boy and older man envied the unshaven man's freedom. However, since he wasn't as 'important' to NERV as they were, it couldn't be helped.

"Morning, Shinji-kun." Misato said to Shinji as she lumbered into the kitchen.

"Morning, Misa... are alright?" he asked, noticing her disheveled look. Like she hadn't gotten an ounce of sleep.

"I just had a rough night." she answered.

"Anything you want to talk about?" he asked.

Misato didn't say anything and Shinji went back to his cooking. Until...

"Shinji, do you believe in demons?"

CLATTER!

"Shinji?"

"Uh, sorry. But... where did that question come from?" he asked, picking up the spatula.

"Oh... never mind." she said, then got a mischievous look in her eye. "Do demons scare you?"

"Well... considering we fight giant monsters and all..." he said.

"Right." she said playing it off, but getting up to sneak behind him. "But are you worried that monsters are going to come and snatch you up in the middle of the night?"

"Well... no. But what are you saying that you believe in monsters?"

"Working for NERV, I wouldn't be surprised." she said, looming over the boy. "AND I GOT YOU!" she shouted as she wrapped her arms tightly around the boy.

"AH! MISATO!" he shrieked as the woman hugged the boy.

"WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING??!!!" Asuka shouted as she emerged from the bedroom. "Why don't you go into Misato's room if you're gonna get freaky with each other?"

"Because true affection should not be hidden!" Misato joked and Shinji blushed as she held the boy tighter in her arms.

"HENTAI'S! HENTAI'S ALL OF YOU!!!" the redhead growled as she walked to the bathroom.

"She's so much fun to tease." Misato grinned.

"Yeah, and I'm probably going to get it when she gets out of there." Shinji groaned.

"Now, Shinji-kun. You just need to stand up for yourself. After all, Asuka likes the strong type."

"Like Kaji?"

"ARGH! I wouldn't call Kaji strong." the woman protested as she pulled herself away from the boy. "Besides, Asuka's just deluding herself into thinking that Kaji is her type of man."

"But she really likes him." Shinji argued.

"I know and I just don't think that..."

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" a sudden scream was heard.

"Asuka?" Misato gasped as both she and Shinji ran to the bathroom. "Asuka? ASUKA!" she shouted as she pounded on the door.

"Here. Let me." Shinji said as he gripped the door knob and forced the door open.

"Whoa. When did you get muscle?" Misato asked as she moved ahead of the boy.

Inside the pair found Asuka on the floor, hugging her shoulders.

"Asuka? What's wrong?" Misato asked.

"...it was a dream, it was only a dream, only a dream..." the redhead was muttering to herself.

"Asuka?" Shinji spoke up.

The redhead looked up and saw Shinji and Misato staring at her. Carefully, she pulled open her shirt collar to reveal a set of wounds on her shoulders.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"So... then this air trek... demon thing... carries me back to the apartment and sets me down on the balcony, jumps off of it and skates down the side of the building." Asuka said as Shinji carefully applies a bandage to the last wound.

There were six small wounds on her shoulder. Two on the front of each shoulder, and one in the back of it. Shinji couldn't help but comment that from the position of it, it looked like bird talons.

Asuka had only glared at him to shut up.

"At first I thought it was only a dream. I mean... how could something like... they were demons Misato! They were real!"

"Alright, Asuka calm down. There has to be an explanation for this. Maybe you... had an accident?"

"Oh, here we go." Shinji muttered, knowing that Asuka would take this badly.

"Do these look self-inflicted, Misato?!" the girl screamed as she pointed at the injuries.

"Fine, fine. Shinji?" she asked the boy who finished putting the touches on Asuka's dressings.

"The injuries are lite, but they should heal fine. There won't be any scars on Asuka's perfect skin." the boy smiled.

Asuka suddenly blushed at that.

"I didn't know you were such a flirt, Shinji-kun." Misato teased.

"Well, Asuka is the prettiest girl in Tokyo-3, right?" Shinji said.

Asuka stared at the boy. When had he gotten complimentary on her? Not that she didn't like it.

"Oh, what? I don't count?" Misato mock pouted.

"No. You're just the prettiest woman in Tokyo-3." he grinned.

"Why Shinji Ikari You... Do you smell something burning?" Misato suddenly asked.

"OH NO! BREAKFAST!" Shinji shouted as he ran back to the stove.

"Silly baka." Asuka smiled as she absently rubbed her cared-for shoulders.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"Misato, have you been drinking again?" Ritsuko Akagi asked as she walked down the halls of NERV with the purple-haired captain.

"Hey! This happened before I could tie one on, Ritz." Misato replied.

After dropping Shinji and Asuka off at school, Misato had reported to NERV and told Ritsuko all about what happened last night. Naturally, when Ritsuko had heard about what happened to Misato she was skeptical as hell.

"And what about the garage?" Misato asked.

"What about the garage?" Ritsuko asked.

"Security found traces of sulfur in the very place I was attacked."

"Misato, we work for NERV. Dangerous chemicals abound here." she said offhandedly.

"And what about the tire marks?" Misato asked.

"So there's someone in NERV who owns a motorcycle and drives like you do."

"Ritsuko, we're talking about sulfur. As in... brimstone." he said, clutching her cross pendant.

"You know, it's bad enough we've got the Angels to deal with, but now you want to bring demons and monsters into this?" the scientist asked. "And since when did you believe in these things?"

"Hey! Seeing is believing. Asuka believes in it too!" she snapped.

"The Second Child could have gotten those injuries from any number of places." Ritsuko argued.

"Then why would she make up a story about flying monsters and burning skull faced demons?"

"Well... she could have gotten into your stash after watching a horror movie." the blond argued.

"ARGH! You know what? Never mind!" Misato huffed as she walked away.

(Sigh) "Next thing she's going to say is that Second Impact was caused by demons." the blond said as she headed to her own work station.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Misato huffed as she plopped herself down in her chair.

"With everything we've been through, how can she not believe me?" she asked herself.

"Believe you about what, Katsuragi?" Kaji asked as she poked his head into the woman's office.

"Kaji! The last person I wanted to see." she huffed.

"Oh, you wound me, my lady!" he said playfully. "You alright? You look like you were up late."

"Long story." she said, then tuned serious. "Kaji, can I ask you something?"

"Yes, I'll marry you." he teased.

"AS IF!" she spat back, restraining herself from throwing her stapler at him. "I want to ask you a hypothetical question."

"A hypothetical question? Alright, I'm game." he said as he sat in the chair on the other side of the woman's desk.

"Do you think it's possible for demons to exist?" she asked.

Kaji raised an eyebrow at that.

"Are we talking the demons that haunt your past, or real demons made of fire and brimstone?" he asked.

"The latter." she said.

"Oooookay." he replied, wondering how bad this conversation was going to go.

On the one hand he couldn't tell her that he technically was a demon. But on the other hand, he didn't want to seem as if he was making fun of her.

"Well... being in the employ of NERV I've seen a lot of things. And I've tried to keep an open mind about the supernatural." he started.

"So you believe in demons and monsters." she asked.

"Well, yes. I figure it's safer that way."

"Safer?" she asked confused.

"Think about it, Misato. You take ninja's for example. It has been clearly documented that ninjas once existed, even though their myth, which has often been played up, have attributed them many supernatural powers and such. Basically, if you know that ninja's exist, then you know what to do in order to protect yourself from them. But if you don't believe they exist, then you don't make any special plans or preparations, and you leave yourself vulnerable." he explained. "If you think about it, that's how we got NERV, right? To protect ourselves against the Angels."

Misato balked, not sure if Kaji was teasing her about this, but realizing that what he said made sense.

"So... I'm better off just being prepared and keeping an open mind, is that it?" Misato asked.

"Pretty much." Kaji said. "Especially about... certain people." he smiled.

Misato grinned at the man. "You just don't quit, do you?"

"Well, I like to think that persistence is one of my defining virtues." he said.

"Fine." she conceded. "But you could still take a lesson from Shinji."

"Shinji? What could our humble Third Child teach me?" he asked.

"Oh... proper grooming techniques?" she asked, pointing to her chin to emphasis his own stubble.

"Hey!" he protested.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The day passed without incident, until about 9:00 at night, when Shinji received a call.

"Hello? Katsuragi/Sohryu/Ikari residence." Shinji said as he answered the phone. "Oh. Yes. Of course I can. Thank you for calling." he said as he hung up the phone.

"Who was that Shinji-kun?" Misato asked.

"The sub-commander. He said he wanted me to come into NERV for something."

"Something? He didn't say what?"

"No, he didn't."

"Strange. The sub-commander doesn't usually handle things himself. But... orders are orders."

"Right. I'll be back as soon as I can." Shinji said as he grabbed his jacket and headed out.

"Where's Shinji going?" Asuka asked as she stepped out of the shower.

"NERV. Sub-commander called him in for something." Misato said as she downed another beer.

"And you didn't ask what for?"

"No."

"Argh! Some guardian you are." she spat, then noticed the odd collection of books that Misato was reading. "What's this? 'The Complete Dictionary of Demons'? 'The Encyclopedia Of The Occult'? 'The Book of Brimstone'? What the heck!"

"Just... doing a little research." Misato chuckled.

"So you believe me about the winged creature and the burning skull air trek guy."

"I wasn't sure at first. But after careful thought, I figured better to be prepared."

"Hmm. Let me look at that." Asuka said, snatching up the 'Book of Brimstone'.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(NERV HQ)

In a darkened hallway, three people were meeting in private.

"Good. We're all here." Fuyutsuki said as Shinji finally arrived.

"We were worried you wouldn't make it." Kaji said to the boy.

"Sorry. I came as soon as I could." Shinji said.

"So.. What's the plan?" the unshaven man asked.

"Honestly... I don't know. If we go to Gendo and confront him about this matter... it could go badly. And I'm not sure if we should go in as our... other selves." the older man said.

"Right. He could have us locked up for insanity... or killed as we are." Kaji said.

"But he can't. I mean... we're not... human... any... more... ARGH!" Shinji cried, grabbing his stomach and doubling over in pain.

"Shinji?" Kaji gasped.

The boy turned his head up and looked at the pair... his eyes on fire.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(Gendo's office)

Ritsuko had been summoned to NERV for another late night meeting with the commander. However it hadn't lasted long, as it never did in her opinion, as the woman found herself in a vulnerable spot when a trio of odd looking creatures emerged from the shadows just as Gendo finished.

"Commander! What's going on?" the faux-blond asked as she tried to cover herself with her coat.

"My friends want to play with you." the bearded man said, his eyes glowing.

"No. No You Can't!" she screamed.

The creatures consisted of a large beast that was human from the waist up, but from the waist down it was a giant spider-like creature. The second creature looked more human, but with a wasps wings and a stinger protruding from it's back. The third creature looked like weird Viking corpse with a very large axe, it's skin looking rotted and half gone.

The trio advanced upon the woman.

"You... you can't! You need me!" Ritsuko cried out.

"I'm sure Miss Ibuki will be happy to fill in for you." Gendo grinned as he backed away.

Suddenly, the doors to Gendo's office exploded open as a trio of flame-skull individuals roared into the large, dark office.

"What?" Gendo gasped as the figures assembled. There was a skeleton samurai atop a black horse that stood between a leather-clad biker on a fire-wheeled motorcycle and a teenage looking roller blader.

"We Request An Audience With The Commander Of NERV!" the Phantom Rider said.

"But First..." Ghost Rider said as the creatures who were about to attack Ritsuko lunged at the Riders.

"Dibs On The Insect!" Soul Rider said as he shot ahead of the other two, easily dodging between the man-spider and the Viking to shoot into the air to kick down the insect man.

The creature slammed into the wall and slid to the ground as Soul Rider landed and turned to see Ritsuko... exposed to the air.

"Whoa." he gasped as he noticed her figure.

"OH!" the blond woman gasped as she covered herself back up.

However, this distraction was all that was necessary for the insect man to slap the fiery storm rider with it's tail.

Soul Rider skidded across the office floor, before back flipping onto his feet.

"Alright. That... Was Just Rude!" he said as he shot back towards the creature.

Meanwhile, Phantom Rider had dismounted Enton and was trading swords with axes.

"Long Have I Sought To Know Who Would Win Between The Skill Of The Samurai and the Brute Force Of The Viking!" Phantom Rider said as he slammed his fiery sword against the Viking's axe. "But Know You Will Not Win This Day! You Have No Soul Of Your Own, And I Am The One To Offer You Your Peace!"

"Could You Fight More And Talk Less?" Ghost Rider shouted as he had leaped off his bike and was using his chain to lasso the giant spider creature, and was now riding it like a bull. "Oh Just Give Up Would You?"

Soul Rider leaped into the air and rebounded off the walls, spinning and twisting in the air to confuse and then strike at the insect creature. The impact was enough to stun the creature, giving Soul Rider the advantage to drop right on top of it's back and slam it into the floor. He jumped off it's back as the insects tail tried to sting him. When it came around to another pass, Soul Rider grabbed the tail and lifted it off the ground, tossing it hard towards the giant spider-creature.

The tail stung hard into the spider-creature, the monster shrieking before it brought it's foot down into the insect, impaling and killing it. However, the venom from the insect was enough to weaken the arachnid, allowing its movements to become less animated and giving Ghost Rider the chance he needed to transform his chain into spear and shoot it directly through the spider's heart.

Phantom Rider knocked the Viking's axe out of his hands and quickly flew at the corpse, slicing it's head off with amazing quickness.

The three creatures dissipated into nothing as Phantom Rider moved towards Ritsuko.

"Are You Alright, Dr Akagi?" the samurai asked the woman.

"Y...yes." she replied, unblinking at the events that just happened in front of her. "You... know my name?"

"I Do. I Will Take You Home Now." he said as he carefully picked the woman up in his arms as Enton came over to him.

Phantom Rider lifted the unsettled scientist onto the saddle of his fiery steed as Soul Rider looked off to the side. He pointed to the shadows as Ghost Rider lashed out his chains, catching something.

"Looks Like I Caught Something." Ghost Rider said as he pulled on the chain, to reveal he had caught himself a Gendo.

"Looks Pretty Small. Might Want To Throw Him Back." Soul Rider exclaimed.

Phantom Rider stepped up to the bearded man as he was bound.

"Listen Closely Gendo Ikari." the samurai spoke. "We Know About Your Plan To Initiate A Third Impact Upon The World. We Also Know Who Is Behind It. Know That We Will Not Allow This To Come To Pass. We Will Not Allow The World To Fall To Darkness And Ruin. The Souls Of Three Billion Innocent Souls Cry Out For Justice. And We Are Here To Deliver It!"

Suddenly, the eye-less holes in his head started to glow, as if a fire from within his skull was being pushed towards the only possible exit. But instead of fire, a beam of blinding white light shot forth and enveloped the grim commander of NERV.

In an instant, Gendo Ikari was overwhelmed with such intense pain and suffering, thrashing wildly in Ghost Rider's chains.

The Penance Stare that Phantom Rider used is capable of making a person feel the pain and suffering that they have inflicted upon others, only amplified to more than a hundred times.

And in Gendo's case... it was nearly astronomical.

The blood-curdling screams of the once feared commander of NERV filled the metal halls of the base and echoed out into the Geofront, making Ritsuko's heart nearly stop. And so intense were these feelings that Gendo passed out from sheer exhaustion. However, he would never be rid of these feelings for as long as he lived.

Ghost Rider unchained the man, letting him drop to the floor, twitching like a dying roach.

"Let Us Away!" Phantom Rider said as he leaped onto his horse with Ritsuko sitting right in front of him.

Soul Rider sped out first, followed by Ghost Rider, and lastly by Phantom Rider and a completely stunned Ritsuko Akagi.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

A knock on the door at nearly 11:00 caught Misato and Asuka by surprise.

And naturally, Misato went to answer it.

"Ritsuko?" the purple-haired woman gasped as she noticed the ruffled looking blond scientist at her door.

"I believe you, Misato." was all she said, and then collapsed into the woman's arms.

"Ritsuko!" Misato screamed as she helped the woman inside.

It was right then that Shinji appeared in the door way.

"Hey, Misato, I'm... Dr Akagi?" the boy gasped.

"Shinji help me here!" Misato said.

The pair helped the woman into the apartment, closing the door behind them as a pair of fiery figures just looked on.

"We Could Have Just Taken Her Home." Ghost Rider said to his companion.

"True. But She Wanted To Go And See Misato. After What She Had Been Through Tonight, I Thought This Was Best." Phantom Rider said.

"I Won't Argue With That. But... The Night Is Young, And I'm Tired As..."

"Don't Even Say It!" the samurai snapped.

"Wouldn't Dream Of It." the biker grinned.

Or best as a flaming skull man could.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Author's Notes:

Well, here's chapter number 4.

Hope everyone liked it.

I had all three of the Riders introduce themselves to Gendo, who is obviously being controlled by Blackheart, I had a fight between the Riders and three more of Blackheart's minions, I had Shinji being nicer to Asuka and even complimenting her, Kaji helping out Misato, and Fuyutsuki helping out Ritsuko... in a way.

Not a lot of Fuyutsuki/Ritsuko interactions in this chapter. But I promise more later.

Also, the Penance Stare is one of Ghost Rider's primary powers used to make people feel the pain they have caused others, only to a heightened level, I felt was necessary for Gendo to have happen to him.

Hope everyone enjoyed that.

Next chapter... Blackheart steps up his monster attacks in order to find out who the new Riders are, and the couples start getting closer to each other.

And as always... Read and Review.