Standard Disclaimer
Man, lately whenever I try to write something gets in the way and prevents it. Sorry about that, but life is being funny with me lately. Work is…well work is being extra cruel so that does suck the drive to do anything productive at home right out the PS3/Xbox/PC. I'll try to get better, anyway here is the next installment of this little ditty.
X-X
The Friend of my Enemy
Chapter – 2
Setting Himari's plate down in front of the kimono clad woman, Shinji tried not to stare at the elegant adornment. It was a strange morning to match an equally strange evening to be sure. He was going to have to apologize to Chizuru for passing out and missing his meeting with her, that was his second priority. The only viable excuse for everything was he hyperventilated outside the music room, Himari saved him, and he fused the two women and had his little dream of Chizuru. It was impossible for more than one animal eared woman, more than that would just be silly.
Rubbing her forehead, Misato clenched her coffee mug, she only put a little rum in it, tightly. "Ok just because I'm not fully awake, even after seeing your little show, would you mind explaining yourself to me young lady? Oh and try not to sound insane or anything because one call too Section-2 and you and your sword are gone," the woman's tone was no-nonsense and firm. The rest of Misato however was already showing signs of wanting to crawl back into bed.
Handing Misato her breakfast, Shinji sat down across from the classical beauty that just entered his life. "M-Misato-san, Noihara-san did show us her ears and tail. I had an allergic reaction to them so that means they have to be real," he tried to sort out the why and how internally. As he met eyes with the vision she smiled softly at him and he found he had to look away. Meekly he added, "What I can't understand is why you'd be here."
Expertly handling her chopsticks, Himari sampled not only her food but a tiny portion of Shinji's as well. "Your stock hasn't been poisoned, it is safe for you to dine. As for myself, young Master, I would request you not be so formal with yon servant. I, Noihara Himari, am at you service as my ancestors have served the Ikari since ages past. I shan't be called such a formal title by my lord. Himari or servant shall be sufficient," she bowed her head lightly before attacking her food in earnest.
"Poisoned food? Are you insinuating I can't cook or something?" Misato gaped after slamming her own chopsticks down. Pushing herself up, hands gripping the table ledge, Misato growled at the strange girl. Snorting out her nose briskly, "And what is with that odd tone of voice you have. Don't you know we don't speak that way any longer?" Edging closer to the girl, Misato stopped when Himari's fingers seemingly teleported around her wrist.
With a playful smirk Himari proved she wasn't always so formal, "I have heard of your cooking before. Had you been the provided of yon feast I'd have opposed the young Master from supping. But as it was he that provided the banquet I was merely insuring no lower demon took to cowards tricks." After her show of speed, Himari released Misato only to claim her steaming cup of tea and an undignified slurp.
It was a joke, had to be a damn joke, only Misato was going a lot further than she normally did. Things like cat-girls, demons, and the like were fairy tales or stories not reality! Uncomfortable speaking to the center of Misato's elaborate ruse, "H-Himari-san, why don't you just tell us the truth about this. I-if Misato-san put you up to this as a joke or something just come clean so I can get ready for school in peace." He had a full day of fearing meeting Chizuru to look forward too. Such a shame, the girl was truly crafted by some perverse god and might have liked him had he not stood her up.
"I do not jest, young Master," Himari set her cup down. Getting out of her chair she rounded the table so smoothly it was as if she was flying. Bending down on one knee, hand to her chest, Himari bowed to her master. "I have trained to serve you since my birth, as my kin hath done for generations. The head of the Ikari-clan spared the life of one of my clan and an oath of fealty was placed. Upon that noble act we were sworn to serve all slayers of the Ikari banner. Your time hast come two seasons early unexpectedly regrettably." Himari's face was marred with momentary anger as she mentioned the last bit.
Gripping Himari by the shoulders, Misato roughly forced the girl to her feet and started herding her towards the door. "Ok, I've had enough of this bullshit. Shinji call the cops, this girl is crazy. The ears and tail must be some elaborate device she made, or maybe I drank a lot more than I thought I did last night. I've heard enough of her insane ramblings," Misato ordered as she continued to push. Once she got to the door to the kitchen however, Misato found no matter of force would move the waif of a girl.
Shinji just watched as Himari stood stock still as Misato applied her shoulder to the girl and shoved. Nothing happened, Misato was incapable of any act against the girl. "Misato-san I think she's telling the truth…but could you not call me 'young master'?" Shinji gingerly requested. Sliding out of his seat, he put his arms out as a sign of peace. It might be insanity, but with no other alternative it had to be reality. "Himari-san, Misato-san is just having a hard time with this…I don't know why I'm not either to be honest," he ever so slowly stuck his hand out.
As if Misato didn't exist, the larger woman's efforts went to naught as Himari lightly turned to face Shinji. With her body shifted, Misato found herself falling flat on her face as her force went unopposed. "Shinji-sama is far wiser than his companion. Though in this current age, it is not a matter to take lightly. My kind has taken to the shadows and shies away from humanity. Old grudges were slain in the catastrophe of fourteen seasons past. Though the same has been said of all but a scant few of the old slayer clans, which is the problem," Himari wrapped her hand around Shinji's and gave it a firm grip.
Pushing herself off the ground, Misato pinched her nose and wiggled it. Wincing as the pain she elicited was greater than expected, Misato frowned deeply. "Ok, that was almost impossible, I'm not a heavyweight, but you are defiantly a light weight," Misato had the look of somebody not wanting to accept a regrettable fact. Grabbing her coffee, Misato took a deep swig, "So how about you tell us all of this before I assume this is all a dream and do all the things I normally do in dreams."
In a swift yet deliberate action, Himari twirled around Shinji's body pressing herself against him all the while. "Young M, Shinji-sama is much more toned than expected," she teased. Wrapping her arms possessively around her lord, Himari sniffed the air about him deeply. "And yon scent is unmistakable. A slayer of all manner of demons. As one of the three remaining great families, Shinji-sama might be targeted by a greater or pure demon that has not yet abandoned the ancient ways," she trailed her hand to his chest. Pulling open the boy's shirt, playfully rubbing her hand against his chest, "The talisman, a gift from the late Matriarch was lost."
Blushing deep crimson, both from the close quarters and Misato being so blatantly affected by the show, Shinji stammered and fell backward. Falling back however had the side effect of feeling two very firm yet large objects press against him. Forcing himself not to think about the pert objects poking him, "I-I did lose it? I thought that was a dream. What about Grandma's charm means anything though? I-I can hardly even…even remember her," his gusto lost in the sea of regret of lost memories.
Slowly, possibly due to intention, Himari released Shinji and gathered her sword from at the foot of the table. "As I had feared, the power of such a ward has a bevy of unfortunate effects. Your memories, as the talisman clouded you from the eyes of your enemies it has clouded your mind. Fear not thought lord," Himari deftly unsheathed her blade nearly the size of the table. "I am your sword and thy shield. Until you are capable of slaying those who oppose you, and hopefully after, I shall not be far from thy side. Since my rearing I have prepared for this day, the day I place you under my protection" Himari clamped the sword back in the sheath.
"I'm not drunk enough for this shit," Misato headed to her cabinet and pulled out a bottle of tequila. Unscrewing the top, Misato set the cap on the counter, "You're telling me Shinji's ancestors were demon slayers, and now because he lost a moldy piece of paper he's going to be attacked by monsters? That's bullshit! Monsters don't exist, and if they did why haven't we seen them before now?" she poured a healthy shot into an empty mug.
All sensible questions, but Shinji wasn't thinking about that. No, his teenager mind was aflutter with the sweet smell of Himari and the phantom touch of her against him. Something about it kindled old memories in his mind, far distant, her smell it was so vaguely familiar like the memory of a dream. But that too took a side seat to the more pressing issue of, "Himari-san, do you know what happened to the talisman? W-wasn't that a dream I had yesterday with Chizuru-san?" If it wasn't, what did that mean? Chizuru wasn't human and he was apparently a demon slayer?
Fixing her displaced kimono, Himari tossed her hair over her shoulder and put the sword on the table. With more animosity in her voice than before she replied, "I cannot say precisely what you are referring to Shinji-sama as I have taken to avoiding your center of learning. For good or ill it is the den of half-breeds, demonic animals such as myself. Their purpose there is reformation, and I am not one to associate with potential opponents. When I came upon you however, it was already gone." A scowl unbecoming such a pretty face was quickly washed away.
Sitting down heavily in his chair, Shinji did the unthinkable and grabbing Misato's shot before she had a chance to knock it back. "That means it might or might not have been a dream. Chizuru said she was an animal demon before she…" he tossed back the booze and instantly felt it tearing itself down his stomach. As his mouth burned, "D-does that mean I'll have to fight her…if it wasn't a dream? C-can't I NOT fight demons and, you know, try talking to them instead?" he didn't want to fight if he didn't have to. Fighting didn't solve anything, it only killed, and if what Chizuru said was true he didn't want to kill her.
Taking the cup from Shinji, Misato lightly smacked him on the back of the head. "This isn't for minors, to much and you'll be home for the day on your ass," she followed up by pouring a double and tossing it back like a pro. "As for…whoa…sorry, as for you young lady, you're coming with me to Nerv while this little man goes to school. Whoever this Chizer..Chuzer…fuck, Chizuru is Shinji you owe me a full explanation later tonight," Misato slurred as her booze influenced breakfast kicked in. Taking the boy by the arm, Misato lead him to the door.
With her ears and tail flicking about madly, Himari was not taking Misato's affront lightly. "Why must I accompany thee to that bastion of heathens! Forcing Shinji-sama to fight their conquests while he is in dire peril? I won't abide such actions as leaving him defenseless!" Himari gripped her blade tighter and tighter as she raced behind Misato.
Seeing the ears and tail again, Shinji's eyes instantly started to water yet still found the sight strangely sexy. "H-Himari-san I need time to absorb all of this. And if what you said is even partly true the people at school are…being watched or something," he didn't really understand, hell he didn't want to accept any of it. But the proof was in the pudding, and that swishing tail wasn't vanishing any time soon. "Maybe some good will come from you going with Misato-san?" he could hope at least.
Ears pressing against her head, Himari played the scolded kitten epically. "If it is what my lord doth desire, I have naught but to obey such commands," she leaned up close to Shinji's ear. Licking his cheek she proved at when the ears were out her tongue was just like a cats, "Perhaps tonight we might finish what was started yon previous eve." She leaned back and bowed her head.
Tugging on Himari's ears, Misato found a way of getting the cat-girl's attention without brute force. "Alright hormones back in the box, and get a move on Shinji! Don't be late unless you have a good reason, and she isn't one…yet," Misato gave the girl a good glance. "If this is true though, dear god wear a condom. I don't want an apartment of kittens or babies or whatever the hell she'd spawn," Misato pushed Shinji out the door and shut it before he could react.
Walking on wobbly legs, a testament to his low tolerance, Shinji just tried to accept what he had heard. Him a demon slayer, not bloody likely even if his bloodline reeked of it. Fighting wasn't in his nature, and he wasn't going to start now. But having Himari around, well Shinji had to admit he found her pleasing company so far. Her way of speaking was soothing and still had the nagging suspicion in the back of his mind that he knew her from somewhere, somehow. "If only I could remember," he muttered as he stepped out into the sun. Hitting the street, Shinji hoped to have seen Chizuru to confirm/deny the dream suspicion but the lovely lady was nowhere to be seen.
X-X
While his stomach was rumbling and generally not a happy camper, Touji forced his black hole of a gut to abide by his wishes. Rather than rush off to throw people out of his way to get his lunch, he leisurely walked with Kensuke and Shinji. He had to know how the meeting with Chizuru went, he just had to! And thanks to Shinji's nick-of-time arrival that morning he was still waiting to know. So he let the other bastards rush off ahead of him to get in his way.
"So are you done spacing out and going to tell us how your little chat with our resident goddess went?" Touji's over eagerness wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Keeping the walk briskly moving, a fast pace that took its toll on his ankles, he couldn't totally resist his hunger. "I mean you show up late, don't talk to us over the computer, and now you're acting shy about it. Something good MUST have happened," he slapped Shinji on the back rather hard. Some people had all the luck, some people had known, but Touji didn't know which Shinji was yet.
Lurching forward due to the smack, Shinji jerked back hard to keep from falling. "I've a lot on my mind this morning, sorry," the bothered pilot said hotly. Peaking around a gaggle of approaching girls, Shinji signed, "As for Minamoto-san, I can't really say. It's all confusing and I don't know what to believe and what was just in my head." In accordance to his plight the lad's shoulders were crestfallen.
With a magazine before his eyes, Kensuke maneuvered by echolocation and side vision as he read. "You have to tell us something, man. Chizuru poked her head in the classroom this morning before you got in so something must have happened," Kensuke idly flipped his page. "You two didn't blow up the music room did you? I've got money on her brother being the guy who did that," Kensuke tore out a small section of magazine, rolled up the rest, and stuffed them into separate pockets.
Oh yeah the explosion, Touji did wonder if the hopeful couple would know something about it. He realized ages ago that Chizuru was out of his league so Touji didn't mind of somehow Shinji managed to snag her. If Shinji was already dating somebody, it was one less person to worry about his own crush. "Yeah, did you see the room go boom? That'd been fucking mind blowing. Ya almost going up in flames and shit," Touji's colorful dialogue was only a trifle distracted as they saw the lines for school lunches.
"I hate when I don't have time to make my own lunch," Shinji moaned as he got to the back of the mob of boys. "And same thing about that too. I…I think I passed out before meeting her and a…friend took me home," Shinji didn't sound very confident or even sure of himself. "Can this wait until we get something to eat?" he pleaded.
Grabbing Shinji's hand and giving it a solid bump, Touji smirked, "Going to hold you to that, Ikari. Going to get the whole story out of ya if I have to crack your skull open and read it like tea leaves." He had heard that little threat on the evening movie and was just dying to find a use for it. With his goals slightly shifted, Touji turned to his opponents. Clamping his hands together he saw a small gap between some of the other boys and made his move. Forming a wedge with his hands, he forced his way through all the other fighting boys. Pushing the smaller boys out of the way, side stepping the larger, Touji got his food a full five minutes before Shinji followed by Kensuke joined him.
"Remind me never to stand between you and food dude," Kensuke said between sucking in a lungful of air. Pushing open the door to the quad, the geek led the brigade to an unused bench and plopped down. Tossing his bread on the table, setting his can of tea down more gingerly he started, "Alright Shinji, spill the beans. Did you really not meet Chizuru, or are you just afraid to tell us that it was all a joke or something?"
Punching his right fist into he left palm, Touji wasn't big on that idea. His smaller buddies were his duty to protect, and beauty or not if Chizuru was playing Shinji well then he'd have to do something. "Yeah, you promised you'd tell us what happened and why you were so late today," it was a lie but Touji didn't care. Shinji was never late. Like Ayanami, Shinji was either early or didn't show at all. It was clear evidence that something happened if Touji ever saw it.
Unwrapping the bread, Shinji looked at it with disgust, "I don't know how you guys can stomach this stuff. I could make you food if you wanted." He picked up the meat filled bread, soggy and dripping an unknown fluid, with two fingers before taking a tentative bite. "I stand corrected, it looks horrible, likely is bad for me, but…" he took another bite before setting it down. "As for yesterday I told you all I know really. I think I must have passed out, nerves or something, and my uh…Section-2 guard took me home," his voice had as much belief in it as his face, next to none.
Taking a much larger bite out of his afternoon repast, Touji rolled his eyes. He hadn't known Shinji for long, but Touji knew the boy was a terrible liar. "Dude if she told you off, or said she wanted to date you for status points or something don't fret it. I mean saying you fainted makes you sound like a damn wuss like Kensuke! No way you'd be that way and still pilot that beast," Touji chased his spittle laden diatribe with a shot of water.
As Shinji opened his mouth, Kensuke preempted the pilot, "Hey is it just me or is Ayanami totally watching us eat?" Pointing across the quad to another table, Kensuke's finger was jutting exactly at Ayanami Rei. Said female pilot was sitting at an empty bench with naught but a piece of bread in her hands and staring blatantly at the dining trio. Switching fingers from Rei to Shinji, Kensuke couldn't help himself, "Dude you got something going on with Icy McStoneface?"
Popping the last of his food into his mouth, Shinji licked his fingers in a show of appreciating to unhealthy junk food. "Ayanami-san is likely just keeping tabs on me. After the runaway incident I bet she was ordered to report signs I'd do it again. And I'm telling you the truth Touji. And even if I hadn't passed out, my memories of the meeting have to have been jumbled. What I remember is impossible…I hope," the lad whispered the last declaration but just an octave to high to avoid Touji's hearing.
Tossing his garbage in the nearby can, Touji stood up and popped a few vertebrae. If Shinji didn't want to talk about it, he was going to let it slide. Hopes of a Chizuru and Ikari pairing were dashed unfortunately. "Whatever man, guess if Chizuru doesn't want you Ayanami might. Girl never watches anybody and this is the second time we caught her looking at ya," he rubbed his belly contently. His hand stopped mid-cycle as a familiar and coveted form skipped down the path towards them.
Leaping at Shinji, Chizuru wrapped her arms around his chest and picked him into the air. Twirling around, Shinji's legs nearly hitting Kensuke, she cooed, "Shin-chan! You're a bad boy not walking me to school today. And after we pledged ourselves to one another! What of our evening of love?" The girl's voice echoed throughout the quad causing many a head to turn. "You're going to have to make it up to me tonight you bad boy," she gaily continued her frolicking as Shinji just let himself be held.
"He lied to us!" Kensuke fumed as he adjusted his glasses. Taking out his camera, the geek took several incriminating pictures of the apparent new couple. "I don't believe it, that girl is all over him," Kensuke snapped a few pictures. As Chizuru stopped her twirling and hugged Shinji from behind, smashing is head in the uncanny valley, Kensuke dropped the camera. "Lucky son of a bitch," he muttered.
Slapping his knee hard, Touji couldn't help but laugh. "Guess it wasn't a dream after all was it, Ikari?" he managed to get out between tears. Shinji must have just not wanted to believe his incredible luck in landing a girl like Chizuru. Judging from the dopy half hidden grin on Shinji's face, Touji was a little confused. That wasn't the look of somebody that had a weight taken off their chest, it was the look of somebody with an additional weight added. "Maybe there is something to his little dream story," Touji mused before nosebleeding.
Chizuru planted a firm open mouth kiss on Shinji in full view of everybody, and she got very into it before Asahina broke them up. Damn Asahina was always around him it seemed, almost as if the girl were tailing him!
X-X
Shielding her eyes from the faux light of the Geo-Front, Ritsuko stumbled over some foliage as she came up behind Misato. Damn woman was avoiding doing her work all day and they had the damn Jet Alone conference to plan for. It was a week out yet sure, but with Misato the screws had to be applied often and hard to get the woman to work. Holding her breath, Ritsuko let her hands fly as she grabbed the overly concentrating target's sides. Misato nearly jumped out of her skin.
That little startle made the whole trip worth it in Ritsuko's book. Laughing heartily she asked, "So what brings you out here and away from all the work we need to do? Oh and why are you cycling all the Section-2 agents out here?" Cringing away from the volatile woman, Ritsuko wasn't willing to get within strike range. Taking in the sights, the scientist was a little unnerved to see a young kimono clad woman staring down one of the larger American guards. Pointing at the spectacle, "What is that?"
In a show of maturity, Misato pouted and kicked at the ground as her embarrassment sated. "That is a girl that has requested to be Shinji-kun's personal bodyguard," Misato crossed her arms under her chest. Bouncing from one foot to the other, the captain wasn't fidgeting in every known way. As her foot tapped against the ground added, "Why are you out here anyway?"
A teenage girl requesting to be a Child's bodyguard, that was a laugh and a half. "You didn't hire this girl to be Ikari-kun's girlfriend did you? I know you were thinking about something like this yesterday, but seriously you can't expect me to take you seriously," Ritsuko wasn't that stupid. This was just another of Misato's little jokes. Dress up a girl and feed her to Shinji, make the woman feel like she was doing a good job or something. Pointing at the teenager, Ritsuko scoffed, "You could take that girl down Misato. A Section-2 agent must be strong, fast, smart, and dependable! I don't think that girl even dressed herself in that ridiculous outfit."
Chewing on her thumbnail, Misato didn't look so believing. "Tell that to all the other agents she's beaten today. Girl is a monster, a true blood machine," Misato sounded equally happy as she was nervous. "I wish this were a joke, I really truly do, as it would make more sense to me. And as for the girlfriend part, I think it's a packaged deal," that didn't come out as joyous as one would think Misato would be at the prospect.
"Fine, whatever, I'll be ready to call for a doctor after that man tears that pretty little thing down to size," Ritsuko pulled her phone out for emphasis. A joke was a joke, but Ritsuko could usually tell when Misato was serious, and right now Misato was not giving any indication of fibbing. Dialing the number but not hitting send, "When she gets hurt, it'll be your fault and I'll expect you to tell me where you hired her from."
Agent Weber bounced on his taught legs as he pranced about his opponent. Having witnessed the last bought, friend of his with a knife against the girl with her sword, Kurz wasn't going into the fight blind. Balling up his fists he let a left fist fly towards the girl's pretty face followed by his right towards her stomach.
Almost dancing around the feeble blows, Himari put her hands on the man's shoulders and used him as a springboard to leap into the air. Soaring much higher than a normal person could with such force, Himari spun in the air and came crashing down with her arms interlocked before her face.
Stumbling from his efforts to assist the damnable teen, Kurz quickly spun around to find and defend against her attack. Not finding her behind him, he leapt back instinctively as the girl landed right where he had stood. "Not bad, not bad at all," he breathlessly congratulated. The moment after his praise was said he followed with a kick at the recovering girl's stomach. He connected, but not with his target, the girl caught his foot and gave him a good hard yank.
With her offhand, Himari pulled her opponent off his feet and crashing to the ground. Without a moments hesitation she rolled to the man's chest, and put a hand to the nape of his neck. "Thy skill is commendable," she nodded as the man smiled nervously at him then smashed her right fist against his forehead knocking the playboy out. Getting off the unconscious man, Himari fixed her ruffled kimono and wafted towards Misato and company. Upon spotting Ritsuko, Himari put Misato purposefully between them.
The girl took out Weber, one of the on loan members of Mithril and arguably one of the better agents they had. "Misato, where the hell did you find this girl, and how much are you paying her?" Ritsuko gaped. Try as she might however to get closer to the girl, ever step was countered leaving Misato squarely in between them. Fine, so the girl wasn't taking kindly to her, whatever, "And you really aren't making her pretend to be Shinji's girlfriend are you?"
"I volunteered to protect Ikari-sa…kun," Himari stuttered as Misato nudged the girl in the stomach. "We have been acquaintances since we were but children, and his safety hath been of much importance," Himari knelt at the knee and reclaimed a wrapped pink parcel. Always quick to move in retaliation to Ritsuko, Himari was keeping her Misato shield up at all times. "As for more familiar matters, I shan't shy from the opportunity to seek to aid Ikari-kun in all that ills him," she unfurled the cloth revealing a well maintained katana.
What was up with this teenager? Girl sounded like she walked out of an old history period movie, and did she just say she'd bang the boy if he wanted? "Misato, tell me you're joking, tell me that Weber-kun took a dive to get a date or something. Please?" Ritsuko wanted it to be true at this point. Something just felt strange about this girl. "And you, Kimono-girl, come clean. Nobody should say they'd date somebody for no reason," Ritsuko hated the girl's that accepted dates for money.
Gently putting the sheath and cloth on the ground, Himari started walking further away from Misato. "Katsuragi-san, you agreed that if I bested the champion of your brigade that our final challenge would be forthcoming," Himari spun around a good twenty yards from Misato. Peeking over the captain's shoulder, "As for you, ye attacker of felines, you may refer to me as Noihara. And it would be an honor to be held in such high regard as my dear Ikari-kun."
Pulling her sidearm out, Misato pulled the magazine out and flashed it at Himari. "Do I look like I'm joking Ritsu? I really wish I was but as you can see Himari-kun is very serious about some old family obligation she has. Apparently Shinji-kun can't remember her, not surprising since he can't remember his childhood, but she remembers him," Misato slid the magazine back into the gun and aimed it at Himari. "Ready?" she asked as she undid the safety.
Having seen the live ammo in the cartridge, Ritsuko grabbed Misato's arm and pulled down with all her might. "What the fuck as wormed its way into that booze rotten brain of yours Misato? You can't aim a gun at that girl, this joke has gone on far enough! Noihara-kun, I don't mind if you want to keep this farce up, hell I don't care if you really do like Ikari-kun, but don't take this any further!" Ritsuko wasn't going to watch a girl get shot for some dumb family honor, joke, or anything!
Spinning her blade around, the speed made the weapon vanish like the blade of a ceiling fan. "Do not interfere terror of cats, Katsuragi-san is honor bound to dispel three full barrages to sate her fears. Upon my besting of her attack I shall be formally accepted as Ikari-kun's personal protector," Himari's face despite the grave danger was a sinister smile. "Have at you! Do not hesitate!" Himari commanded.
Ritsuko could do nothing but look on in horror as Misato shrugged her off and aimed again at the girl. She cringed as a full clip was unloaded in rapid succession, all deflected by the girl's twirling blade. So awestruck, Ritsuko didn't move to stop Misato from reloading and firing again. This time the girl dropped her blade and bobbed and weaved around the bullets. "Stop Misato, luck can only go so far!" Ritsuko pleaded as Misato slammed home the last magazine.
"Wish I could," was all Misato said as she started firing again. As the last round left the chamber, Misato fell to her knees in defeat as Himari scampered over to the duo. "You win, I'll fill out the paper work and get you on the payroll. I have nothing to say that can stop you, even if I wanted," Misato's head hung low as she accepted something deep and grand that she didn't impart to Ritsuko.
A tingling in her ears reminded her of the sound of real live fire, duds sounded different and Ritsuko could tell the difference. "That was sheer lunacy, I won't stand for it!" she turned to leave only to have Himari grab her hand. "What, what could you possibly have that I'd…oh for fuck's sake!" Ritsuko gasped as Himari dropped the full last magazine of bullets into her palm. The girl caught all of them all while appearing to be motionless. Misato was right, the girl was a monster!
That knowing look, her Cheshire grin, Himari knew she had the two 'older' women at her mercy. "As I have naught taken to the current form of education, it shan't be a difficulty for you to place me along side Ikari-kun in his schooling," Himari sheathed her blade and bundled it. "Now I shall take my leave of you, Katsuragi-kun," Himari bowed lightly to Misato and shivered as she passed Ritsuko, "Cat abuser."
And she was gone.
X-X
Holding the basket of food, Tayura was having a hard time with the current situation. Grocery shopping for Chizuru's demanding supper was normally just an annoyance, but today it was a step beyond that. He had company today, to be honest he was just the basket carrier today making him feel even more ignored. But, while he really wanted to, he couldn't think of any reason to decapitate and eat the damn boy! Shinji was a nice guy! Sure the boy was a little timid, but he wasn't chauvinistic, reeking of lust, or any other negative. Hell, Shinji was paying for and cooking both of them dinner, hard to be angry at somebody that was making your life easier.
"Are you sure curry is alright for both of you?" Shinji asked as he approached the meat cooler. Picking up a packet of beef and pork, he examined both closely, "I can make more complicated meals if you wanted, and curry is rather simple after all." Setting the more expensive pork down, Shinji handed Tayura the beef. Quickly moving away from the brother, Shinji proceeded to the vegetables and a gaggle of young mothers bickering over who got to the carrots first.
Quick to pounce on her beau, Chizuru hugged the boy from behind and kept right in step behind him. "Shinji-kun is so handy, cooking for me like this. What other uses do your hands have," she wrapped her arms around his waist and gave him a squeeze. Giggling as Shinji fidgeted in her arms, "So much more skilled than Tayura, curry is the BEST thing HE can make."
Now that was something he wanted to refute, but the fox-boy really couldn't. Try as he might to please Chizuru's palette, most of his more advanced culinary actions failed to capture any praise. "Well sorry for not having time to improve, but when you have me doing ALL the chores it's hard to find time," he stepped past the duo and started picking up and examining some potatoes. Just watching Chizuru meld against Shinji's back filled him with jealousy. While not really her sister, Tayura did accept he was family and loving your sister wasn't really a good thing. But damn it was hard to let go of those protective feelings, his budding feelings for Asahina helped dampen the blow though.
His face a brilliant red, mostly likely caused from being nestled against Chizuru's impressive bust, Shinji caught sight of the other customers. "Chizuru-san, maybe here isn't the best place for this? It's making the other people uncomfortable," Shinji pointed at a woman and her child, said child was pointing at them. "We shouldn't stand out to much, right?" he turned to Tayura with a pleading face.
Tayura almost started laughing at that pitiful face. Maybe having Chizuru with this boy was really for the best. If his sister was going to be THIS outgoing with her beloved, Tayura didn't want to have that. "Sorry, Ikari-kun, it's a packaged deal. You stay with Chizuru you play by her rules," and he knew that better than anybody. Holding out two potatoes to the boy, who had impeccable eyes for produce so far, "Which is better?"
Shocking her brother, Chizuru actually complied with Shinji's wishes and released her amorous hold. Taking the potatoes from him, she put both of them in the basket. "They don't have eyes, and I'm ready to get some privacy, so let just take both. We don't need anything else do we, Shinji-kun?" she leaned dangerously close to the boy, near centimeters from his face.
Frozen, bewitched, by that impish face, Shinji stalled as he was entrapped by her eyes. "Y-yeah, all I need," what Shinji was referring to was left up to the listeners. Resistance was futile, so Shinji just didn't offer any as Chizuru again closed that scant distance in full view of everybody.
Overhearing the muffled cries of the other patrons saying 'kids will do it anywhere' and 'do they have no shame', Tayura took the carrots out of Shinji's prone hands. With the basket laden with all the ingredients Shinji claimed to have needed he headed to the check out. Thankfully the boy had expected something like this and had given him the money to buy it.
Finding the least populated line, Tayura filled into the queue and set his basket on the ground. "This is just the start isn't it," he moaned despite the strangers that could hear him. Chizuru wasn't backing down on this 'happy family' idea of hers. From time to time he knew his sister got odd inclinations and fixations, but this felt different. Shinji wasn't going to be like the 'friendship bracelet' fiasco, they still had boxes of beads in the closet. No, this boy was here to stay which left Tayura with two options. Option one was to drive Shinji away secretly, or two abandon his feelings for Chizuru.
"Next please," a chipper voice called aloud from behind the register. "Oh Minamoto-kun, you're doing the grocery shopping again? Such a nice brother to do it all the time," the girl's voice wafted over the din of other grocery store sounds.
Scooping up the basket, Tayura plopped it down and rolled out the contents before the cashier. "Why are you working here again Hokari-kun, thought you said it was only temporary last time?" Tayura tried being as civil as possible. Damn woman kept Asahina from getting Class-Rep when she really wanted it! Hikari wasn't a 'bad' person, but anybody that hindered Asahina was the enemy!
Ringing up the ingredients, Hikari did her best to avoid eye contact with the tall lad. "Well my father thinks having a part-time job will help me appreciate money. It's only one day a week thankfully," Hikari started putting the vegetables in plastic bags. "Is it true that your sister is dating Ikari-kun? I heard a rumor that they were…rather amorous in the quad during lunch," she tied up the last of the bags.
Handing over Shinji's money, Tayura felt that surge of anger rising again. "Yeah they are, don't know why though. First day back from visiting our mother and she's all gaga over this new guy. But she's never been one to stay her wants," he fumed as the mentioned made their way over to him. Damn boy had a very happy smile on his face, was kissing Chizuru such a great thing to make the boy THAT happy?
Giving Tayura the change, Hikari gasped a trifle as her hand came into contact with his. "I-I guess some girls just know what they want, and won't take no for an answer. Lot of girls seemed interested in Ikari-kun after they learned he was a pilot," Hikari shrugged and waved at the approaching couple. "Ikari-kun, Minamoto-san nice to see you outside of school for once," her soft smile ended on Shinji.
As if sensing a rival for her wanted-mate, Chizuru clasped Shinji's hand and waved it around wildly. "Hokari-kun, how nice to see you too. We'd love to chat, but Tayura has been whining about being hungry so we better get moving to get the baby some food," she bounced slightly as she pushed her way out of the story with Shinji's hand secured in hers.
With a brief apology to Hokari, Tayura ran to catch up with his flippant sister. It wasn't the first time she used him as an excuse for her whims, not that he liked it though. Trailing behind the couple, he noticed that Shinji had actually laced two of the three bags somehow. So he wasn't going to have to do all the work anymore for his sister, maybe scaring Shinji off wasn't such a good idea.
After the short walk back to the apartment, Tayura and Shinji set about cooking as Chizuru hung around Shinji like a cloud. One more than one occasion the boy politely asked Chizuru to stand back so he wouldn't cut her, or to move more freely. Both looked so damn insipidly happy though that Tayura felt nauseated by it. What sickened Tayura more however, was how agreeable the damn boy was! He just couldn't hate him! Hell he was starting to actually like Shinji!
The deal was set, and his decision made, once the meal was presented to the siblings on the dirty table. It was on Chizuru's list of things for Tayura to do, clean up the house, but with the destruction at the school the day before he hadn't had time. "Well lets see if you can cook as good as you claim to," Tayura blew the steam off the curry and put a spoonful in his mouth.
Words failed to describe how much Tayura loved that single solitary bite. Spicy but not overtly, crisp vegetables when his were always mushy, and a flavor that just bemoaned the styling of a good cook. Yes, Shinji-kun was a very welcome mate for his sister, Shinji could stay. And judging how Chizuru was inhaling her portion, the girl's normal manners thrown to the wind, it was a sign she liked it too.
As Chizuru gushed how great the food was, and how proud she was of her 'husband', Takura licked his spoon. "I stand humbled, Ikari-kun," the edge in Tayura's voice was gone, replaced with acceptance. "How did you get so good at cooking, you said this was simple, but I've never gotten curry to come out this good?" he broke a piece of bread in half and sopped up some of the sauce.
Plate half full, Shinji just picked at his food uncomfortable with the praise. "I cooked a lot at my uncle's place before moving here. And Misato-san doesn't cook at all, so I guess it just came from practice," Shinji pushed his food around with his chopsticks. He did yelp as Chizuru nonchalantly slammed her open palms on the table, her chopsticks making a loud smack against the wood. "C-Chizuru-san?" Shinji leaned away from the moved dining space.
Her plate decimated, Chizuru's eyes were burning with contemplation. Leaning over the table, swaying tantalizingly before her chosen, "Who is Misato?" Half-way on top of the table, her exposed midriff hung over the open pot of curry, Chizuru was very interested in Shinji's little tale. "He doesn't force you to do anything does he? If so why not move in here with me, it can be our love nest," she playfully threw out.
Slowly crawling out from under the table, Shinji tried to put some distance between him and the amorous Chizuru. It didn't work, as Chizuru climbed onto and off the table spilling the pot in the process. No matter, everybody had already eaten, and leftovers weren't kept in the house. With Chizuru now even closer, practically on top of him, "S-she is my guardian from Nerv, you know the p-place I work. S-she didn't w-w-want me living alone so she t-took me in."
"So she's my new mother-in-law!" Chizuru squealed as she let her arms go lax. Falling the few feet gracefully, Chizuru smothered Shinji for a good ten minutes, Takura forgotten. The petting might have went beyond light to medium, or at least some clothing would have been shed, had Shinj's phone not started chiming. "Oh phooey, who has the gall to interrupt a husband and wife's first night of marital bliss," Chizuru grabbed Shinji's phone.
Taking it before Chizuru could do any damage, "It uh…it's an alarm I set. I need to get back to my apartment, or Misato-san will get angry with me." Shinji clamored out from under Chizuru and headed for the door. Stopping to turn back he saw the devastation Chizuru's little table trip made, "Oh Tayura, the table…want me to help you clean that?"
Latching onto Shinji's arm, Chizuru was already putting her shoes on. "That's what he's here for. He can clean it while you go introduce your wife to your guardian," Chizuru gave Tayura a glare that made disagreeing a very bad thing. "Lets go!" she cheered and a moment later the door shut and they were gone.
Surveying the mess, the abused brother just sighed. "So this is how she is with somebody she likes. I actually feel sorry for HIM," Tayura actually laughed a little. He had never seen Chizuru in love before, some of the quasi-girlfriends she had aside, and it was a force of nature. Thankfully the mess was contained to the table and hadn't spilled on the carpet. An easy clean, and Shinji had offered to help before Chizuru drug him off. "Could be worse, maybe he'll help tone her down a little," he mused as he grabbed his cleaning supplies and got to work.
X-X
Picking at the remains of her delivered meal, Misato was trying to think of something witty or snarky to say to Shinji when the boy finally returned home. Surely he was having a hard time accepting this whole 'demon-bodyguard' thing, she sure as hell was. Demons existed, and they could look like very attractive young girls, who wielded swords, and beat Nerv's best agents without breaking a sweat. Joke was on Himari though as Misato found the cat-girl standing by the exit with no way out! All that power, yet Himari was defeated by a card reader.
Sniffing at her barely touched meal, Himari turned her nose up at it and pushed it aside. "This be far below the standard of dining I haft come to expect for my meals," Himari did sip on her tea however. "The young master's provisions doth made me expectant," a noticeable tick wormed its way to Himari's face. "Is such normal for Shinji-sama to be so late," she kept turning to the door whenever the apartment creaked or cracked.
Sliding Himari's tray of sushi to her side of the table, Misato ate what Himari was to good to dine on. "He goes for long walks some times. Usually when he has a lot on his mind. And you," Misato poked Himari's cheek with her utensil, "are a lot to take in and accept." Hell being told he was from a line of demon slayers alone would earn a day long pondering. "Say, if Shinji-kun is supposed to kill demons, shouldn't you be afraid of him?" Misato thought it comical to have Himari be afraid of Shinji outside his Eva.
Getting out of her chair, Himari paced the small dining area. "I shan't fear Shinji-sama. The Ikari lineage protected my clan for generations, and tis my soul wish to serve him as his servant. Though it might be fate that Shinji-sama shall slay me as his first kill," Himari tugged at the edges of her kimono for a moment before the air of depression left her. Her ears and tail popped out as the door finally did open and the sound of Shinji entered could be heard. "Shinji-sama!" Himari cried out happily.
"Himari!" Shinji yelped from the door, followed by what sounded like somebody else talking. After a few moments of clattering, Shinji rounded the corner from the ante-way with a girl latched onto his arm, said girl had an even larger bust than Himari. "I-uh…Misato-san sorry about supper, I ate at um…Chizuru's apartment across the street," Shinji rubbed at the back of his head nervously.
Ok, girl's today were either fed something to cause insane breast growth, or Shinji just had a knack for girls with large knockers. Spitting out her beer as the girl, Chizuru she presumed, gave Shinji' a very friendly squeeze. "Shinji-kun, is there something you've been hiding from me, something important?" Misato couldn't get over it, this new girl was another insanely attractive girl. Her face wasn't as classical toned as Himari's, but Chizuru wasn't far from Himari's beauty.
Disengaging from Chizuru, Shinji stood between Misato and the new girl. "Misato this is Chizuru Minamoto my um…girlfriend, Chizuru meet Misato Katsuragi my guardian and Himari Noihara my um…" Shinji stumbled as he tried to think of something to dub the girl that slept in his bed that night. "S-sorry about not saying anything earlier but I thought it was a dream, still feels like it," Shinji painfully looked at Himari and Chizuru knowing he did something very stupid.
Briskly stepping between Shinji and Chizuru, Himari wasn't going to let herself be unqualified. "I am Shinji-sama's personal bodyguard and servant. As hath been training for this since birth, I shall serve my master in body an in soul," Himari put her hand to her chest and smirked. "A common beast of lust however, might not be capable of comprehending such devotion," Himari's fangs were clearly born.
"You're that bloody cat that bit into my leg while we were trying to having our evening of love yesterday!" Chizuru said hotly as she stomped her foot. "As a servant you shouldn't get between a wife and her husband's passion! Mother-in-law, tell this cat to go outside while we discuss things in a civil manner!" Chizuru wasn't taking things well either.
As the two seeming teenagers circled around each other, Misato just grabbed her beer and tipped back. "Shinji-kun, maybe you could have introduced them to one another in a better way? Or in a place that wont' destroy my apartment." Taking a deep swig, Misato handed Shinji a tissue to dry his allergy induced tears and runny nose. "Is she a normal girl?" Misato hoped not, and hoped it was just demon girls that had uncanny bodies.
Stuffing the tissue in his dripping nostrils, Shinji tittered nervously. "C-Chizuru-san is like Himari, only a fox not a cat," Shinji gave out powerful sneeze. "And well…I just kind of forgot really. Things have been moving so fast that I…" Shinji ducked as Chizuru threw a pillow off the couch at Himari.
"I am NOT a slut! I have never been with a man before like I have been with Shinji-kun!" Chizuru shouted as her own ears popped out, her tail grew, and her hair color changed to blonde. "You saw how much we love each other you spying cat, can you say he loves you as much as me?" Chizuru circled around coyly and latched onto Shinji, pulling him from the chair he was sitting on.
Whow, that girl looked even more sexy as a blonde! Misato finished her beer, and smashed it against her head. "Alright both of you hold it!" Misato shouted and got between the two girls, after she freed Shinji from the girl's grip. "Shinji-kun go take a bath while we girls have a little talk," she winked playfully at the boy hoping he got the message to get the fuck out of dodge.
Once Shinji did vanish from the room, both girls did relax momentarily. Himari however was the first to fire the first shot, "Shinji-sama would do best to not fraternize with a fox, yon lust would only distract him from his duties as training to slay your kind." Himari's tail flickered about wildly, knocking over a lamp and a few magazines from an end table.
"I think YOU'RE the one that has lust on the mind, all I want to do is spoil the man I love," Chizuru's ears laid slick against her head. The black tipped tail of hers knocked off the uneaten food to the ground. "And Shinji-kun isn't a demon slayer, he loves a demon, and you just want him for yourself, I can smell it on you," she sniffed the air mockingly, "smells cheap."
Grabbing one of each girl's breasts, Misato gave a squeeze. It was more to shock and break them from their mindsets, and just to see if they were really real and not some illusion. Damn they were real, and if Shinji did stick with Chizuru, Misato hoped he was a breast man as they would be wasted if he wasn't. "Alright, both of you knock this out. It's late, I'm tired, and I think both of you two…uh girls," she hoped that was the right title for them, "could stand to cool your heads."
As Himari recoiled and covered herself, Chizuru yelped delicately and took a single step out of Misato's way. Something about that cry of the fox made Misato think somewhere in the past somebody else did something similar to her. "How about you go home for now Minamoto-kun and we can talk about this with cool heads tomorrow. Its Sunday so we can have the whole day to…come to terms about just what is going on," Misato ordered the pair.
"But she'll try to steal Shinji-kun/Thy deceitful beast might attempt to attack him in the night," both demonic animals cried out as their respective tails puffed out.
"Himari-kun, this is an order from your superior office, and Minamoto-kun if you claim me to be your 'in-law' you'll listen!" Misato didn't like that, she thought herself more a sister than mother to Shinji. "I'll insure Shinji is undisturbed tonight so both of you can rest easy. Now get going!" Misato pointed at the door. Chizuru, with a bow to Misato, left after sneering angrily at Himari. The cat-girl just walked into the spare bedroom and shut the door.
With the only sound in the apartment that of running water, Misato wondered briefly if Shinji was taking out some pent up aggression tonight. That girl, Chizuru was something else, as was Himari's show that morning. "Boy will be a man soon I bet, guess I better have a talk with him about that," Misato popped out anther beer. Talking to Shinji about sex had not entered Misato's mind as something she would have to do when she took him in. Now who was the better one for him, Misato took a sip of her beer, and thought…why not both?
They were demons, one was a servant and the other so amorous it might not matter after things got started. Maybe it was the beer buzz talking, but Misato honestly thought it the best solution. Himari was going to be stuck to Shinji like glue due to whatever vow she took, and Misato saw the look of somebody devoted in that few moment glance at Chizuru. Both girls were not going to be deterred, so let the boy who risked his life to save humanity get some nice hot demonic loving.
"Not like he's going to have more than those two chasing after him, ha! Next thing I know Ayanami will be knocking on the door asking about him, that would be a laugh," Misato did in fact laugh as she finished her beer. Pressing her ear to the door, Misato spied on if Shinji was playing the man-flute…no the lad was just mumbling about his worries. "They'll take care of it in there own time," Misato mumbled and headed to the couch for some late night television.
X-X
Notes
Yeah it's a slow starter, but I want to build a story to go along with this and that means it's a little bit more effort. This chapter was a bit hard to get going, keeping Chizuru in character and the reaction of another 'pledged' demonic aid in Himari was interesting. Anyway hope ya enjoyed it and can bear with the lead up before things really kick off into funny, oddity, enjoyable territory.
Oh and as I listed in Eva Bravo, I've an acquaintance that is getting into the 'web-reviewer' business that I'm sponsoring to a degree. Mostly its direct to video movies and some OVA/Anime movie so far, but while its still a little crude its good stuff. Hope you can spare a moment to check his stuff out and give him some constructive feedback.
If you can't/don't want to that's fine, just thought I'd try and help him out a bit. You can find it at:
Dtvhell – dot – wordpress – dot- com
Later!
Mercaba
p.s. thanks to a note from 'Capito Celcior' I re-read the initial chapters of Himari and realized I did make a pretty big mistake. I've updated the text but for those of you who read it early, sorry about that. In Kanokon the demons live for hundreds of years, in Himari they don't…I got confused and messed up. Sorry.
Oh and I'll be at ACEN again this year so hope to see you there.