Standard Disclaimer
I am sorry for the delay but again work must come first. With my current project things have taken a very stressful turn and time has been very limited. Rather than write when my brain wasn't in it and ruin stuff I took the time away. Hope you didn't mind.
X-X
For the two days after the impromptu summons, Shizuku watched the slayer with increased vigor. The request to watch the fox was pushed off, nothing that acted that wanton could be of the highest cast of demon. No, Shizuku was focused on the Ikari/Noihara domicile waiting and planning her attack. Problem was Noihara or Morimoto were always around him. How could she attack him when those women were fighting one another for his attention?
Then it struck her, the morning after Chizuru stayed in the slayers apartment, she found her way to strike. Having watched the event transpire from the window, well until they started playing slap and tickle, Shizuku was less inclined to believe Ikari had cast some spell over the fox. Watching Chizuru all but dance back to her apartment the following morning, happiness dripping out of every pore, Shizuku was slightly envious of Chizuru's simpler lifestyle.
About to go back to watch the morning at the Katsuragi residence, Shizuku spotted an unexpected encounter. The Crimson Blade was waiting for the fox, and yon kitten did not appear pleased. Words were said, challenges were exchanged, and both women were oblivious to everything around them. The cat exclaimed how she was not going to allow Chizuru to be the only one to enjoy her 'master', while Chizuru simply flaunted herself and claimed the slayer wouldn't want lower class meat after he tasted the prime grade. All sorts of embarrassing comments stated right in front of the morning walkers.
Then the challenge came, whoever could help Ikari learn to swim the most on Sunday would get to take the man's 'first time'. Shizuku liked that plan, all she had to do was wait for the inevitable clash between the two and strike. It wouldn't be the biggest fount of water, but enough to take care of the real threat of Noihara. She'd have her revenge, even if it wasn't against the real clan that had slain her kin.
So in the pool she was now, in her natural element, just watched the show above her. The fox had set up another of her little shields to hide the intruders from the eyes of others. But as she was already in it, Shizuku had nothing to worry about. Her main worry now, was the sensation of a great approaching power. A guardian was wakening, she had to strike fast and hope the death of the slayer would still the ancient beast. The guardians attacked all, they would slay all to protect the seal, and Shizuku knew not why they were waking. She had hoped it was tied to the slayer.
"Shin-chan! What do you think of my swim suit?" Chizuru gushed as she clung to Shinji's side. Coming out of the men's changing room along side her man, Chizuru's attire was scandalous to say the least. A red string bikini that covered just enough to not be indecent exposure up top, at least the bottom was more conservative. Shaking said rump playfully, "Does it suit me, or should I just take it off?"
True to form, Shinji waved his arms frantically, "C-Chizuru-chan you…that wouldn't really help me concentrate on the lesson now would it?" Moving his arm as if it were covered in oil Shinji slipped out of Chizuru's embrace and took a few strategic steps away from her. He swallowed hard and gave Chizuru a slow and seeking once over, his eyes not staying to long on certain bits and pieces. Pinching his nose hard, Shinji nodded, "It s-suits you Chizuru, maybe you could have gotten a bit bigger top though."
From her vantage point in the water, more one with the water than having a real form, Shizuku had to agree with the slayer. Howthattopisabletowithstandtheweightisamystery. Though the Mizuchi suspected that was part of the fox's plan. A battle was going to be going on between the cat and fox, and the fox was going to use every weapon at her disposal. But watching the slayer, Shizuku was puzzled by his actions. He had already progressed so far with Chizuru, but he wasn't abusing his open meal ticket. Curious and curiouser.
Leaving from the women's side, a glare marring her classic features, Himari was dressed for combat as well. Her towel wrapped around her sword, Himari stared at the water with a sense of distaste. "I doth believe the young master is referring to the globs of fat thy possess. Perhaps the floatation device thee have give you an unfair advantage," Himari was quit glib. Her own choice in swimwear was bold but nowhere near as excessive as Chizuru's. Red and white stripped, both pieces held more fabric than Chizuru's whole suit.
Hoisting up her cherished bust line, Chizuru looked at them and offered them to Shinji. "Do they look like fat to you? I think she's just jealous that you have access to my babies and can't offer any real competition," she giggled as Shinji reacted by hunching over and quickly sitting, hands on waist. Stretching her arms above her head, "It is a lovely day for a swim. Don't you think so Noihara? All that water, don't you love getting wet? Shin-chan knows I do."
Undeterred, Himari didn't waste anytime in her actions. "While water doth not always agree with thee, tis not something that will inhibit," she said confidently. Standing before Shinji, her hair tied up in its standard ponytail, Himari had a small look of worry about her. "Shinji-sama, thy perch should be nearer the water. Tis why we are present today, not to bask in the sun," she rubbed her arm as she alternated between the boy and the water.
Quite to Chizuru's dismay, Shinji just sat staring at Himari for a good long time. "Y-you look really good in that, Himari-san," he stammered out enraptured by the change in Himari's demeanor. Slowly, his body still arched but only slightly, Shinji moved to the pool and sat his legs in it. "It's cold," he stated with a smidgen of relief in his tone.
Flowing up to the slayer, Shizuku started phase one of her plan. Encasing his legs, Shizuku wanted him to get accustomed to her flowing around him. That way he wouldn't know it wasn't normal, and wouldn't call out once she ramped up the plan. Still a moment of doubt lanced through her. The 'evil and vengeful' slayer was obviously smitten by the two demons at his side. Not the most characteristic trait, but it could all be a ruse or just a ploy to devour their flesh as he had already done Chizuru. Though if sex was his objective, all he needed was ask for it, the two would gladly see to it. So why the act?
Diving into the pool with surprising grace, Chizuru popped above the surface and whipped her hair back like a mermaid. "It's so refreshing to have this place all to ourselves. Shin-chan, me, and the servant," Chizuru dug in as she found her footing in the shallow end. Water cascading down her body in rivulets captured the light and made her suit even more transparent as it clung to her body. Moving over to Shinji, Chizuru actually used her cleavage to shoot a stream of water at the boy, "Jump in, Shin-chan it's the best way to learn."
From behind the boy's back, Himari scowled bitterly at the impish fox. Her voice intoned none of her frustrations however, "Thy mind is absent again yon concubine! Shinji-sama doth not see me as a mere servant but a life companion." A blush of embarrassment spread across her features after her little outburst. "Though she doth have a point, merely sitting shant get the task completed," she said. Getting on her knees, pressing herself against Shinji's back, Himari's hands danced across his front. "Ready?" she smirked at the now annoyed fox as she rolled into the water with Shinji's protests loud in the air.
Shizuku patience was being tested, but for a full hour she Mizuchi watched the trio play about the water. Both of the slayers would-be mates trying to one up the other as they lost focus on why they had come in the first place. For a moment Shizuku almost felt pity for the young Ikari. Both of his women wanted him to look only at them, leaving him torn trying to please both. Such an odd man, was his kindness genuine are just a farce.
Encasing every part of his body in the water, Shizuku could feel his heart rate spike whenever one of the girls upped the ante. She thought the boy might have died when as suspected Chizuru's to-tiny-top did in fact fall off. It was odd, and a little embarrassing herself, but she felt how his body reacted to Himari's casual touches then teaching how to properly use his arms. Having never known a man, Shizuku wasn't expecting that part of the slayer to be so blasted hot even in the water. The sensation didn't last long as the boy was doing his best to follow the lessons and not be distracted by the warring demons.
Sitting on the side of the pool, kicking out with her fine and toned legs, Chizuru clapped her hands for maximum excess jiggle. "That is perfect Shin-chan! I knew you'd learn how to do this! And you learned so fast…did your Chizuru help you? I know I promised you a special reward if you did good," she put her fingers to her lips and kissed them.
Leaving Shinji's side, he was apparently swimming perfectly fine on his own, Himari squired water in Chizuru's face with her fist. "Twas my tutelage that have garnered such excellent progress in Shinji-sama. Unlike thyself who spent much time sunning or flaunting thy scandalous body!" Himari was quick to retort.
Kicking his feet awkwardly, Shinji tried his best to defuse the situation, "You both did great. I'd never have gotten this far if it wasn't for both of you. I'm glad we've even had the time for…" Shinji's head jerked under the water suddenly, emerging again spitting out water, Shinji's stunned expression was lost as the two continued to bicker about who was the true teacher. "Himari-san?" Shinji called out for his protector just as his head went down again.
It was time to act! Shizuku had been supporting Shinji in his swimming to give the guise of progress. Now that the two women were bickering she struck. Grabbing the slayer by the legs, she pulled him down to the bottom of the pool. Surrounding his body with constant pressure she had hoped to drown him before his absence was even noticed. Kill the slayer, what she had been wanting since she got the task of watching him. Protect herself, protect her kind from those that would kill them.
But Shizuku wasn't a killer, and her growing consciousness of the kindness in the boy was making this hard…to hard. Had she gone at the act with all she had, no hesitation, she'd have killed him. But her doubt allowed Himari and Chizuru to both get to him and pull him out. Damn it! This wasn't what she wanted! Her perfect plan, ruined and now she was exposed. The damn Noihara had seen her.
Flowing out of the water, taking up her human guise, Shizuku stared down at the two women. The fox was helping the slayer to sit up and cough out water as Noihara secured her blade and exuded killer intent. "How low the Noihara clan must be to fall for a killer of her own kind," Shizuku's deadpan delivery did not stall the cat from attacking. The blade cut through her midsection making two half of her. No matter, Shizuku didn't even feel pain as the water of her body reconnected.
"Morimoto, fuse with Shinji-sama! Two capable opponents be more advantageous than leaving a convalescing Master," Himari had rolled to the other side of the Mizuchi after he blow did nothing of value. Evaluating everything about the green haired and red eyed opponent, none of the flirtatious and light hearted Himari was present, she was all business. "Speak, why doth thee attack mine master? Shinji-sama hath prevented mine and Morimoto's dispatching of those that have attacked him," the blade pointed at Shizuku's throat.
With shock and a smidge of awe, Shizuku watched Chizuru kiss the boy and disappear. The fusion the son of Yig mentioned had been real, she had never seen a human so trusting of a demon to allow full possession. And that meant Morimoto was what the rumors claimed, a nine-tail. She was doomed, her revenge would go unfulfilled. "He is a slayer. If I let him live he'd kill us. Perhaps you're to blinded by longing to see it, or maybe he has done something to both of you to make you love him," though she never saw anything to indicate that was the truth.
Summoning a huge ball of fire, Chizuru dashed at Shizuku's back. "MAKE me love him? Are you daft? Shin-chan is just lovable is all, and to kind to ever HURT anybody. Though he'll hurt me plenty when he claims me," Chizuru always had to end with the blatant offering. But jus before she hurled the foxfire at the unsuspecting water demon, her body went ridged and her voice came out distorted, "Stop!"
Stuck in the pincer of two very angry and possessive women, Shizuku flinched as the single word warbled out of the fox-eared boy. Himari's blade was inches from her throat, and the fire to her back easily big enough to evaporate her, Shizuku had made her peace with failure. "Do you plan to torture me?" Shizuku had another moment of fear. If she was right about boy instilling a spell on both the women, was he planning on doing the same to her. "I shall not break or betray my kind as you two have," she said defiantly.
The foxfire vanished from Shinji's hands as he fell to his hands and knees. "Sorry, I…I don't know why you hate me so. But…if you promise to leave us alone…I will promise never to hurt any of your kind," Shinji had taken control of the combined form overcoming Chizuru's momentary bout of rage. "Himari-san, she was only trying to protect right? C-can't we let her go?" Shinji pleaded.
Her hands trembled for a moment, the sword inched closer slowly, but then Himari sliced the air and sheathed her blade. "My young master is far to kind and forgiving," Himari's marred features seethed upon the young Mizuchi. "For this day I shall not take thy head. But do not believe this to be over," Himari rounded Shizuka in a wide birth to help the combined Shinji/Chizuru to their feet.
"You might live to regret this, young slayer," Shizuka couldn't believe it. She had tried to kill him, but the Ikari slayer had spared her? An odd feeling of warmth spread in her chest, this required much more observation. He wasn't like the slayers of the past, much of what she had seen and suspected wasn't true! Jumping back into the pool, dissolving her lower half, "I shall be watching you for signs of betrayal, Ikari," she would have vanished completely but stopped upon hearing a siren.
The guardian had come, she had forgotten about its approaching.
X-X
Existence had suddenly taken a strange and uncertain turn in the life of one Ayanami Rei. A month ago if she had heard the tortured screaming of a fellow human being, she'd have stopped evaluated how it impacted her orders then carry on without care most likely. Why wasn't that a thing anymore for her, was what she was currently contemplating. Not one defining moment could be pinpointed where the change had occurred.
But as she sat in the immobile Unit-00, Rei's pulse quickened a smidge, her brow creased ever so slightly, and a definite feeling of disquiet was felt. Said feeling came from the horrified shriek of pain and agony of her fellow pilot. That sound, she could definitely say she didn't care for it, and didn't want to hear it again. But she didn't know WHY she didn't want to hear it.
Watching the frantic oddity that was Shinji's personal bodyguard pacing outside of the medical wing, Rei had tried to identify with her. Rei found she could not see herself in Himari's shoes. To Rei, Himari was upset due to failing in her duty to protect her sworn target. Rei knew orders well, they defined her and gave her purpose. Of all things in her life, that was what she knew was absolute, loyalty. Not to a man, not to an organization, but to her purpose. She just didn't know fully what it was, the Commander insured her that in time he'd provide it to her.
A few hours of watching Himari's unfocused energy wear a path into the linoleum floor of the hospital, Rei got the call. Misato requested she commandeer a prototype rifle for use in a last ditch operation to stop the angel. While it was uncertain if Pilot Ikari would perform the role, Captain Katsuragi was positive he would. Rei didn't know or care one way or the other. If she was ordered to take the shot she would, her duty demanded it of her. The sense that kept her going, the pack needed it, she HAD to assist until she had a better understanding of what she was meant for.
So she broke into the advanced R&D hanger with her Eva and carefully prepared for the mission to come. Her mind still full of confusion, confusion why the life of Pilot Ikari registered in her mind at all. She kept coming back to three separate instances that she could potentially tie it to. The first was his piloting to spare her the potential death against the Third Angel, he had established himself as part of her pack with that. Second was his smell, something about it made her mind go foggy. And lastly was his allowing her to eat meat.
The commander had said until somebody of command staff or higher allowed it, she was to abstain from all forms of animal matter. As pilots were rare and of the highest import, without pilots the Eva's were worthless and humanity doomed, Shinji qualified as command staff to Rei's analytical mind. Captains, majors, and tech staff could be replaced internally, usable pilots were not. So as Shinji said she could eat meat, Rei had done so. When she had went to throw the last of the bones away, she found her hand unwilling to let go. After awhile she used it as something to chew on to strengthen her jaw.
Why she had been told not to eat meat, Rei didn't know but was damn glad to be allowed to now. Something about the flesh of prey filled a yearning inside her she had never realized she had. Shinji had brought that to her, and she made a conscious connection to that. But why did that really make his pain stand out in her mind? Any command staff could have given her permission…what made him stand out.
She couldn't figure it out, and as such she couldn't make up her mind what that meant for her. Did his life warrant her attention, or was it just misplaced sentiment for the allowing of that missing piece of her? For the whole day she had sat at Nerv thinking about it. On the precipice of change, loyalty to one or loyalty to the core. The core feed and clothed her, but said offerings were bear minimum. Shinji had provided far better food, and suggested she get better accommodations. The commander promised her a reason to exist, purpose, and something to belong to. All things she intrinsically felt she needed, but could Shinji offer something equitable?
Pushing a cart of food and a spare plugsuit on a trolley down the sun light corridor of the hospital, Rei didn't know. She had been told to provide food and the mission plan to the convalescing pilot. "Possibly he will answer the issue himself by abandoning the mission," she quipped as she turned the corner towards Shinji's room.
Leaning against the door, sword nestled between her arm and chest, Himari's ear twitched. "If thy believe Shinji-sama a coward, a fools brain be in your head," the guardian had her eyes shut and her left foot propped against the wall. "Much as I doth wish it, Shinji-sama shall not abandon the fate thrust upon him," her chin touched to her chest solemnly.
One of the two anomalies presented Rei with another strange feeling. It wasn't good or bad, more of an itch that annoyed. "Coward or no, his actions are open. He could choose to leave," Rei continued to push the cart. When the kimono-clad woman stepped between her and her destination, Rei's eyebrow twitched. "I am to inform pilot Ikari about the mission, and provide nourishment. Are you impeding my orders?" Rei pushed the cart till Himari stopped her with a foot at the wheel.
"Why doth thou follow orders so blindly? I who have been raised since birth to serve Shinji-sama questioned at first," Himari finally opened her eyes which were questioning. "I judged Shinji-sama worthy of mine skill, I doth not simply heap it upon him. What master do you serve is worth such devotion? A father who abandoned his kin, set tis own child to the whims of fate. Doth thou think such a man would not do unto you the same?" Himari leaned over the cart and inspected the food carefully.
That itch flared again, and Rei found herself pushing the cart against Himari's foot with no result. "Commander Ikari has given me purpose in life. As long as I have value he will continue to do so, and when I do not then I will be cast aside. Perhaps Ikari-kun held no value till…" Rei took a step back when Himari suddenly vanished. A cold hard pressure pressed against her back keeping her from moving further, then she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Leaning over Rei's shoulder, ear to ear, Himari spoke softly and gently, but with a hidden edge. "Shinji-sama's value is neigh incalculable. Blinded by such need for one to rule over thy. Perhaps seeking one more deserving of that devotion, or one to give purpose. But know this, dog, speak again that Shinji-sama is without worth or even below his miserable wretch of a father, and you shall know my anger," Himari moved back.
With the heat and the pressure against her back gone, Rei spun around to see Himari was a good ten feet away from her. Such a feet of speed was inhuman, and Rei felt another new sensation, fear, small and fragile but an actual sense of fear. "Why did you call me dog?" that word…Rei didn't like it. Somehow it sounded degrading, lower of her actual station.
Turning her back to Rei, Himari put her sword to her shoulder and tapped it against her head. "A wolf that is beaten and controlled is a dog. Such is you are now, but by thy own hand. Open eyes and self examination might cure you of such. I pray that such occurs before you are lost," Himari glanced over her shoulder with a brilliant smile. "Shinji-sama sees great promise in you, perhaps he has insight that I lack," she winked and left the hallway.
Ikari-kun saw promise in her? What could that mean? The rumors and talk around the school was that Ikari-kun was courting both of the strange females, did he mean the same for her? A strange warmth spread in her stomach, not bad just another uncertainty. "More important matters exist. The mission," she nodded and continued on her way to deliver her food and uniform. Katsuragi said her role, if Shinji stayed, was to protect him. Was he worthy though? The oddity said he was, but what were that woman's intentions.
Get another person under Ikari-kun's thumb? No, somehow Rei didn't think that was the case. She'd talk to him…a little to see if what Himari said was true. Perhaps she was a little short sided in not evaluating the Commander in the same light as everybody else. But somehow Rei needed order, needed something that was just outside of her vision both physical and mental. Hopefully she'd live long enough to see what it was.
The chat was brief…after seeing Shinji shirtless and embarrassed, Rei felt the need to leave the room. He was going to stay, he was going to pilot…but could she actually defend him. Would she be following orders or would she actually defend him…that was the question she had only a few hours to answer.
X-X
It had been a very long, tiring, and strange day for Shinji, and it wasn't even over yet. Far from it in fact, as in two hours he was destined to suit up again and try to take out the angel another time. He wouldn't be alone for the second foray against the odd translucent square, Ayanami would be there with a big shield. As for as plans went it was simple and straight forward, aim forward and shoot while hoping he did it before the angel did. Having faced death twice already today, all Shinji really wanted to do was sleep and let the day be over.
Dancing without music with Chizuru in the small forest outside the Geo-Front, Shinji at least knew some peace. "Never thought we'd do something like this," he smiled as Chizuru actually dipped him. His vision swam as Chizuru whipped him back up to standing, one hand to the small of his back the other wrapped around his neck. "Not that I don't enjoy it though," he quickly added as Chizuru's face scrunched. He knew she was worried, despite all Chizuru's bluff and venire she couldn't hide her disquiet.
Letting Shinji take the lead again, Chizuru nestled up against him and placed her head against his chest. "Don't like how you won't let me go with you this time. Didn't you say your score was better with me?" her boisterous voice was corralled and muted. Slowing the tempo of the motions down to a nice slow dance, more weaving in place, Chizuru sniffed hard. Doing her best to keep her voice from breaking, "I don't like seeing you hurt, and I saw it twice today already. You better have a good apology ready for me after this mess is over."
Basking in the sense of unity with Chizuru, her warmth ate away the chill fear inside him, Shinji slide hid hand down to her waist and pulled her closer to him. "I won't need the highest score for this, and if something were to happen I'd not want to know my failing hurt…" Shinji's mouth was plugged with Chizuru's lips and tongue. Guessing she didn't want to hear any negative or potential fail scenarios, Shinji gladly went along with her. Once she finally stopped he continued, "When I get back we'll have another date. One that doesn't end with us fighting some monster."
Waggling a finger at him for a moment, Chizuru's brief scowl was foreboding, "You damn better or I won't spoil you anymore." As quickly as the frown came it was replaced with an impish smirk. "I'll go along with your plan this time, but if I ever hear you're not taking me so you can let that cat of yours go with you," Chizuru's eyes went over Shinji's shoulder for a moment before turning back to Shinji.
Himari must be watching, Shinji suspected, as Chizuru never casually mentioned Himari. The quasi-deal they had was still in effect, they weren't going to force him to choose between them, yet. Shinji suspected the yet, it made sense…but what sense had in common with a nine-tail Kitsune and a cat-demon loving him he didn't know. Best to go along with it and when the time came to chose, then face it. "You know Himari-san and I can't merge, so you don't have to gloat about it over her. You're lucky to even be in the base today, Misato-san was being very lenient," he did like to keep Himari and Chizuru from being to hostile towards one another.
Scrunching her face up, Chizuru waggled it mockingly at the boy who was again moving her in slow swaying circles. "Maybe mother-in-law knows the best way to keep you focused on victory. If you needed another reason to win, just know I'll be waiting for you back at the apartment," she leaned closer to Shinji's ear and whispered huskily, "with your favorite nightie of mine on."
That sent a spark of fire down Shinji's spine and woke the sleeping beast. With nearly drowning one minute and boiling alive the next, sex had been the furthest thing from Shinji's mind. Leave it to Chizuru to bring it back to the middle ground of his mind. "While a very-VERY tempting offer, Chizu-chan, maybe after battle would be a bad time?" he lied. Some part of him had already accepted the fact that Himari would be waiting, after last angel it was practically expected.
Before Chizuru could counter Shinji's comment, Misato forced a cough. With Himari a step behind her, Misato smiled bitterly. "Sorry Shinji-kun, its time to get suited up. It's early, but Ritsuko wants Ayanami and you in position and on standby just in case we have things set up early. The sooner we start the better chances we have," she approached the pair as the messenger. "Chizuru-kun, I'll admit you did a wonder calming him down, but you'll have to go home. We can't allow you to be onsite during the battle. While we know about…" Misato rolled her eyes, "its best not push things."
Taking a step away from Chizuru, she kept his hands in hers, "I'll see you tomorrow. You can count on it," Shinji promised. Leaning in to kiss her cheek, Chizuru was a step ahead of him and adjusted her face at the last moment to get a chaste one on the lips. "Tell Tayura I'll make supper tomorrow as well. We can all have a nice big one together," Shinji looked at both Misato and Himari respectively.
"Come Shinji-sama, time is naught standing still. Morimoto shall wait patiently for thy victorious return," Himari solemnly took Shinji by the shoulder and lead him away from Chizuru. Her hand slid down Shinji's arm and nervously took the one Chizuru had not held. Leading the boy in silence to the changing room, Misato had headed off to the transport ahead of them, Himari spun Shinji around at the door. "Know that I as well pray for thy quick and safe return," she took the initiative herself offer Shinji a parting soft press of lips.
Alone in the changing room, Shinji quickly disrobed and sat with his plugsuit in his hands. How damn lucky was he to have not one but two women in his life? To hell with the lottery, money was transitive, Shinji fully acknowledged winning a far better prize. They weren't possessions, they weren't really a prize, and he knew that as well. They were people with good and bad qualities, the good far outweighing the bad that accepted him for who he was.
Suiting up and pressurizing his suit, Shinji clenched his fist hard to get his fingers further into the glove. "I can't let them down. We've far to much to do," Shinji nodded to his own logic. What the future held, Shinji hadn't the foggiest, but he was not going to look back and regret! Perhaps letting that demon at the pool go was a bad idea, he'd find out in time. Maybe not choosing between Himari and Chizuru was a stupid gambit, but not today.
His feet echoed as he walked towards the pilots' only transport. Heart thumping, he felt cold and worried as adrenaline was already pumping through him. Live or die, he'd know what the future held for him before midnight. So much he didn't know, understand, or comprehend about his station as slayer or even as Chizuru's boyfriend. But to learn he had to win, had to live.
Climbing into the VTOL, Ayanami was staring at a book neigh a statue, Shinji found his seat across from her and strapped in. He'd thought about speaking to the girl, apologize again for his rather embarrassing flash, but thought best to wait till they were alone. Why let the VTOL pilots know of his shame. During the flight and the brief walk from the landing pad to the left up to the entry plugs, Shinji just pictured Chizuru and Himari in his mind. Thought of what they meant to him, and what he wanted to do for them. Briefly his mind wafted to his other friends, Misato, and even Ayanami. It was too early to die.
As the sun set, Shinji sat at the edge of his platform, Unit-01 and his entry plug at the ready to his side, with his legs pressed up against his chest. "Wanted to say I'm sorry again Ayanami-san. Sorry for yesterday, the visit to your apartment, and…well…for not being really 'here' right now," Shinji finally found his voice to speak to the girl across from him. Aside from Rei's odd fixation with meat, dirty apartment, and the rumors about her Shinji didn't know anything about her. His time with the lovely women in his life forced Shinji to realize social-isolation was no bastion from life.
Dangerously close to the edge, her legs dangling over the fatal drop, Rei stared intently on the waxing moon. "Unless you intestinally showed me your penis and grabbed my breast knowingly you have no need for apologies," Rei said without missing a beat. "As for conversation, I was under the impression I was not the ideal partner," no hint of emotional context was given.
The him before would have just let that slide, allow Ayanami to write herself off. It would have been easier to not confront her about such things, but Shinji was starting to break free of his shell. "That's not true Ayanami-san…well the first parts were. I didn't mean to flash you and I didn't mean to…well to touch you like that. But as for you, there is no reason why I shouldn't have spoke to you before now. You're likely just as afraid as I am, more so since this is your first real sortie against an angel," Shinji felt compelled to talk to her now. Chizuru had taken a chance with him, equally as socially odd as Rei was, and it had been good.
"I will perform my duty, you have no reason to fear," Rei hesitated for a moment and drew her own legs up to match Shinji's. "Why do you persist in speaking to me, anyway?" Rei's chin turned over so slightly in Shinji's direction.
Why was he talking to her? Well for a moment Shinji was perplexed himself. A few months ago he had to admit he wouldn't have tried talking to Rei. She was an attractive girl, Shinji still wasn't to at ease with talking to beauties. But now he was seeing the value of friendship, "I want to make sure you're doing alright is all. Don't see you talking to people at school, the ladies at the grocery store thought you were poor, and from the state of your apartment…I worry about you. I don't know many people here, and well…I guess I just want to know you're safe if not happy."
Getting to her feet, Rei faced Shinji and stared for several quiet moments. "You worry about me and wish for my…" she mumbled something inaudible. Shaking whatever thought was dancing behind her bewitching eyes, Rei headed towards her entry plug. "Your concern is noted, sayonara," she briskly headed to her plug without another word.
A pinch lanced Shinji's chest at that rather cryptic borderline fatal goodbye. To him, it sounded like she had given up on life. Not the best at evaluating others, Shinji had to admit it felt a little right given Rei's insane quiet nature. "She can't die either," he said to himself as he climbed into his own unit. Rei deserved to live, to have all the happiness she wanted, just like everybody else. "I've neglected her for to long…she needs friends too," he put his neural connectors in and felt the decent of his plug into the beast.
The battle had taken all of five minutes, all the preparation, planning, and fretting had all been for five minutes. Watching Rei's shield melt, and then Unit-00 standing defensively before him, Shinji altered the plan slightly. Jump from the sniper perch down the hillside, ripping the moorings of the rifle out and causing a lot of damage, Shinji spared Unit-00 a large brunt of the damage and fired his second and fatal shot.
Rushing to the extended entry plug of Unit-00, having recklessly thrown himself out of his own unit upon confirmation of the angel's death, Shinji found an unresponsive Ayanami in the plug. Pulling her out, Shinji quickly administered a little CPR and only garnered a face full of spit up LCL, he didn't notice really. "Ayanami-san! You're alive, you weren't…you weren't breathing! Are you…are you alright?" he felt so damn giddy that it was overwhelming. Hell he was sure he was crying…crying that this odd girl that he hardly knew was alive!
"You saved me," Rei said solemnly, "I was right to protect you. You are…my pack." Rei could only look on confused as Shinji continued to smile and cry slightly. "If you accept," she asked from her seated position, Shinji's hand on her back keeping her from falling back. When he said yes…Rei smiled as the rescue crew approached them.
X-X
Jumping over the back of the couch, Misato fell daintily into a laying position beer in hand. "Don't know about you two but I am no way ready for sleep. Damn night missions mess up my sleep schedule," she popped the top and took a swig. It was more the exhilaration of victory keeping her awake, and the pressing desire to speak to the docile cat-girl. "Why not hit the bath, Shinji-kun, and get that stench of LCL off you. Looks like you could use a little relaxation too," she idly grabbed the remote from the coffee table.
Looking worse for wear, Shinji nodded as he shuffled through the apartment. "Yeah, I'm not too sleepy either, maybe a bath would help," he crooked his head back thinking. "Either of you need to go in first?" he alternated between the two females.
Reaffixing her kimono, Himari simply waved her hand. "Tis all yours, Shinji-sama. I shall…" Himari looked at Misato from the corner of her eye, just barely perceived. "I shall see you after your repast," her head bowed slightly. Making her way to the chair adjacent to the couch, Himari sat with her blade sheathed and on her lap. "It doth surprise that neither of you are fatigued. I had believed I was the only one preferring the night," she idly adjusted her sleeves.
Paying attention to Shinji's shuffling from his room to the bathroom, Misato sipped her beer as he did. The late night/early morning television was currently an infomercial about a self cleaning litter box, Misato wasn't paying it much mind however. As much as Shinji tried to hide his little post-battle bathroom encounters, Misato knew about them. Hell she was glad he did at least ONE thing that was like a normal teenager. But she didn't know if she liked the idea of Himari helping.
"I used to stay awake all night when I was in college. More of a night owl than an early bird," Misato confessed as she sat up. Leaning over, elbows on her thighs, she was considering her options. Question Himari on Shinji's progression into the world of adults or stay in blissful ignorance. It would suck to know a teenager, especially one she was growing fairly maternal about, was running towards sex with reckless abandon. Biting the bullet, "So what were you really going to say to Shinji before you looked at me?"
Non-pulsed by Misato's question, Himari casually smiled back at the woman. "Does such facts really need be detailed?" something about her tone left a linger doubt in the air. Grabbing the hilt of her katana, Himari's made a circle with her thumb and forefinger and ran it up and down. "Shinji-sama is quite shy however, despite what that lecherous fox might have us believe," she rested her chin on her other palm.
Misato didn't buy it. Chizuru yes, Misato would believe Chizuru was open and daring enough to push Shinji towards whatever the seductress wanted. Himari was not Chizuru, not even on a bad day. While Misato had seen Himari acting quite daring, there was a difference between teasing and actually doing. Misato knew that very well. To Misato, Himari was nervous if not pensive about making up the ground between the official girlfriend.
"Why not just go in there naked? Bet that would take care of things quite easily. Shin-chan is very earnest," Misato practically sang. Teasing Himari was almost as fun as teasing Shinji, almost. The girl was a unique mix of outgoing and shy, very fun to press and pull for reactions. Leaning back on the couch, wiggling her half empty can, "I won't say a word if you don't to Chizuru. Hell, if you wanted I bet I could find a condom somewhere in my old shit if you wanted to play the…"
Standing up quickly, Himari's sword tittered over and bounced off the table loudly. "Thy speak to casually about my master!" Himari's face was red but did not show shame. "Shinji-sama…I shant impose upon him till he is ready for me. To be earnest, my heart doth wish he remembered our past before we…before we…" Himari bent at the knee and reclaimed her cherished weapon.
Now that was unexpected, Misato had no idea that Himari was such a romantic. She recalled wanting her first time to be special, it wasn't in hindsight, but she had really wanted it that way. "You keep talking about your past with my lil Shin-chan, but you haven't really said 'what' that past entails? Were you close?" Misato couldn't see that though. For a boy as damaged emotionally as Shinji had been, having a childhood girlfriend didn't fit the mold. Leering impishly, "And you wouldn't be imposing on him. I see how he looks at you when he doesn't think you're noticing."
Reclaiming her seat, Himari finally did have an air of unease about her. "Our past is not some scroll for reading, Katsuragi-san. Plans within plans are being created to help remind him," she muttered something bitterly under her breath before shaking her head fiercely. "As for Shinji-sama's potent gaze, I haft noticed and it doth make me," her cheeks went rosy. "Katsuragi…?" she intoned her question meekly.
Knowing when to push and not to push was a Misato specialty, and pushing now would make Himari clam up. Pouring the last of her swill down her throat, Misato crushed the can against her head, burped, and tossed it perfectly into the trash bin in the corner. Television went to a commercial, funny how commercials had commercials, Misato gave Himari her full attention. That one way of saying her name had alarm bells ringing in Misato's head, but she headed not their warning. "You like Shinji looking at you like that. You tease him like I do, not as bad as Chizuru, but you had me wondering how honest you were about it," Misato opened a whole can of worms.
"Thy know I'm not a human," Himari examined the coffee table carefully. "My clan is well known for its rather…unique mating. We mate for life, and take well it. But as I have yet to…even on my own…is what that fox claims true? Is it that wondrous?" Himari didn't look like she believed whatever she had heard. "Is it hard to perform as well? My training was in swordplay not in the bedchamber," now that came out bitterly.
Jealousy at Chizuru or fear that Shinji wouldn't find her worthy of his time, Misato's mind boggled at what she was hearing. "Himari, I can't tell you what sex feels like. It's different for everybody. I," Misato tugged on her collar suddenly feeling a bit warm. "I really enjoyed it when I had a man in my life. It comes more from your emotions with the person rather than the man's size or your own tightness," Misato's legs rubbed together uncomfortably. "All I can say is, take your time, don't rush, and be honest with each other. If you want to try something, ask, if you don't like something tell him. Hell Shinji won't do a damn thing unless you do, boy is terrified of hurting others in anyway," Misato found that endearing.
Thumping the hilt of her katana on the ground, Himari's lips curled up in a sultry manner. Her teeth were more fang like, and her cat ears and tail unfurled as her eyes crested. "Conversing with thee has been much more rewarding than I doth believed it could be. I shall remember thy advice when it comes time for Shinji-sama to make a woman of…" her eyes blinked fast as she realized what she was saying and quickly shut her mouth.
"WHAT THE HELL!" Shinji's voice echoed loudly through the apartment interrupting any other moments of female bonding.
Falling off the couch at the sudden yell, Misato found herself face first in the carpet. Luckily she hadn't gotten another can, as it would have made for a messy clean up for Shinji. Getting off the ground, her arms aching under the sudden strain, Misato's head was hazy. "Himari slow down!" Misato yelled at the blur of motion that was Himari.
On unsteady legs, Misato followed apprehensively. While she had told Chizuru not to visit, it could have been a site she wasn't ready for, seeing that top heavy girl nude was not part of Misato's daily thought plan. "Please be a bug or a mouse…hell even Pen-Pen sneaking in! Don't be something bad," Misato saw the back of Himari's leg sticking out of the bathroom, at least no fighting yet.
"Explain thyself or taste my steel," Himari barked as her tail went ridged and stuck out at full length.
Well so much for that wish, Misato face palmed bitterly. Getting behind Himari, Misato got a look at what was causing all the fuss. Rei was in the bathtub with Shinji, wearing clothing at least, but how the girl got in the apartment. Then Misato noticed something important, "Wait, Ayanami has blue hair and bigger breasts than that."
"Should I call you a pervert, slap you, or scream?" Shizuku asked deadpan as the duo of women entered the room. Sitting on Shinji's lap, what looked like her white sundress was neigh translucent from the water.
Shinji just blinked and held his hands up in the air in extreme shock, "N-none of those please?" Looking pleadingly at Misato and Himari, the boy had absolutely no control of the situation.
"The hell is this, and if I don't like the answer I'm going to be very upset," Misato wanted another drink badly. Over the next half hour, Shinji sat on the couch in a towel looking very uncomfortable, Misato heard of the earlier battle. Oh and they all got to learn that Shizuku was going to be staying with them to gauge Shinji's true stance on abstaining from his family's demon hunter ways. Misato got drunk, very drunk, blacked out, and woke up to find Shinji still in a towel sleeping with his head in Himari's lap. Himari looked like the cat that ate the canary.
X-X
Tugging on his collar, Kozo was a trifle perplexed by the events he had just bore witness too. Walking into Gendo's office, the man was behind his desk with the red light of the speaker phone illuminating his face with a hellish tint, Kozo didn't really want to break the little factoid he had gleamed. Ayanami Rei was recovering from her little bought of heat searing, her Eva was going to need extensive repair work, but the real perplexing thing was…she asked how Gendo's son was. Rei never cared about another human before.
"We might have a slight problem, Gendo," the wiser old man wasn't going to put to much into it yet. Perhaps Rei was just curious, bored, or concerned about the mission if one of her fellow pilots died. Kozo had no reason to fear the dominant half of Rei's genetics was working against them. But Akagi did say they found traces of meat in Rei's system, that wasn't something she was supposed to be eating. It'd hearken to losing control of her. Clearing his throat to get Yui's chosen's attention, "Gendo whoever you're talking to it can wait."
Pushing his glasses back up, Gendo grunted, "One moment Ryoji," he then depressed the mute button. Swiveling his chair to gaze further into his cavernous office, "What is it sensei? I have our little errand boy over in Germany on the line. He is claiming the same as you. That we might have a problem that I need to focus on," Gendo pulled back his lips to reveal his gleaming pearly whites.
Suppressing the shudder that came whenever Gendo smiled, Kozo never could stand it, the older man laid a manila folder on the desk. "I doubt the U.N.'s little spy has much to say that is relevant as this. The First Child asked how your son faired after the battle, and we found trace amounts of beef in her body," not ground breaking stuff for a normal person, but for Rei it was paramount to her suddenly singing show-tunes and fondling herself in public.
Shrugging his shoulders, Gendo seemed unimpressed and flicked the audio back on the phone. "Fuyutski has some matters that require my attention, Ryoji, so make your report and state your concerns quickly," Gendo stated grumpily. Pulling out a bottle of scotch from and a glass, the man fixed himself a stiff drink and handed the bottle across his desk. "And do tell us about the Jinguji girl, Tendril's Leaf is debating what to do with her," Gendo shot back his drink in one full swig.
Over the crackling line, one Ryoji Kaji made his report with an uneven and worried voice. "I was able to see the Adam embryo, but it wasn't what I was expecting. It seems more like a black crystal than anything organic. I've verified that it IS alive, but…it's very different from what Leaf lead us to believe," the line distorted badly for a few moments. "As for Jinguji, the girl is a real pill but no threat, but I can't just get rid of her. She's been Asuka's friend for over three years now. Birds of a feather," Kaji actually sounded a little pleased.
Pouring himself a drink, Kozo couldn't help but feel like they were being played. Tendril's Leaf sounded to good to be true, and were helping for no understandable reason. "Gendo, this might be something we need to look into. How do we know we can trust them after this? Sure they gave us the packages, but everything Seele and they tell us contradict each other!" the burning of the liquor helped fuel his courage. A big game of chess was being played, only Kozo didn't know who was playing who and who was just a piece.
"Keep an eye on the Jinguji girl, Yui said once that they were considered the weakest clan, but her clan didn't agree with it. As for the friendship between her and the pilot, if the girl becomes to much hassle you will still take her out. We cannot let petty emotions prevent the scenario," Gendo drank after he finished. "As for Adam, it was Seele that gave the description, I'll speak to Kehl about it. Perhaps our founders are not working well together," Gendo terminated the call as Kaji attempted to offer a rebuttal.
Hiking an aged leg up on the desk, Kozo leaned heavily against it. "This isn't looking good, Gendo. We have signs Ayanami is breaking through our conditioning, Tendril's Leaf isn't telling the whole story, Seele is keeping secrets, and we have this whole demon hunter girl stalking the Second Child. We are over exposed to threats, how do you expect to contain all of this," Kozo helped himself to another drink. His nerves weren't what they were back when the scenario was originally created.
Leaning back in his chair, it reclined and burped the sound of rubbing leather, Gendo smiled his unsettling smile again. "You forget who Yui arranged the Jinguji girl to marry? As for our generous supplies, we don't need to worry about their machinations, we have our own. Pilot Ayanami will follow orders, or we reapply the conditioning. If worse comes to worse we can attempt to create another from the original. It is still in stasis is it not?" Gendo looked tired and haggard.
Having seen the non-human part of Ayanami's genetic structure, Kozo felt dirty. "Yes we still have the girl, but we have had such limited success getting the cloning process to take with the demon-animal DNA, and the age altering magics from Tendril's Leaf come at to high a price!" Kozo disliked all elements of magic, but having seen it first hand couldn't refute its existence. Yui's son was apparently capable of some feats of it, whether the lad knew it or not.
"You're getting worrisome in your old age, professor. I have everything under control," Gendo drank again. "If things get worse, we can just use the Third Child to direct some authority over what we are loosing. And to think I didn't believe Yui when she said she was a demon slayer," Gendo capped the bottle and put it back in his desk.
X-X
Notes
DEAR GOD work has been kicking me I the nuts all week! A lot of overtime, a lot of stress from panicking project managers and a damn environment that fails to work! Moving from our old tried-and-true repository to a new Maven based on…and it DOESN'T WORK! RAGE! Sigh…I miss writing but I'm totally drained when I get home. It should be over soon though, and I'll get back to a routine.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and its plot progression. I've my plans as some of you might be seeing with this chap, hope you enjoyed.
Later
Mercaba