Standard Disclaimer
Well Easter has come and gone and with it the time I lose to family and driving. Another cycle of stories is almost over. Man I wish I had more time for this, writing that is, but life just doesn't want to give it to me. So again sorry for delays and all.
X-X
Friend of my Enemy
Chapter – 9
Sitting on the couch before the television, it was off and his reflection was gazing back at him, Tayura appeared haunted. He had not expected the events of the last two days, last night more in particular, but then again when hadn't Chizuru destroyed his perspectives on life? The issue of one Ayanami Rei moving in had been met with skepticism and resistance, until Chizuru made her point by comparing the wolf-girl to his own adoption. Then was yesterday with Shinji off at that Nerv place with a new pilot, yet another girl, and Chizuru was not happy.
"Not happy until Shinji made her happy last night," Tayura cringed as the memories replayed against his will in his head. As her brother, Tayura could understand a little from Chizuru's perspective. His sister was the official girlfriend of a man that now technically had three. Rei was 'temporary' while Himari was not going anywhere and everybody knew it. Idly flipping through a school book, thankfully it was Sunday, Tayura was still unnerved by Shinji's manner of placating his beloved sister. A confused sigh later, "I shouldn't have listened, but they were so loud."
Setting the book down, it was advanced mathematics and almost a foreign language to Tayura, he popped his neck. A shower, yes a nice cold shower would help to knock the thoughts growing root in his head. "I am not thinking of her…or him like this, it's just to creepy," he bemoaned. And Ayanami only made things worse for him. "Wonder how she'll react to her little offer to Ayanami now, bet she wasn't expecting an audience," he half grinned.
Grabbing his cloths for the day, the zombie-like lad made his way to the mind cleansing cold water. Thinking of water brought yet another questionable issue to the table, "Glad Shizuka is seeing the elders, don't want to think about THAT girl right now." Damn green haired Mizuchi looked like a drowned girl, and that bothered Tayura a little more than he'd like. But to think Ayanami walked in on Shinji and Chizuru as they…
He had been sleeping soundly the night before, least it started that way, Chizuru said she wouldn't do anything without a privacy ward up. Well if what Rei said last night was true and the girl wasn't a closet pervert, the newly awakened demon animal took the ward as a test. One moment Tayura is having a pleasant dream about Asahina, only a little in the red he noticed, and the next he's hearing Chizuru moaning in abstract bliss. "Guess they didn't notice her at first," Tayura started disrobing and tossing his clothing in a pile in the corner.
Sleep deprived, the wolf-boy didn't notice another set of clothing already neatly folded on the counter. Lost in the uncounted mental trek of what happened in the room next to his, Tayura was a little ashamed of how it worked him the right way. Growling, "Damn Chizuru just has to have a voice like that…and those sounds he got out of her." On the hot-scale it was a solid eight out of ten. But after Chizuru's ending ear shattering scream…well THEN they noticed Rei was in the room with them…watching.
With a mighty yawn, Tayura rubbed his eyes and tried not to laugh. Just what was going through those three's heads last night he sort of wanted to know. Well breakfast would be soon, he'd have to goad Shinji into talk…wait was the water still on already? "OH crap uh…" Tayura braced himself as he slide the door open. The room wasn't empty as he thought it'd be, was it Ayanami or Chizuru he had walked in on.
"Oh, Tayura, sorry didn't know you showered so early in the morning. Not used to others being up, Misato-san is a late sleeper," Shinji said cordially enough.
So death wasn't coming for him on dainty painted fingernails, Tayura relaxed. Opening his eyes, Tayura wished he hadn't as his eyes strayed south. "S-Shinji, I uh…yeah d-didn't sleep well. Ayanami's little…I heard," Tayura suddenly felt very inadequate. While he had a sense of male pride, thinking himself decent…whatever Shinji ate while growing up just…no wonder Chizuru was moaning like that. Giving Shinji a wide girth…berth he circled around the lad to the shower, "Try not to do that again would you? I know you're a couple, but I don't want to hear that."
Red faced, Shinji was aghast and quickly bowed to the brother he offended. Stammering and speaking far too fast for easy comprehension, "I'm so sorry Tayura-san! It-it wasn't like we planned on it. Date night went a little too far once Chizuru-san realized Misato-san wasn't going to be home tonight. S-she's not taking Asuka's addition to the pilot roster to well. A-and I told her I'm going to take Himari-san on a date today…add to it we thought the barrier would." Finally standing back up, he grabbed a towel and wrapped it around his waist, "Chizuru-san didn't think Ayanami would be strong enough to break the barrier."
Thankful for Shinji hiding his shame, Tayura waved a hand dismissively. "I know how she can get when she gets worried, and she gets worried about you a lot. Just please don't let it happen again." Trying to come off as gruff and stern, he glared at Shinji and punched his right fist to his other palm. Listening to a few more reassurances and apologies as Shinji clothed himself in the side room, Tayura turned on the water. Wasn't everyday he got emasculated by a rail-thin boy not even trying. Maybe it was a gift of his slayer heritage…just slaying in a different way. Chuckling as went about his bathing, "Maybe Shizuka was right."
His little morning shower, odd for him as he was normally a night bather, didn't last nearly as long as he had wanted. Despite all his attempts, Tayura just couldn't banish the image of Rei sitting on the chair in Chizuru's room watching the other two intently. "Wonder if she had a notebook and wrote down hints, would fit her personality," he joked as he dried off. For as cute as the little wolf-girl was, Tayura just was put off by her personality, another girl Shinji could have that he didn't care for. Though…if Shinji got eyes for Asahina a line would be drawn.
Listening intently to the sounds of the apartment, Tayura got dressed with relative ease. No school uniform today meant it was a lazy clothing day. T-shirt and shorts on, he left the door open to let the mist disperse in the apartment, hoping it'd mask the smell from the night before. Calling out loud, "Breakfast ready yet Shinji?" A small benefit of having his sisters paramour over, breakfast wasn't something he had to cook today. No reply was heard, so he headed to the kitchen to investigate.
Softly but hurriedly, Shinji could barely be heard whispering harshly. "Ayanami-san, in the future please knock on the door before entering alright? We-we bothered Tayura-san with the sound of our…and I know Chizuru looked upset, but she's just in shock from what you said." A chair screeched across the floor, "It's just a shock to all of us right now. Normally people know each other a little better before asking if they can…can watch or h-help."
W-w-watch? HELP? Tayura's brain short circuited and he fell against the wall, slid down it, and landing with a thud staring at Shinji and Ayanami. The two were sitting at the small dinette set, Shinji's hands on an impassive looking Rei. With as much dignity as a man caught spying can muster, "Y-yo. Breakfast almost finished? S-sleep well Ayanami, b-bed to your liking?" Smooth move he knew, but Tayura wasn't overtly accustomed to these types of situations.
Sparing Tayura a single glance, Rei's head bobbed slightly at her flatmate before turning back to Shinji. "I am simply trying to make my alpha comfortable and his needs met. Though I did not wish to offend the matriarch either. The barrier, I assumed it had been placed to test how I've progressed in learning of my abilities. So I am not going to be evicted from the pack?" Rei's head tilted ever so slightly. Slowly she turned to Tayura, "Ikari-kun, in my readings it stated the non-alpha would try to mate with the females of the pack while the alpha is distracted or busy. Is that the case here?"
Was she asking…was this girl worried he would! Pushing himself up, Tayura found he was more offended at being considered 'below Shinji' than the idea Rei worried he'd try and press her. Girl was taking her demon-animal status a bit to literally. "Ayanami-san, you're more human than wolf. You don't have to worry about me. I…I don't see you like that," he nearly blurted he wanted Asahina. It was so early yet he wanted to crawl back into bed, "So relax. Shinji's your man and if Chizuru is alright with that, who am I to say anything. Where IS she anyway?" Sitting down, grabbing a piece of toast as he did, Tayura caught the appreciation on Shinji's face.
Patting Ayanami's hand as he got up and moved to the waiting pots on the stove, Shinji gave Tayura a wide toothy smile. "Just as Tayura said, Ayanami, despite what you showed me yesterday, you're still very much 'human'," the word came out forced. Aside from Shinji, nobody in the apartment was 'human', but semantics were all up to interpretation. "You shouldn't want to 'mate' with somebody unless you care about them. Chizuru and I care deeply for one another. As for us," he turned the burner on as a stalling tactic. Honesty he continued with, "I care for you as well Ayanami, you're a comrade and a friend. I-in time maybe…as for Chizuru, Tayura, she's still sleeping. She tends to sleep late after we…"
Ever the diplomatic answer if Tayura ever heard one, but he gave Shinji credit for it. He spared Rei's feelings, wasn't looking to jump in the sack with everybody, and gave the girl hope. As for the news on Chizuru, "Well I guess that just means I'll have to cook her lunch or something if you're really going out with Noihara-san." Munching on the bread, Tayura took several sidelong glances at Rei. The girl watched Shinji so intently it was a little unnerving. Just what was going on in her head, "You have plans for the day Ayanami? No school, going to set up your room, hang out with Chizuru, or…" He hoped she'd leave for the day, Tayura wanted his peaceful world back of nothing but Chizuru and him…not that he expected it.
Taking her own piece of bread, Rei grabbed several pieces of bacon from the plate Shinji was loading, thief, and stopped watching Shinji's back. "Chizuru-san has requested we have some 'girl time' to welcome me into your home due to yesterday being spent with Ikari-kun," her voice shifted whenever she said Chizuru or Shinji's name. A sense of reverence was in how she said Chizuru, as for Shinji…it was defiantly more amorous. Taking a large bite out of her half sandwich, "the water demon wanted to inspect me as well. She said that after the incident at my apartment, she wanted to see to a few things."
A loud crash from the stove proved to Tayura that Shinji heard the secret of the day. Damn it, Chizuru didn't want Shinji to know about Saku, and here Rei effortlessly lets the cat out of the bag. Saku, of all Chizuru's past mistakes to come and haunt them, that obscenely powerful wolf-man had to be the one. For the first time ever, Tayura was intimidated by Shinji as the boy turned around with a blank yet accusing stare, "We-we were going to tell you Shinji-kun, after your date with Noihara?"
Of all the lies he could have told, he had to pick the most blatant. Having not heard of Shinji's plans till just twenty minutes ago…
Shinji's arms crossed, his brow furrowed and he gazed expectantly at both Rei and Tayura. When Rei offered no supporting details, Tayura's shoulders sank. Guess Rei was taking lessons from Chizuru already, the first one must have been 'how to get Tayura to take the bullet for you.' Swiping a handful of bacon too, "One of Chizuru's ex's came to town the day you went off to get that other pilot girl. He's looking for his sister, she got kidnapped or something, but the scent lead him to Ayanami's old place." Best not to let the wolf out of the bag about the whole 'murdering Shinji to claim Chizuru bit' Tayura hoped Saku had just been aggravated. In the past the man hadn't been that violent.
Turning his back on the conspirators, Shinji went back to cooking. "Well I won't lie and say I didn't expect her to have a few ex-boyfriends. Chizuru likely has had a lot of would-be suitors. Still amazed she lets me…" he sampled his culinary creation. "Anyway, thanks for trying to spare my feelings. T-think she'll want to 'talk' to him about things? Oh and I've a few things at the apartment for lunch if you want. I was thinking of taking Himari-san out for some time now, and it's a peace offering."
Startling the pair, and reading expertly into what Tayura could only speculate one, Rei clumsily got to her feet and wrapped her arms around Shinji's waist. Taking in a very deep breath, her ears and tail suddenly breaking out accompanied with the shift from blue to grey hair. "Ikari-kun is not a substitute for anything. If Chizuru-san foolishly seeks a different pack, I shall take her place as matriarch…" she nuzzled Shinji with her nose. An odd scene, made even more irregular was the fact her tone and inflection remained dead flat.
If he was a betting name, Tayura would have speculated Himari would have put up a fight if Chizuru suddenly took up Saku over Shinji. Getting to his feet, "Going to get the paper, and for what it's worth Shinji-kun, Saku never made Chizuru as happy as I see you can." Chuckling to himself as he listened to Rei accost the chef about what the lunch was…and rub against him, Tayura was glad he wasn't a 'man among men' as Shinji's situation was not ideal for ease of life. "Wonder how their date is going to g…" door open, Tayura came face to face with a very exuberant Himari in a luxurious kimono, "g-go."
"Hath Shinji-sama finished making yon repast for thee? Be it not to forward, this one would rather prefer to begin our time together," oh that look of expectation and borderline need was present. Himari was wanting her date, wanted it now, and wasn't going to take no for an answer. Yup, Shinji's luck was subjective to opinion on the good/bad side.
X-X
While her mood wasn't at the apex it had been several hours ago, Chizuru was having a wonderful day. Her beloved Shin-chan made her breakfast in bed, something she wanted more often, her new ward Ayanami apologized for her voyeurism, and even her brother relented in letting the girl stay. It was easy to say her emotional state had been riding very high, especially after the ride the night before. To think it would feel that good…Chizuru was feeling just a slight bit addicted to her beau's presence in her bed and not just for the physical aspect of to. No doubts, worries, or even hesitation existed in her mind, she cherished that man as much as he did her.
Then Himari pushed her insistence that it was time to go, that brought Chizuru's mood down a bit. But, strangely, it wasn't as bad as the kitsune thought it would be. In the pecking order Chizuru was on top, Himari was close but would always be second, and Chizuru could live with that easily. So let Kuro-Neko have her date, Chizuru wasn't greedy. Not when her Shin-chan had already made her feel so squishy and loved, combined with the lunch she was heading over to collect. Boy thought of everything, he filled in for so many of Chizuru's more 'on the fly' thinking perfectly.
Taking the direct approach, Rei didn't bother knocking on the Ikari/Katsuragi door, she just went to open it. "The door is not opening?" she turned to Chizuru with what might have passed for confusion. Releasing the handle and turning to her matron, "Did Ikari-kun not say he provided food for us at his domicile?"
So much work to do with this one, Chizuru realized but that was half the fun. Spinning the albino around, Chizuru pressed herself against the girl's back, and with one hand on Rei's shoulder Chizuru produced a key with the other. "Shinji-kun provides like he said he would, but normally you lock your doors after you leave. Can't have perverts like Tayura here breaking in and stealing your panty's," Chizuru flinched her head at the trailing brother. Making a mental note to get Rei a set of card keys for the apartments inner and outer door, Chizuru slide Shinji's spare into the slot. After an audible click, "See safe and secure."
Grumbling as he followed behind the two, hands behind his head, "You didn't have to say it like that Chizuru. And anyway I do your laundry so it's not like I haven't seen your lewd excuse for undergar…ments." Locking in place, eyes bulging open, Tayura took a step back as Chizuru's powerful leg kicked back at his stomach narrowly missing. "It's true and you know it! My sister's gotten all perverted since she's started dating," he said in a weak protest.
Propelling the young Ayanami with both hands now, Chizuru kicked off her shoes with excessive force. Damn Tayura just couldn't read the mood could he, oh well maybe she'd have to punish him. After the little talk with Shinji and Ayanami this morning, Chizuru had a perfect way to do that now. "Don't mind him, Rei-chan, he just doesn't know a woman's heart or how the right guy can make her want to show off for him," and boy-howdy did Chizuru want to show off for Shinji. It wouldn't do good for Himari to surpass her now did it? Stupid elegant and graceful cat, she didn't want to have fears of being second best.
Fumbling with her own shoes thanks to Chizuru still holding her by the arms, Rei nearly toppled over when she finished. "There is another set of women sized shoes here, higher quality than what captain Katsuragi normally wears," Rei reported dryly. Using her barefoot, no socks for Rei, to align her shoes with the leather ones hers were an inch larger than the new pair. With the faintest of blushes, "Chizuru-san, would you allow me to walk unhindered?"
Still in her happy place, Chizuru gave Rei a squeeze before releasing her, "Sorry Rei-chan, but you can just be adorable at times. Like one of those china dolls, I just want to hug you." Her mother had done the same to her at the start too, it helped open up the relationship and build trust. At the time Chizuru hadn't really known or accepted it, but now a lot of her mother's oddities were making more sense. Eying the shoes however a cold chill marred Chizuru's perfect day, "Those aren't snake girl or Kuro-neko's. He didn't get another did he?"
Adding his own shoes to the fairly large pile of them, Tayura just shrugged and headed deeper into the apartment. "Shinji-kun does seem to be the lady killer. Maybe you're just being, no even I don't believe that," Tayura readjusted his statement midstride. Stopping at the corner, the lad cupped his ear with his hand and spied, in a harsh whisper, "I hear talking, but I only recognize one of the voices. Is that food I smell?"
Walking right up to Tayura, Rei's nose sniffed the air much like a dog, "I smell seasoned fish, salad with a vinaigrette, and." Cutting off her dialogue, Rei wasn't going to spy any longer and just burst into the living room. "I smell spare ribs, those are mine," Rei said loudly as she went out of Chizuru's sight.
"Way to that girl's heart is her stomach," Chizuru giggled. So they lost the element of surprise and couldn't spy on Misato and her current guest, she could adapt. Following at a leisurely pace, not good to show any anxiety or fret over unknown women at Shinji's apartment, Chizuru had her hand up to wave at Misato the moment she came into view. What she saw made her 'angry vein' tick, yup another girl and this one was a cut above most. "Hey Mother-in-Law, we came to get the food Shin-chan left for us, but it seems you already found it," Chizuru at least sounded non-pulsed by the intruder.
Much the same as Ayanami did, Tayura rushed into the room the moment food was mentioned. "They didn't eat my share again did they?" he came to a skidding halt. Feet catching on the carpet, Tayura bowled over after catching site of Asuka with a spare rib in hand sitting on a chair. Crawling over to the coffee table, a large spread of food laid out atop it, "My lunch," Tayura's eyes welled up with water. Turning his puppy dog eyes up at the offending girl, "Why?"
Beer in hand, Misato pressed the can to her forehead and sighed, "Wasn't expecting a party this morning. As for Shinji-kun's food, well Asuka was hungry and doesn't know and restaurants in town yet so helped herself. Yes, Asuka, Shinji-kun did make it." Rubbing her head against the perspiring can, Misato smeared the fluid against her face. "Have a sit, Chizu-chan, and explain why when I called last night nobody answered my call," Misato patted the cushion next to her.
Eying the cushion warily, Chizuru hadn't expected Misato to circumvent Shinji's personal phone and just call the apartment. Well, if she had to make a few sacrifices for love, shouldn't Shinji take a few lumps too? Taking the offered seat, Chizuru gave Asuka a thorough once over, so this was the new pilot. Foreign features, exotic, brash, greedy, a mix of good and bad qualities, but something else. Very faint but something else was inside that girl, "So you're the girl that my Shin-chan saved, oh and if you want to keep your fingers I suggest you give Rei-chan here one of those ribs or she's libel to take it from you." Best to put the girl in her place now, establish dominance and ownership less another girl start sniffing around for her man.
With the meat of one rib between her teeth, Asuka looked from her plate to the stoic and impassive girl standing right at her side. The staring match lasted a good twenty seconds as Asuka slowly chewed her food, then offered the remaining plate to Ayanami who took it without saying a word, sat down, and proceeded to demolish said food. "Strange," was the first word Asuka uttered to the non-humans, "And who are you that can just burst into a captain of Nerv's apartment as if you own the place demanding food? I need answers to questions, and I don't think you three should be here."
Grabbing a bowl of salad, girl had to watch her figure or she might not be as sexy for Shinji as she wanted, Chizuru kept stealing peeks at Misato. Gushing however, "Well Shin-chan's apartment is a second home for me, Misato-chan's never had an issue with me visiting. Ayanami-chan here is a pilot like you so she can visit whenever she likes to. Tayura is just a food obsessed boy with an obsession with his sister. Now why don't YOU explain why you're in my boyfriend's apartment?" Something in this girl's body language just irked Chizuru in all the wrong ways. Himari came off as haughty and proud, but she could back it up.
Pointing an angry finger at Chizuru, Asuka belted out, "So YOU'RE the girlfriend? Big titted cow like you is what he picked over…" Crossing her leg over the other, Asuka reclined in her chair and kicked at the air angrily, "And here I thought he had taste, but no just another guy falling for a pretty face and no substance. If it was the girl from the picture, Noihara, I'd have been almost alright with it considering the amnesia." Reaching down towards Rei's plate, Asuka went to grab a rib but pulled back as Rei snarled and covered it with her body, "Freak."
"Now, now Asuka you don't know Chizuru-kun yet. She does look like somebody that is all body and no brain," Misato turned and smiled at the girl. Grabbing Chizuru's nose between her thumb and forefinger she wiggled it, "But the truth is she's far more intelligent and conniving than you'd expect. Have to watch her every minute or she'll be taking things she's not supposed to, or borrowing things that should be left home." Releasing Chizuru, Misato pounded her beer down in one mighty chug, "Now before this turns into a bitch contest, Asuka why don't you show them what you were going to show me?"
Body trembling in barely contained animosity, Chizuru was tempted to have an accident and fox-fire this little girl out of the nearest window. Girl had some guts to make such boorish comments, but Chizuru was above that, was above petty vengeance and anger. "Nothing this girl can do is really that impressive, not with such a small asset pool to draw from," she idly hoisted her own assets to mock the girl. Well maybe Chizuru wasn't totally above being petty. Knowing she scored a point when Asuka looked right where she wanted and Asuka's eye twitched, "Well, what are you going to show us?"
Alternating between the new additions and Misato, Asuka fidgeted a little under the combined gazes. Sure Tayura and Ayanami were busy eating, but they were paying attention, it was Misato and Chizuru boring down on her with intense scrutiny. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I told you what I was going to show you. Not something I want just anybody to see," Asuka's tone bordered on something forbidden and reluctance.
"Go ahead Asuka, as your commanding officer and old acquaintance, I think it'd do you all a load of good to just do it," Misato crushed the can against her head gave herself a fist bump and tossed it into the trashbin.
Standing up and moving closer to the balcony, Asuka opened the partition and took a deep breath. "Be quite while I do this, I can't control it to well yet, and it could hurt you if I lose control," Asuka warned. Grabbing her right wrist with her other hand, Asuka closed her eyes and focused. Veins started to protrude from her scalp as she attempted her 'trick'. Panting hard, sweat pouring off her face, Asuka finally fell to one knee but successfully conjured a small tennis ball of blue flame in her hand. "H-harder to do without an-an old lineage slayer by me to draw from, but b-behold magic! The blue flame is capable of…" Asuka's prideful voice was cut short.
"Oh how cute, it's so small, and it took so much effort from you," Chizuru goaded. Girl was trained by a slayer though, and it obviously wasn't Shinji. That is unless he did it back when he couldn't remember; girl did mention she knew of his childhood amnesia. Sauntering over to the still winded German, "So who taught you that parlor trick? The only one you know?"
Gasping and falling back, the ball of flame vanishing in a puff of smoke, Asuka's eyes went hard and mad. "I could have hurt you with that 'small thing'! Don't you realize what that was? It was magic, it was blue flame hotter than normal fire! As for who t-taught me…you don't have the right to know," Asuka indignantly got back to her feet ignoring Chizuru's hand in assistance. Hand to her chest, she tried to rally more points to her side, "They are things in this world you couldn't fathom, breast-girl, things that would eat you alive. D-demons exist, and my friend fights against them, started teaching me how to as well."
"Show her," Chizuru said simply enough. The duo of demon-animals and the pure-blood let their ears and tails out instantly. If Asuka was showing her hand, why shouldn't they show theirs as well? Hovering above Asuka who again found herself on the flood, eyes open wide in shock and horror, Chizuru took a small pride in that. "Don't believe all that you hear from slayers, Asuka-chan. We're not evil, we don't eat children or souls, and most of us just want to be left alone. It's the slayers that need to be worried, some demons do hunt for them out of old grudges," she offered her hand again. When Asuka took it, Chizuru pulled the girl close so she could get a glimpse of the chaos that was in her eyes, "And yes my beloved Shin-chan knows this and doesn't care. He thinks we can all get along."
"Ayanami what the hell? You too?" Misato shouted in disbelief. "When did, how did that happen? Chizuru you're not contagious or anything are you, Shinji's not going to…well when you're not possessing him," Misato was feeling Rei's ears and tail. Stroking the girl without noticing the visual effects, "So soft, you look cute like that Ayanami."
It was Tayura that spoke up as Rei's face exploded in crimson. "Katsuragi-san, those are quite fresh and t-tender. Maybe you shouldn't…" but it was too late as Rei let out a cute moan and flushed a rather messy stain on the carpet.
Chaos broke out as Misato hurriedly rushed Ayanami to the bathroom to wash, Chizuru congratulated her quasi-sister for her first encounter, and Asuka just watched on in shock. The afternoon calmed to a degree as the trio of groups, Misato, Asuka, and Chizuru's band, explained what they knew. Asuka never exposed her source of training however, and the animosity boiled below the surface between Chizuru and her. But thankfully in the end, Asuka did announce she had no plans for dating any low class male like Shinji or Tayura.
X-X
Admiring her reflection in the store window, Himari felt atop the world and ready to claim it as her own. Her formal kimono in the bag suspended from her covered sword, she felt a certain freeness from the current fashion of the day. She had to buy a bra and panty set to accompany it as she oft went au natural in her kimono, but the reaction she got flashing it at Shinji was worth it. Despite what she knew Chizuru and he was doing, her cherished master still was so innocent in such matters.
Playing the part of the dutiful boyfriend, and quite obviously not master, Shinji entwined his arm with hers at the elbow. "Did you enjoy the tea there? Came with Chizuru a while back, though she's more a coffee person I thought you'd enjoy the green tea they had," Shinji's bashfulness was in full force. Trying his best not to ogle Himari in her new adornment of dark blue top and white pleated skirt, he was paying attention to the other men pointing at her.
Batting coyly at his chest, Himari did enjoy the beverage but didn't like hearing who introduced Shinji to it. "Shinji-sama, perhaps it best not to speak of thy other paramour while thee attend to me?" it wasn't a harsh tone, today was to good for unpleasant words. Tilting her head to gave intently at Shinji, she had to tease him though, "And twas that servant and thy previously engaged? She seemed a trifle skittish of your presence." True the big breasted blonde foreigner appeared downright terrified of Shinji for some reason.
Scratching his cheek, Shinji bent forward in contemplation as he let Himari guide them as he had all day. With the exception of the mid-day tea break it had all been for Himari's benefit and enjoyment. "Sorry about that, I did want to day to be just for us. We haven't had much time privately lately. I've a lot of questions I'd like answered, but I also just missed being with you. As for Chelsie-san, I wasn't paying much attention to her. I was…you see…" he fumbled with his words as Himari pulled his arm against him.
So something was keeping his mind away from other girls, take that Minamoto. Her confidence and sense of appreciation from Shinji had been skyrocketing all day. It wasn't a doubt she loved him, but she didn't feel to much that it was fully reciprocated. Until today that is. Feeling his heart rate increase, Himari couldn't keep her grin off her face from knowing she was causing it. Let the others walking the street make way for them, today was her day. And she had a good way of sparking those old memories, and hopefully today would be the last day she was technically a child.
Leading Shinji up a flight of steps he had once walked, "Was my Shinji-sama distracted by the adornments that he has procured for myself?" Gesturing to her clothing, they felt odd to wear but liberating, she had to admit she liked how she looked in them. The bra could go though, while it gave her bust a more full look, it was constricting and itchy.
Releasing Shinji's arm, Himari skipped up the last few steps, "As for the day, I admit I too had an ulterior motive, but it was pushed to the wayside upon more desire for personal time." Fluttering her eyelashes at the man, her chest was beating like mad. It was so secluded up here, and the shrine did have a small miko quarters likely with bed.
Marveling at the beauty of the shrine, both Himari and the environment, Shinji's eyes went wide in recollection. "I've been here before! This is where C-we fought that lizard demon!" he spun around frantically looking for yet another demon.
"Fear not, Shinji-sama, for I did not bring us here for a battle," Himari had to stifle a laugh. For a slayer, Shinji was far to kind hearted and absent minded. Walking up to the offering box, Himari took some of the change from her new cloths and tossed it in. Ringing the bell, "Does this location bring back any other of thy memories?" She prayed it did, it was what she hoped for beyond hope.
Listening to the clacking of the offering bells, the chirping of the birds, and even the wind blowing through the trees, Shinji stood taking it all in. No motion, no sound, just watching as Himari turned to face him with the shrine as her backdrop. "Sorry I don…" but then he stopped, his hand grasped for his open mouth. A frantic energy welled up within him, face alight with understanding, "Grandma and Grandpa's shrine in the woods! This place is just like it."
Close, closer than she'd ever seen him since she started following him, but he needed one final push Himari could taste on her tongue. "Anything else about the shrine come to thy mind, Shinji-sama? Perhaps if you probe a bit deeper?" she took several timid steps towards him. Her sword laying on the offering box, she wanted her hands free just in case something unexpected happened. With all her anticipation spilling forth asked, "Anything at all?"
In an apparent daze, Shinji walked towards Himari but wasn't looking at her. His head bobbled around taking in the peaceful and serene atmosphere. "I remember…loneliness. Aside from my grandparents I was alone up there. T-training in something I can't remember…light something. A r-rainstorm…I found a…" Shinji slowly looked down at Himari who was standing right before him.
Taking his hands held them down fully extended, he was remembering her. Maybe it was time she let the proverbial cat out of the bag and showed him her ability to transform into his beloved little black cat. "Loneliness was not all though knew there, a companion that followed you on many an imagined adventure," he had taken her solitude away as well. Away from her family, knowing she'd serve the boy his whole life or until battle lust forced his hand to kill her, she had been alone for the first time in her life. Knowing that she craved battle, but battle would overtake her in time as it did neigh all her kin forcing the timid master of hers to slay her. But did he know…could he know it was her back then?
"A cat," Shinji said with utter a remorse, "A wonderful and patient cat. She played with me when I had nobody else. Took shelter with me under the tree during the storm. I promised I'd stay with her and care for her forever. But then I was moved…I thought I'd never see her again," a tear threatened to move down Shinji's eye. "I wonder if that cat hates me for abandoning her," he tried to free his hands from Himari's grip. When he couldn't he finished with, "And a girl at the lake, with the most beautiful black hair."
Letting the faulty admission go by the wayside, Himari was ready to pop. He remembered, remembered her finally after all this time. "Silly master, I haven't shown thee mine human form till we met in this foul smelling burg. But thy are correct in all others. This cat has waited for her master to reclaim her for a long time," she yanked his hands and drew him into a tight embrace. Stroking his hair as she felt his arms wrap around her, "But thee are also wrong in believing I could hate you. Until thee are forced to put me down, I shall always love my master."
Breaking out of Shinji's embrace, but keeping his hand in hers, Himari gave the lad a slight tug. "Perhaps we might find something of import inside the proprietor's temple. Does not look as if a full time caretaker lives within the building, so mayhap we could explore," she couldn't believe how she felt. Her body was tingling all over, her thighs were rubbing against one with abandon, and she could feel his pulse quicken in her hand. The dreams and plans for the day gone, what only mattered now was this moment.
Spying the empty shrine and temple grounds, a sign of the times were people felt the gods abandoned them, Shinji tugged on his collar. "A-are you sure this is the best place to…explore?" he said knowingly. With how he walked, giving his legs a bit wider berth, Shinji was doing a poor job in concealing his own desires. With labored breathing, "I'm not apposed mind you…actually I would really like to…but what if somebody DOES live there…or people come here. I'd hate to be caught ex-exploring."
Dragging Shinji into the abandoned building, signs of vagrants in one dirty corner, Himari wasn't going to let Shinji's timorous nature alter things. "Then perhaps we shant explore but make love upon the floorboards?" she curled up close to him and said in sultry tones. Feeling his body go stiff against hers, she felt the all too familiar notion of her own fear. What if she wasn't good at it, what if he wasn't satisfied with her, what if Chizuru was all he wanted. If he rejected her, favoring his first chosen, she'd abide by it and live a life of celibacy…but wasn't the first time supposed to hurt?
In a deft showing of wantonness, Shinji shut the door to the building with one hand and nodded dumbly. "H-how did you want…the floor is dirty and your clothing is…" Shinji stammered. Enraptured by the alluring and very playful performance from Himari, Shinji was butter in her hands. His tongue heavy, "Y-you had help putting it on…d-did you need help getting it off?"
Clicking her tongue at the lad, Himari would throw caution to the wind. She'd never get a 'perfect moment' for this, and today both of them needed this. In a showing of skill and admission, Himari did a back flip into the air and turned into her feline form. Slipping out of the clothing mid-air, she landed upon them and safely out of Shinji's allergy zone. After a moment of preening herself, she turned back into her human form sans all clothing.
"T-that was amazing," Shinji's hands moved to start clapping but stopped after he realized just what happened. Slowly, his fingers worked his own shirt and slacks off. "Y-you're so…captivating," he said with conviction. Getting on his hands and knees he crawled the short distance to her. "S-sorry if I'm still not really g-good at this," he was careful to avoid any 'Chizuru' related words.
That fear, oh how she hated fearing anything, was back when she saw the head of Shinji's member protrude from his boxers. If she went through with this, she was final and forever his, she mated for life. "Tis not it my place to make such a statement? In this matter you are the master and I thee novice," she held her arms out welcoming. This is what she wanted, if she had to have Chizuru in her life to be blessed with this feeling within her, well so be it. Wrapping her arms around Shinji's neck, she pulled him in and against her for a prolonged and well deserved kiss.
Her inexperience showed easily against Shinji's more practiced tongue. It danced in her mouth and flittered about wonderfully as hers clumsily sat motionless in his mouth. Oh how she wanted to make him feel what she was feeling, but a sudden case of shyness befell her. In battle she could slay any foe that beset her, but in the bedroom she was at the mercy of the boy above her. His left hand cupped her breast, pinching her nipple with just the right force to make it erect.
Moaning longingly into Shinji's mouth, Himari was making a plan in the deeper parts of her mind to get more practice at this. It was an art too, just a more sensual one than she was used to. But the touches, the kiss, all it did was drive her further towards needing that one final thing. Bucking her hips against Shinji, she felt the maddening heat of his member just barely pressing against her maidenhood. Breaking the kiss, their mixed saliva dribbling on her face, "Don't…don't tease me." How the roles had reversed, outside the building she had been in total control, confident and bold and Shinji meekly followed and listened. Oh how she was proud and glad for Shinji's shift…and it was nice to be dominated on occasion.
"S-sorry, I just…I don't want to disappoint you…I-I love you Himari-chan," Shinji whimpered. But as he moved in to kiss her again, his hand back to making Himari feel sensations she'd never felt in her life, Shinji thrust forward and after a moment of resistance claimed Himari's innocence, a small trickle of blood staining her new clothing as it lay pooled beneath them.
The pain wasn't the worst she felt in her life, but it was a different type of pain. On the outside a cut or bruise was purely outside, the tearing inside had been whole new to her. But, only then did she realize why Shinji had been so focused on kissing her and fondling her…it distracted, lessened the pain. Slowly she felt him move, tenderness and gentleness in his every act. Pushing him away as the pain started to fade, "Y-you can…I have overcome the pain."
He nodded, she saw his worried face and caressed his cheek, then she felt that burrowing heat expand her insides. Stretching, pressing, tugging, and every subtle vein was conforming to accommodate his size. Soon the pain faded completely, only pleasure remained. Acceptance, her retainer accepted her body and soul, as she did him. And when he released his essence deep inside her and she flushed in her own unexpected orgasm, more from the emotional high, Himari bit down accidentally on Shinji's tongue hard.
No matter, it didn't stop them, it was going to be a long time till Himari got her fill. She had waited quite the long time for this proper reunion, and Shinji agreed one hundred percent.
X-X
Getting out of the car, Fuyutski adjusted his uniform as he gazed up at the office building. With Gendo at his side, and several security guards, he briskly entered and headed for the long elevator. It wasn't every day they got a request for a visit by the elusive Tendrils' Leaf. Gendo had mentioned plans to get answers regarding the Adam chrysalis that was more an onyx gem than the life form they expected. In silence to two men road up the elevator, their guards were not permitted to follow.
Checking his watch, it was nearing supper time, Kozo felt his age catching up with him. "This smells of a setup. We hardly hear from this faction other than when we have issues, and all the sudden they need us?" Kozo stuffed his hands in his pockets. His own plans to unsettle the planned scenario were building, he had made a request to an old friend of Yui's, but with so many unknowns it was tricky. Eying the briefcase handcuffed to Gendo's wrist, "Think it has to do with that thing?"
Fixing his slipping glasses, Gendo worked a crick out of his neck, "Likely sensei, but whatever Tendril's Leaf asks of us, we'll get our own answers as well. Give and take, just need to take more than we give." Ever the impassive man, Gendo didn't come off as being nervous, but a closer look at his hand showed it was holding the handle to the case tenuously. "More concerned with the fluxions Akagi has found in the First Child," he gruffly said.
Ah yes, Gendo's little pet project that Fuyutski had ever so much fun watching. "We knew we were taking a chance by not informing her of her true nature. It just appears that your son," Kozo always made a point of reminding Gendo of that fact, "Was being nice in just the right way to trigger things." Though the spy cameras in the Katsuragi apartment had alerted the old man of several unexpected guests. To think the Noihara clan was honoring its vow to the Ikari clan AND several pure blood demons were involved with Shinji, Kozo was unsure how to treat that.
As the elevator ticked off the final floor and the doors opened, Gendo flexed his shoulders. "If she obeys us I see no issue letting her run a little rampant. She was our defense against the outside factions in case they wanted to kill the Third," as to date Gendo still hadn't used Shinji's actual name in any capacity. Walking to the mentioned office, Gendo depressed the ringer, "If she proves unruly however, we do have several other bodies. Stage a prolonged test and try and replicate the binding process with the original sample."
Merging not just DNA but souls, Kozo hoped the gods wouldn't punish them for the sacrilege. "It took a miracle for the first binding to work, we almost lost the wolf girl in the process. If she had been human we would have. You sure you want THAT to fuel the wild card in the city?" Kozo asked briskly. Saku was photographed in the city, he was a mercenary demon-animal whose secondary objective was unknown…to risk angering him would be dangerous.
"All he would do is get himself killed at our door if he were to try it," Gendo said snidely as the door opened. Not giving Kozo any time to reply, the commander of Nerv headed into a mostly empty office. A single round table with eight chairs sat with seven empty. Taking the chair across from the only other man in the room, Gendo sat behind his gloved hands with the case on the table. "Are we early, we were under the impression that your council wanted to talk with us Mitama-kun," he said knowingly.
In a finely tailored business suit, his short black hair slicked back, Shiki Mitama just gestured to the pot of coffee in the middle of the table. "Gendo-san, we didn't want to bother the other seven houses for our own little request to you. We had tried approaching Seele with it, but you know those old men," stated like a skilled negotiator. Keeping a detached air to him, he watched as Kozo sat next to Gendo before asking, "Any trouble finding the office? It is a trifle confusing the first time."
He never did like Shiki Mitama, but then again Kozo didn't like any of Tendril's Leaf, but desperate times call for desperate measures. "We had no issues Acting-Head Mitama-kun, though we do question why we couldn't go through official channels," Kozo dug in. The man didn't act like a proxy, no this man had the same vibe that Gendo did to Kozo. A plotter, a schemer, and somebody willing to betray and deceive to get what they wanted. Best to be safe, "Is it safe to say that your request is not a formal one from Tendril's Leaf?"
Pinky extended as he lifted the coffee cup to his lips, Shiki tried to hide his glare at Kozo but failed. "Yes this is purely a personal request, oh and a small warning to pass on to your Section-2," he set the cup down with a clink. "No coffee?" he asked as he refilled his cup, "it's a fine Columbian blend." Sniffing the air above his steaming cup, he sipped it as an expert would.
Spinning the case around, latches already undone, Gendo opened it to reveal the contents. "Before we begin, explain how this is the same creature we were informed it would be. This does not appear organic in any form. All angels to date have exuded a blue pattern, this has no pattern. For all intents and purposes it is simply a rock," Gendo accused. Sealing the case and moving it off the table, "This is in stark contrast to earlier reports."
Leave it to his old reckless pupil to go for his own answers before letting anybody else get a word in edgewise. Having his own theory about the likely deception from this organization of demon-animals, Kozo backed his own faction. "It is as he said, very divergent from what you initially said. We've been contemplating trying to contact a less hostile pure-blood for some answers. That is unless you have something to tell us?" he gauged Shiki's reaction. The 'man' visibly cringed, almost impossible to see by the naked eye, but Kozo had trained heavily for this. Shiki did NOT want pure-blood engagement.
Clasping his hands together, Shiki put them delicately on the table, "No need for that, gentlemen. But it is as we said before. The scrolls are very difficult to translate, and there is no reason to believe the process will not still work. Have you tried bringing the chrysalis close to the angel you have at your base or even your son?" The man leaned forward, a slight upturn of his lip revealed a fang, "It should make him ill if not shielded, a sign of our plans progression."
If mentioning his son effected Gendo, the man showed no sign of it. "This issue is not resolved yet, but we'll see if this theory can't be explored. Any other unexpected deviations from the scenario however and other venues will be inspected," Gendo pressed the only known advantage the humans had.
"Of course, I understand your hesitation," Shiki sat more upright. "Now that your questions have been settled, on to the reason I actually brought you here?" he asked politely. Upon hearing no rebuttal, "It has come to our attention that you son has come into contact with a woman named Minamoto Chizuru, this girl is quite known to us, and we'd like the chance to speak with her. If you could arrange something, either known or unknown it would be of great help to one of my side projects."
Adam would make Shinji sick by being close to it? That reminded Kozo of an old story he had read ages ago when Yui lent him some of her family's books. Curse his old age, but he couldn't remember the specifics. "You want us to bring Shinji-kun's girlfriend in to you? Why a teenage girl is so important to you, do we need to check your history with the police?" Kozo asked. It was a low blow, all at the table KNEW Chizuru wasn't human, but never reveal secrets unless you have to.
Letting out a humorless chuckle, Shiki was backed into a corner. "We admit to spying on her a little, and know you have as well," Shiki lost a dragon in his reveal. Tendril's Leaf was spying, not to trusting it seemed. "That woman is not a human, she's a pure-blood of one of the most rare and powerful kind. She could be very beneficial to everybody's plans if we can gain her cooperation. But if you are unable to get her to assist you, your failure won't matter too much," he directed squarely at Gendo.
Not taking the bait, "Your dealings with children are your own. Don't waste our time with your fixations with women. Now you said you had a request and a warning, dispense with the requests for air headed floozies and state your warning. We do have a defense to plan, speculation of the next angel coming soon are high."
Wringing his hands, Shiki groaned just a bit, "If you won't help I can't make you. As for my warning…a test subject of ours has escaped. She calls herself Minori and she is in the company of a strong nue. Likely she'll be drawn to try and kill the slayer. As we need him alive for now, I suggest you take precaution." The man drank another large dose of coffee and relaxed in his chair.
So Gendo was paying attention to Shinji's love life, if only to a small degree, Kozo saw promise in that. How else would the father know of the son had a vivacious girlfriend? As for the matter of this Minori girl, "Any photos we can have to identify her by?" He had to ask. But this meeting filled him with more cause for worry than not. Maybe it wasn't wholly Tendril's Leaf, but Shiki wasn't coming off as a trustworthy sort.
Sliding two photos, one of a small child with black hair and the other a nondescript taller woman, Shiki spun his chair around. "We lost track of them outside of Kyoto several weeks ago, we didn't know where they went. But we suspect they've moved to the city, if our now missing trackers body being found at the outskirts of town is any indication. Well, just as you do, I have business to attend to gentlemen. Have a good day?" Shiki announced as he left the room and the Nerv officers to their own devices.
"Could have learned more, but not a failure," was all Gendo said as he got to his feet and followed a few moments after Shiki left the room.
Kozo wished he had Gendo's confidence in things. Time, he needed more time was all. The other groups had so much longer than he had, and already had pieces in place. Kozo had a lot of ground to cover if he was going to honor his promise to Yui, but he wasn't dead yet and he had no plans of stopping yet.
X-X
He felt tired but oh so good, and was slightly surprised by the days turn of events. Shinji hadn't expected Himari and his little trip to the abandoned shrine, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't enjoy it far beyond initial thoughts. It felt…different being with Himari than Chizuru, their personalities and secretly physically felt different. Chizuru was the dominating factor when they were together, but Himari was oddly submissive. Shinji wasn't used to submissive, wasn't used to taking control. If he had asked Chizuru to try something, which he never did, he suspected she'd be all for it. But Himari…it was like seeing a whole different side of her.
Walking down the steps of the shrine, the sunlight already turning red tinted as day turned towards night, he paused to gaze back up. Himari had forgotten halfway down she had left her sword and kimono at the offering box and ran back up. "To think she was so…and now she's back to being coy and in control," Shinji just shook his head. Didn't help that he was just as enamored with Himari as Chizuru, felt that he had betrayed Chizuru even knowing they were both ok with it. Slowly continuing his decline down the steps, "I'll tell Chizu-chan when I get back, she'll be waiting I bet." He suspected she already would know.
"So you are the one, are you?" a gruff voice asked from the base of the steps. Deliberately blocking the stairs, Saku started advancing upon his prey. Unbuttoning the top of his shirt, the man sniffed the air, "You smell of the man on Chizuru and yet you smell of another girl too now. My Chizuru isn't enough to slate your needs?" he extended his hands blocking any attempt at egress down into the city proper.
Coming to a sudden halt, and actually starting to walk backwards up the stairs, Shinji's blood ran cold. Was this Saku? Was this Chizuru's quasi-ex-boyfriend? Duh, his brain fired off, who else could it be. "Y-you must be Saku-san. I-I-I'm Ikari Shinji, and y-yes I am Chizuru's boyfriend," he wouldn't deny that not even in the face of this man. Yes he just made love to Himari, why? Because Shinji trusted Himari with his life and cared for her nearly as much as Chizuru, but that didn't mean he would forsake his feelings for the nubile minx.
Now back to the halfway point, Saku had his turn to pause. His jaw clenched tightly and lips curled back showing very dangerous fangs. "YOU are Ikari Shinji? YOU of all people? My target is also the man trying to take Chizuru from me? That means I can't kill you…not if I want to get paid," taking his leather jacket off he let it drop. Picking up a piece of broken step, Saku pitched it hard at Shinji's head. With a little laugh, "Maybe I'll just have to go without the money. You're latest conquest still up there?"
Barely dodging the flying stone, it shattered behind him sending small rocks bouncing painfully off his back. Shinji felt a small fire building against the dread he felt, "She was not a conquest! Just as I love Chizuru I love Himari. I don't know what happened between Chizuru and you, but that has no influence on us. And what do you mean target? Are you trying to get all the pilots or something? Is that why you attacked Ayanami-san?" taking a single step back down the stairs, Shinji wondered briefly where Himari was.
Putting an end to Shinji's sudden bravery, Saku lunged in a mighty leap up the stairs. Grabbing the pilot by the collar of his shirt, Saku lifted Shinji into the air and held him face to face. "So you know of the girl that smells like my sister too. Seems you're a nexus of sorts," he said with a hint of mirth. Features relaxing from enraged to genuinely intrigued, "Have to admit it was poor form to attack somebody that didn't know anything. But you…you smell of demons. You know something don't you? I was going to use the money for bringing you in to outfit myself to infiltrate that Nerv place. Maybe you'll save me the trouble." With a quick spin to gain momentum, Saku hurled Shinji up the stairs of the shrine.
Taking a moment to appreciate the trees surrounding the hilled shrine, Shinji had to hate the damn place. It as secluded, good for what Himari and he had done, but it also was a place to not involve others in these pesky demons trying to kill him. Not seeing Himari as he plummeted, Shinji hit the ground hard and rolled. Nothing felt broken, just very jarred and angry. Sitting up, he saw the large man already at the top of the steps, "I've only been with Nerv for a few months. T-they called me when the first Angel attacked the city."
"You expect me to believe the great slayer clan Ikari was not involved with making the giants that kill the guardians?" Saku leaned back impossibly far and laughed. Racing to Shinji's side, the man swiped at the boy and sent him careening towards the offering box. "You expect me to believe the man he stinks of both my sister, Chizuru, and yet another female is not lying to me about this?" he growled as his body elongated. Fur started forming on his form as his body transformed into a monstrous form.
Saku's shirt ripped apart from the change in size and mass. "I've been searching for my sister for some fifteen years, and when I finally track the smell I find that girl and you. An abomination and a bastard. What trick did you use on Chizuru, slayer, what magic did you use to cloud her mind?" Saku lumbered towards Shinji dragging his claws in the dirt. Long lines of slashed dirt tracked behind the wolf-man. But oddly tears were in the man's eyes, "What did you do with my sister?" With a deafening roar, Saku drew back his claw and rushed.
The blow never reached its target, intercepted by Himari's sword. "I doth leave you for but a moment and thee find a way to cause trouble?" Himari joked as she held Saku at bay. The edge of the blade cut deeply into Saku's claws but not the man's flesh. With a swift foot to the stomach, Himari sent her opponent leaping back in surprise. The softness and meekness Shinji hard not an hour ago was gone, replaced with coldness and the promise of death, "And who be ye that attacks my master?"
Snarling, Saku flexed his damaged hand and shook it as he sized up his opponent. "So the great slayer needs somebody to fight for him. Or did you do to her what you did to Chizuru?" Saku eyed Shinji with pure malice. Bounding towards Himari, Saku went to grab the sword maiden only to have her sidestep him. "Talented, I'll give you that. Far more talented to be protecting this whelp," Saku made a small step backwards towards Shinji.
Getting to his feet, Shinji wasn't proud of his actions, but he knew a lost cause when he saw it. Saku against him alone was a dead Shinji. Maybe combined with Chizuru they could have won, but as himself Shinji had no illusions. Inching his way back towards Himari, "I didn't do anything to Chizuru or Himari! Chizuru chose me, and Himari…Himari suffers me. She CAN do better, but I'm glad she humors me. I was picked by the ones I care for."
Lashing out with a feral smile upon her face, Himari split the ground beneath where Saku had just stood. "Master ye be to harsh upon yourself. Thy fox did choose you, as did I, but that doth not cheapen you," she corrected. Putting her right palm to the hilt of her blade, Himari lunged at Saku with all her strength. The blade was caught by his hand, sliced through the thick muscled palm of the man-beast.
Face marred with pain, Saku continued to grab the sword and pull Himari towards him. "Touching, but that doesn't mean he is free of blame! I've been paid to find him and bring him in. He took Chizuru while having you it seems. Betrayal is a punishable offense," Saku was within snapping distance of the cat. Then in a deft act of self pain and conviction, Saku lifted Himari and her blade into the air, more of his blood spilled upon the ground as the edge bit savagely into his palms.
Shinji back peddled stunned at the swiftness and brutal nature of the attack. One moment he's straining to pull Himari towards him, the next he's swinging the blade around like a bat, and then bashed Himari off the ground sending her staggered and dazed on the ground. "No…this can't be," Shinji couldn't just stand here watching! Finding a good sized stick on the ground, roughly the size of a bat, Shinji felt the fear draining from him.
It felt like being in his Eva again during the Third Angel, he was looking upon death. Only this time he wasn't worried or afraid, he wasn't going to die alone. He was going to try and save Himari, but the chances were slim. But sometimes a man has to try and protect his loved ones, even if it's a lost cause. Rushing to stand between Himari and Saku, Shinji hefted his wooden defense clumsily.
Holding Himari's blade in his better hand, blood dripped from the hilt, Saku belted out ruthless laughter. "What is this? Do you honestly think you can stop me? I'll kill your servant then you. Then Chizuru will be free and I will save my sister and leave this place. They money isn't worth it…only Nozomu is worth it," Saku panted heavily. "Step aside slayer…if you're truly innocent as you claim, if Chizuru does love you…let me claim this one as an honor debt," Saku hoisted the blade up with one closed eye.
Live and forsake Himari…that wasn't even an option. "I'd rather she live over me. I'll protect her for once, she gave me a precious gift. One I had forgotten about, I guess she was…she was the first," he felt that sensation of peace again. Yes, Himari was the first person he loved, even if she was just a cat. The cat that had taken away his early loneliness and pain, he owed Himari far more than he ever suspected. So maybe he'll never know who that black-haired girl was he kissed back then by the lake, everybody has a few regrets.
"So be it, slayer, guess you're not a whelp after all," Saku admitted with a hint of regret as he slashed downward. The blade effortlessly cut through the center of Shinji's meager defense and slashed deeply across the boy's chest. As Shinji fell, Saku dropped the blade and turned, "I feel no joy in this. I was wrong, revenge…this was mispla…"
Laying in a pool of his own blood, Shinji could feel the temperature drop and it wasn't due to his wound. "H-Himari?" Shinji gasped as he saw his companion standing. Only this wasn't the beautiful and serene woman he knew…this was pure unhinged malice. Himari's eyes were pure black, nothing but hatred exuded from her whole being as if she was surrounded by a heavy cloud of it.
Grabbing her blade, soaked in Shinji's blood, Himari gave it a flick sending the rivulets of crimson bouncing off Saku's back. "I'll kill you…bathe in your innards," she emotionlessly stated. Rushing the wolf-man, Shinji did notice a trace of blood on her face likely his own. In a hailstorm of punches, kicks, and light slashes Himari was effortlessly destroying Saku who was trying to fight back.
Forcing his aching and weakening body to its feet, Shinji used the remains of his stick as a cane. He couldn't let Himari kill for him, all of this was a misunderstanding! Weakly he called out, "Himari stop! This isn't like you!" But if she heard him, she didn't care, no she had the beaten and broken Saku under her feet and at her sword point.
In a final surge of energy, Shinji rushed to prevent the blow. He had heard Saku's real reasons, and he couldn't fault the man. If Himari, Chizuru, hell anybody that Shinji cared about had been kidnapped he'd have done the same thing. Gazing up at the wild and driven to battle lust, Himari, Shinji held up his last means of defense. It'd likely do just as good against Himari as it did Saku, but at least he'd have tried.
As Himari's blade struck the feeble wooden defense, a golden light erupted out of it. Blinding all three of the combatants, the flimsy twig held back Himari's blade without showing any signs of wavering. The light shot upwards in a glorious showing for the whole city to see, in contrast to the angelic cross blasts it was used to seeing.
The light faded, and when Shinji's vision cleared, he was gazing hazily at Himari who appeared free of whatever insanity had claimed her previously. Her eyes laden with tears as she grabbed for him, he couldn't feel it though. A moment later he was in her arms, being rushed to down the stairs.
Fading into and out of consciousness, Shinji at one point noticed Shizuka was hovering over him.
Was she nude…? Was she…what felt so good…was she red faced…?
Nope, not thinking about any of that, Shinji's mind rebelled against heavy thinking and let slumber come over him. He'd survived, but the pillar of light, Shizuka's actions, where Himari was, and what of Saku…thoughts for another day.
X-X
Notes
Bit longer of a chapter with a good deal of story advancement. Hope you were ok with the whole 'Himari/Shinji' date as it was. Trying to involve Himari more with the story as the last few I've felt she's been a little absent.
Work has been a little crazy and I've started DM'ing a pathfinder game now so that takes more time.
Hope to see all of you at ACEN this year too
Later
Mercaba