Standard Disclaimer
Man my legs been hurting a bit. Trying to keep a good mix of plot, comedy, and drama with this with a healthy bit of le…um…wink-wink.
X-X
Friend of my Enemy
Chapter 12
Donning her kimono, Himari felt that warming sensation spread throughout her chest as Shinji's fingers brushed against the back of her neck. It had been a wonderful morning already, waking up in her master's arms and neigh a pale or buxom girl to be seen. Shizuka was off trying to find leads to Kuesu's location, and Chizuru well Himari didn't know, but was glad to not have to deal with her. Binding her belt around her waist, "Mayhap Shinji-sama will bathe with me this morn?" He wouldn't, far too shy, but teasing was par the course.
Offering her one of his rare and private smiles, Shinji shook his head. "I don't think Asuka would approve, and she's been even testier since…" He trailed off, ever since the first fight with Kuesu, Asuka had been more open in her anti-demon beliefs. Putting his own clothing on, his earlier adornments were just his boxers, Shinji timidly stepped into his slacks. Pulling them up, "What would you like for breakfast?"
Finishing putting her hair up in a ponytail, he found it attractive and it was efficient, Himari grabbed Shinji's shirt. Helping him into it, she favored herself with a small whiff of his scent, "Master doth smell eager this morn, are you quite sure tis nothing this one might do to alleviate you?" Morning wasn't the time for the actual act, but Himari liked to keep Shinji on his toes. And well, she had to keep her place ahead of the others in Shinji's mind. Buttoning his shirt, smirking at how bashful he was still, "Neigh, guess you do have your friends to see to before they leave for their travels."
Flustered at Himari's closeness and manhandling, Shinji mumbled a bit and headed out into the apartment proper. Pulling out what he needed to cook, "I am sorry we can't go on the trip. It would have been nice to see the beach wi…with you." Moving next to the fridge, he pulled out a few simple ingredients for Himari's favored breakfast. "My apology, you looked happy when they said we'd be going to Okinawa," he offered a small shrug.
Silly master, Himari couldn't help but smile at his odd nature. It wasn't the location that mattered to her, just the company. And being allowed to relax about the apartment would let her try and fix her beloved blade. It would take skill she feared she didn't possess to fix, so she'd be bare fisted fighting until a temporary replacement could be found. And well, spying on the Minamoto household while Shinji and Chizuru…well best not recollect that…the fox was to be gone to see matriarch. Two weeks of just Shinji, her, and hunting down that white haired hussy! Leaving the cooking to Shinji, she headed to the bathroom to clear out their early morning dew collection. Only to immerge to…
"Shin-chan…momma needs her medicine. Get it for me and I'll reward you," Misato drawled out in a lazy tone attempting alluring. Shambling into the kitchen, her tank top and ridiculous short-shorts hung limply as she fell heavily into her chair. Her head collided into the table with a heavy thunk, "Sorry, didn't know you were here Himari. I'll steal Shin-chan away from all of you lower stock another day."
Grabbing the cup of coffee and the can of Yebisu Shinji had set out, Himari rolled her eyes at the obvious fib. "Ye might try, but Shinji-sama be not swayed by flesh as others of his ilk," she gingerly put the cup into the woman's hands. Katsuragi was a wonderful woman of kinship. Friendly, open, yet able to shift to a battle stance when needed, and she worked in line with helping Shinji's mind mend with the troubles of the past. Roughly, but not painfully, pulling Misato's head off the table, "If it twas such a late eve for you, why doth thou wake so early?" Misato hadn't returned to the apartment until well after Shinji was asleep, Himari stayed awake to enjoy the stillness.
Slamming back her beer first, Misato shifted from unresponsive to wide awake in the span of the can. "YAHOO! OH that was needed," winking at Himari, Misato ruffled the woman's hair playfully. "As for Shin-chan, I think if I tried he'd be putty in my hands," she flinched her head at the boy trying to remain inconspicuous. Pointing at him, she slowly got out of her chair, speaking low, "You young girls are so quick in your intentions. When you get to my age you learn it's more about the hunt than they take down."
Sensing Misato's intensions, Himari gave the woman a nod and moved in suit. Both women tiptoed, Himari ever silent as her demonic-cat nature provided, closer to the boy. She could see him trying to ignore what was going on behind him, not wanting to be teased but leaving himself open for a two-pronged assault. Poor master was to kind hearted, it would crush him to have to slay her…but that was her kinds fate. She'd kill herself if she ever hurt him again when the black battle lust overtook her. Hopefully Chizuru would do it, but likely it would be both Chizuru and Shinji that brought her down when her mind was lost to darkness. But she prayed that day was years off.
Watching Misato count down on her fingers, Himari felt that giddiness in her rise. This is what she wished for life, but she was a realist and a warrior. Once Misato's fingers vanished, she joined the jovial woman in pouncing on Shinji's side and tickling his ribs, "Shinji-sama needs pay more attention to those who would strike him. If either for good or ill." She found herself laughing in key with Misato and Shinji as the combined assault slowed. Catching him blushing, their eyes met for one longing glance, "Mayhap you wished for this to happen, having two young maidens beset you on either side."
"Maidens, HA! YOUNG? Which of you old bags are young," Asuka announced her arrival and annoyance in equal measure. Her fluffy pink bathrobe was tied tightly as she took Misato's coffee cup, "Playing and being perverted this early. Why Kuesu has any hope for you…" she just grimaced and sat down. Following Himari's every action, "I'm still not happy about not being to go on the trip, Misato. You better allow me to do what I want since I'm stuck here with this perv."
Taking two of the plates Shinji had just loaded with food, Himari felt her mood plummet a bit with the arrival of the newest addition to the apartment. "Twas Katsuragi-san's drink you have stolen young fledgling. Has your tutelage been so low as to not teach morals?" she slide the plate under Asuka's nose. Girl had just become so hostile since the arrival of that blasted western magic user, but Himari didn't fear Asuka just the change. Taking her spot next to Shinji's, "As for maiden, I would sooner see my young master with Katsuragi than with that strumpet who stole from his lips twice!" Yeah that still burned a week and a half later.
"Now, now, Misato-san doesn't normally drink her coffee, it was more a hopeful offering than anything," Shinji sat Misato and his plate down. Eyes on his food, the lone male at the breakfast table, was doing his best to hide in plain sight. Eating in silence for a few minutes, Shinji took hold of Himari's waiting hand under the table and gave it a squeeze, "As for our time off from school. W-we could show you around town a bit more if you'd like. Or were you going to try and f…find y-your friend." Shinji squirmed and wiggled in his seat.
Just because Chizuru and Shizuka weren't around to compete wasn't any reason Himari was going to let her favorite morning game go by. She had to keep her skills up at under-the-table hanky-panky. "Or perhaps you might invite her over, I might very likely have a nice word or several with her," she cracked her free hand's knuckles. It was what she feared though, Shinji was worried about not only Kuesu but her as well. She had gotten angry after the battle, nearly loosing herself and he had saw it. "You do know of her location, do you not?" and if Asuka did but didn't tell…well she'd work Shinji to sleep and then force an answer.
Taking a page from Shizuka's book of 'calming angry hormonal teenagers down', Misato reached across the table and cupped both Asuka and Himari's left breasts. While Asuka's eyes went wide with anger, Himari's face flushed and recoiled, "Good, the children are being quite so mother and father can talk." She tickled Shinji under his chin, "Father agrees that the children need to NOT fight at the table. As for your 'friend' Asuka. I think it would be good to bring her over. We need to deal with this. Can't have our pilots fighting amongst each other, not when we have the angels to worry about."
Savagely destroying the specially made plate of western food Shinji made for her, Asuka daintily splattered all in rage with chewed bits of food. Pointing at both Himari and Misato alternatively, "Don't have a problem with that little pervert, long as he wakes up from his little dreamland of demons and humans living in peace. It's his little 'pets' that I can't stand, or your allowing this farce to continue! How do we know they're not secretly in league with the angels? Anyway…Shinji is Kuesu's…" her hands went to her mouth and covered it quickly less any other words leave.
"She's my what?" Shinji asked suddenly a bit more interested in the conversation and not playing footsy with Himari. Setting his chopsticks down, he covered his leftovers with a napkin after dabbing his mouth with it. Checking his watch, "Man, it's getting late and we need to meet with Touji, Kensuke, and Tayura. You want to come with us Asuka?"
Stop dotting on that damn woman, Himari's mind flared up. Her eyes fluttered as the sudden anger flared up like a sunburst in her heart. Where the devil did that come from? "Shinji-sama, yon beast is not quite prepped in her refinery for our leave. Let her be to herself," Himari forced that sudden bout of jealousy out like rabid dog. Pulling Shinji out of his seat, she propelled him on resistant but moving legs. Shinji was just being himself, kind and compassionate to somebody with few friends, and she wanted to spike Asuka's head like a volleyball for it! Oh and knowing Kuesu was Shinji's fiancé and Asuka nearly spilled the beans didn't help.
Once outside and into the morning sun, Misato's lazy goodbye and insistence they don't go to a love-motel still bouncing about their minds like a rubber ball, Shinji patted Himari's hand that drug him. "I take it you're not having any luck in making friends with her," he messaged her fingers gently. While the boy might not be forward or dynamic, he knew how to tend to those he cared for expertly. Fingers dancing along the joints and muscles in her hand, "Guess I might be sending her mixed messages too."
He hadn't been, but Himari accepted her reaction could be misconstrued that way. Snuggling up to Shinji's side, she gave the old ladies a shock with her openness. "Are you referring to the mother or the daughter," she played with Misato's family allegory from time to time. But still, that anger with Asuka, what had been the actual cause of that? Shinji was ever faithful, hard not to be with three willing participants in his little coven, Ayanami had been keen to jump at any occasion Himari noticed. Only twice since Chizuru handed Shinji to the half-demon wolf on a platter has she satiated her 'alpha'. "Or were you thinking of your mistress and her protégée?" Himari let her hand stay on Shinji's chest.
If he objected to Himari's manhandling, Shinji offered none of it. No, quite content despite his composure, "Asuka. Trying to be her friend, or at least civil to her. But she just…why can't she understand that…" He just shook his head, hard to talk about secret things in public, and demonic knowledge was sort of a 'need to know' type of thing. With a sigh that was borderline depressing, "So what did you want to do with our spare time coming up? D-did we want to try finding somebody to repair my grandfather's blade?"
Nearing the school, Himari was bitter to see the accursed building growing like a looming omen of doom. Something just felt off today, despite promises of seclusion and peace, "I have sent the Mizuchi off to question the more accommodating of our type for aid. A normal smithy is far to inexperienced to repair it fully." A cloud covered the sun, an ill omen if she ever saw one, so maybe more teasing to lighting her blossoming brooding, "Till it be repaired I shall make due with mine hands, but master know of how skilled my hands have become." Well she was becoming better at their usage, Shinji outclassed her via training or natural skill…this morning's finger play had forced her to take an early shower.
Laughing unnaturally as he felt those skilled and hardened fingers dance against his stomach, Shinji squirmed about and out of her grip. "G-getting closer to school. Wouldn't do your reputation good for them to see us…I don't want guys to get the wrong impression," he timidly gripped her hand and stopped her from her groping. Scowling as a duo of girls giggled from the side, pointed at him, and ran off, "Great more fuel for those rumors. Just hope they don't say anything about you."
"Afraid I'll be slandered, or that some other young thane shall try and steal me from you," she said coyly. Spinning around like a top, her kimono sleeves billowing out, she found herself with her back to Shinji, her head crooned back on his shoulder. "Master is the only man I shall suffer till the end of my days, by choice," she leaned just that scant inch inward and kissed his stunned lips. "You leave yourself far to open," but she didn't mind, she'd cover the open spots.
Rushing up to the duo, the trio of boys they were to meet came red faced and overtly jovial. Touji was waving his hands frantically, "Shin-man you'll never believe it! Ken spotted some new girl on campus! All dolled up like some foreign maid or something." Grabbing Kensuke's camera, the jock flashed the image of Kuesu at the couple. "Maybe this time we'll have a chance at a hottie since you're obviously to busy. Think she'll be going on the trip? Bit early but if she's a transfer in, be real great time to try talking," the hidden member of the Hikari Hokari fan club gushed.
Sorting through a few of the other impossible shots, almost as if the girl knew the geek was taking pictures, Kensuke pointed at a few of the spicier ones. "He might be jumping the gun, but if nothing else we can get some good money off these shots. You don't know this one too do you?" Kensuke was nearly salivating. Showing somehow a down shirt picture, defiantly a knowing shot, "Any other news about the trip, you said you'd ask Katsuragi-san again about Noihara-san going with us? Sucks that Tayura and you can't, maybe…?"
So the tart was on campus was she, well Himari was wanting to sharpen her claws. Maybe tear off that silver hair, or possibly those cushions could be shaved down to Asuka's size. That frilly girl did have a lot of ribbons, and cats loved to tear into those. Flexing her fingers she answered, "While I would enjoy time away from this burg of smells and heat, my place be at Ikari-sama's side. A bodyguard doth not leave the body being guarded, does she?" Especially when bothersome fiancé's are about needing beheading.
"Well that sucks, but I guess that there isn't anything you can do," Tayura nodded with a knowing look. "I'd go if I could, but mother insists we visit at least once a year. Going to be a lot of working at the bathhouse as Chizuru whines about Shinji not being there. You'll be owing me a few lunches for putting up with her, Shinji-kun," Tayura locked Shinji in a headlock and rapped his knuckle against the prone boy's head. Spinning Shinji around, he propelled the boy into the waiting mock blow of Touji.
Getting Shinji into a small arm hold, locking Shinji's arms in place and setting his own hands at the base of Shinji's neck. "Yeah, we'll have to have all the fun for the three of you then. Though if you're bored, Mari is going to be alone while I'm gone so you could finally visit her. She's been demanding I ask you visit. If you're worried about seeing her with me around…well now here's your chance," he shoved Shinji out of his arms towards Himari.
He was caught lovingly, but left dazed by the spinning and abuse. "If Ikari-sama and I have the time, we shall make every effort to visit yon sibling," Himari felt Shinji go rod stiff in her arms. He didn't want to go, was terrified of the idea? What could cause such, they all knew it was an accident, yet Shinji was so…damn his caring heart. "Now shall we go and try and find Aida-kun's model, or perhaps she's just some tramp who escaped the red-light?" never let it be said Himari wouldn't slander on occasion.
X-X
"You've gotten slower since last time, you're faster than this!" Keusu mocked as she fired several rubber bullets. Clad in a black formfitting leotard, the veteran slayer pressed her advantage with a lower level flame wall directly in Asuka's planned egress. A round after Asuka stopped bounced off the girl's stomach, "And you're dead."
Sweat dribbling down her face, Asuka curled up in a ball as pain radiated out of the point of impact. "Haven't…had a lot of…time to…practice," she got out between huge breaths. Taking Kuesu's hand, Asuka felt herself being lifted more than taking the initiative herself. Hands going to her hips, her eyes going skyward, the German took to walking in small circles on the roof of Kuesu's luxury apartment. "Doesn't help that you're all range and I'm more up in your face," she bent forward and glared at her friend.
Twirling her weapon on her finger, her on body dripping with perspiration, Keusu shrugged with a grin. "You just need to learn to cast faster or use that thing at your hip rather than your fists. But you've always been more for the hands on approach," she grabbed a towel and padded her face. Sauntering over to the fence that divided the impromptu training ground and the twenty story drop, Keusu gripped the lattice work. A hinting of joy pierced through her harshness, "Glad you could make it today. We haven't had a good chance to reacquaint ourselves since I got here."
Drying herself off as well, Asuka took a sidelong glance at the clock by the door, she had another hour before she had to head to Nerv. Misato had something she wanted to talk to them about, and she got Akagi to bring in some scuba gear, so she'd make an afternoon out of it. Not how she planned on having her first vacation in Japan, but day two with her fellow students gone found her not that upset. Now if she could only get Shinji here and away from Himari and that freaking duo of pale monster girls…
"Glad I could be here too, finally somebody of intelligence that I can talk to," Asuka joined Keusu in looking over the city. It had been hard to tell her friend of the issues she had discovered, but Asuka knew Keusu could handle it. Watching a bag caught in an updraft, she imagined it an old fashion ghost and fired a rubber training bullet at it. "So how have you been since getting to town? I know you ran into that…Noihara once, but they didn't say much about it," she gave herself fifty points for the hit.
Showing Asuka up by firing off two additional shots each scoring closer to center of mass, Keusu shared a look then laugh with Asuka. "You've gotten better, much better. Maybe after another quick match we could go do something more relaxing?" there was a lingering need, near pleading. Leaving the fence to the small assortment of training aids they brought with them, she reloaded. Loading two rounds into the cylinders at a time, "And I saw the cat, nearly got her too, but Ikari-kun showed up and saved her. To think he's been enthralled by a Kitsune, a real shame. But after I save him from them we'll take care of the rest. Want to go shopping after this?"
Picking up a naginata, much smaller than the one she had used to slice the Seventh angel in half, Asuka gave it a spin. While she was proficient in many weapons, she was hardly the master the cat was, and Keusu was more into magic and her side arm. Popping the flat butt of the weapon on the ground, "Can't, have to go into Nerv for something. Frau Katsuragi is very insistent when it comes to Nerv business, not so much anything else." Twirling the staff around she pointed it at Keusu, "After though, if you're up for it?"
Her spell book in hand, Kuesu's smile lost a bit of its luster, but masked it well. "Can't be helped, though your organization is making me a bit nervous. You said that Ayanami girl is a half-demon animal. They're up to something to be cavorting with that type of blasphemy," she moved to the starting position for their little duels. "Though Katsuragi seems trustworthy, but a little too easy going, just like Ikari-kun," she openly scowled, "Ready."
It pained Asuka to see it, but Keusu was so smitten with Shinji it was a little sad. She tried to hide it, but Asuka could tell this Himari/Chizuru business was really eating at the vet. Getting into position, she made her plan of attack, and it was her standard. Rush in, keep her foe on the move, and corner her. Simple, elegant, full of slicing and dicing just like she wanted. Licking her lips, Asuka was going to get a point over Keusu if it meant bending a few rules. "Let's do this!" she gripped the shaft with both hands and dashed forward.
An overhead swipe followed into a full spin outward, Asuka pressed her speed over Keusu to its maximum. The agile veteran dove under the horizontal blow, and fired off a trio of rounds at Asuka's feet to drive her back. Her determination and pride kept Asuka from retreating, taking a round to the thigh, she advanced with a mighty swing that stopped an inch before Kuesu's neck, "Quick and to the point. Just as a battle should be."
Just like the last time Asuka stated that little quip, Keusu stole Asuka's victory by dry firing upward. "I only loaded four rounds, my young padawan, had I a full load you'd be missing your head or stomach right now," she took Asuka's hand off the ground through. "But I was right about you, you're driven and skillful. Just you have to know not all battles are about speed or elegance. Winning is what matters, as the demons won't let you recover or show mercy," she holstered her gun and limped over to the first aid supplies.
Favoring the leg not resonating on the pain frequency, Asuka kept her pride to herself. Keusu forgot to load the last few rounds, but the girl just couldn't admit defeat. Part of why they got along so well, they both were cut from the same cloth. Wrapping some salve and a bandage around the quarter sized spot of dark purple and angry, "I haven't felt so alive since the last battle. We need to do this more often." But was Keusu really right about the demons? Rei was odd but harmless, Chizuru was to flighty and positive to be feared, and Himari was so wrapped in honor she was a mummy of the past.
"If I don't have a mission tonight, we can stay up late and watch a few movies I brought with me, the really good ones," Keusu was already donning her normal attire. Fluffing her hair, she affixed the bows as best as she could despite the humidity. Pulling the card to the door out handed it to Asuka, "The man inside the door will take you back down and to Nerv. And Asuka," she paused and her voice warbled, "Tell Ikari-kun his fiancé says hi, hopefully in front of that damn thieving cat."
Waving warmly at the best friend she'd ever had, "Will do. We'll get him away from those girls." Scanning the card at the reader the lock clicked and opened slowly. Such a high scale building, Asuka was as she couldn't stay here over the small confines of Misato's. But work decreed she had to stay, and selfishly she liked being with Misato and Shinji. "Take me to Nerv, please," she tried being polite to the man, but the suit wearing main just rubbing Asuka the wrong way. He was plotting something, he was trying to use Keusu and she wouldn't stand for it.
"Certainly, I'll have a car brought around for you," the man's smile was press on and fake.
She'd watch him, keep Keusu informed about him too, just to be safe. But the car was waiting for her by the time she got off the elevator, and the driver was a nice portly man that never bothered. Left with the drive and her thoughts, Asuka's mind gyrated to her living conditions and the people she was with. Misato was an odd but happy sort, bit to flighty and perverse for her tastes, but could be worse. Shinji though, after the events of the last angel, Asuka had to admit Keusu had been a little right about him. Her friend could do better, Asuka was sure of that, but Shinji wasn't that bad a guy. But he was a boy, and as such lead by hormones…right into trouble.
"We'll save him though, and if he makes her happy who am I to argue," she shrugged. The limousine was nice, the cushions plush and roomy, though the ride was over far too early. Her legs still hurt from the rubber rounds, but that was the price of learning from an actual slayer and not one with amnesia was. Climbing out of the car, her bag containing her swimsuit bought for Kaji's eyes, she headed into the confines of Nerv. "Maybe once he gets back into things he can do that Light Ferry thing more. He is easier to draw from than Keusu," she noticed. Since she was just a fledgling slayer she typically drew the power from her spells from her veterans, Shinji was awash in soothing energy so bountiful she had no issues drawing her fill. Keusu however was much harder, the energy slimmer and more fiery.
Swapping out her exercise clothing for her swimsuit, she pulled off the bandage to see the salve had done its work. "No bruise and no evidence," she gave the flesh a light tap, no pain either. Was that the difference between clans though, she had read the ancient scrolls and the Ikari's were at the top while Kuesu's…well not everybody could be the best. Ceiling her locker, the girl felt giddy about swimming, she loved scuba diving, and while it was indoor it was at least something.
Following the enjoyable stench of chlorine to the pool, Asuka was greeted by something she hadn't anticipated. Her smirk was animalistic, a cat about to eat a cannery, she stalked her pray the elusive brown cropped Ikari. They were known for being skittish, timid, easy to tease, and according to less reputable sources very good in the sack. She'd not care for the later part, that was for Keusu to learn, but as for the former. "SHINJI!" she squealed behind him making him jump forward. Yeah, he was more the friend type than lover…best not get into the mix of girls that Keusu was stirring up. "What ya doing?" she leaned over his shoulder, feeling a sense of power as he drew in on himself.
"T-thought I'd get my homework done while I'm here, I can't swim," Shinji took one look at Asuka's revealing bikini and quickly looked away. "W-what are you doing here Asuka?" he leaned forward covering his waist and all but smashing his face against his screen.
Saw something that interested you? That did Asuka's ego a boost, if she could get a reaction from the man at the beck and call of two beauti…bewitched by demons that meant something. "Boring, you should be swimming! That's what our real friends are doing right now, so why don't we?" always trying to stress the importance of humanity over the other. "What IS your homework anyway, I've got that chicken scratch to read, but whatever your little problems are I could help," she leaned closer to him. He squirmed further, but allowed her to see the screen, "Physics?"
"C-can't swim actually, humans weren't made to float. And it's just a few simple concepts that are bugging me, Rei-san is helping but is taking a b-break," he pointed at the pool. As if at his beck and call, Rei pulled herself out of the water, clad in a one-piece suit that almost matched her skin tone. "H-Himari would be here, but she doesn't like water so much," he confessed.
Leaping down from somewhere, proving that cats, and their derivatives, could appear out of nowhere, Himari had two plastic blue cups of fruity drinks. "He had learned the theory of thermal expansion really well, thy young pup was quite quick to apply human biology to thy science. Hot things grow large, and after a practical lesson, thy pup needed a cleaning," she wrapped her arms around Asuka's waist. Resting her chin on Asuka's shoulder, "You are quite ripe with hormones young slayer. Does your master know you covet her old whims?"
"What do you mean…oh…OH!" Asuka's mind took a few moments to get Himari's meaning. When she did however, Asuka all but screamed as she fought out of her fleshy confines. "That is sick, you better not have done anything in the pool to soil it for me! And you," Asuka twirled about to face Himari and summarily lost all cognitive thought. They were so big! Not as big as Chizuru's but damn those things were…plump…bouncy…just like Kuesu's! "If you hate water why are you in a bikini!?" she back peddled from the two. The hunter became the hunted as Himari advanced, Shinji watching as Asuka surrender.
Adding to the pincer attack, Rei advanced in wet sloppy footfalls, "I did not know we were going to have more company. Does that mean our practical lessons are done for the day?" A good two feet away from Asuka, Rei almost grimaced and frowned at the same time.
Pushing forward, Asuka nearly collided with Rei but kept her footing, Himari leaned in letting her assets bounce before Asuka's eyes. "One wears the armor of the battle they be fighting. As yon pup and thyself seem it necessary to beset Shinji-sama with exposed skin, why shant I?" she tugged on the slip of cloth holding her bust contained. With a quick peek at Shinji, the demon cat, reached outward towards Ayanami, sealing Asuka in a meat shield, "Does this entice you Shinji-sama?"
Oh it better not, Asuka thought, she was not going to be used to get that randy bugger ready for another go. "You dirty hussy, just you wait till Keusu takes her fiancé back!" Asuka loved that look of dull shock and utter horror. When Himari's hands fell to her sides, Rei back peddling, Asuka brushed the girl aside and advanced on the wide eyed Ikari, "You didn't know? Your mother and Kuesu's agreed to have you two marry to strengthen your clans. She even has the paperwork. You two even know each other from before you lost yooOAAAAAAAH!" Asuka screamed as she found herself lifted into the air and pitched into the pool by a furious Himari.
Spinning wildly in the air, Asuka had but moments to right herself before she collided with the pool. Something you didn't want known kitty cat? Well it was time somebody's claws got trimmed a little. Once her head stopped spinning, Asuka swam over to her diving gear and suited up. Finding Shinji sitting unaccompanied again, Rei at the water and Himari just gone, she posed for him and started diving. Yup, just as Keusu wanted, and she too. Stir up the nest a little, sow some discontent and break up the demonic hold. Maybe it wasn't too smart to fight with forces that strong, but she had Shinji as a friend…she knew that. So if nothing else their want to keep him sedated kept her alive and safe. Double edged sword, but she'd wield it.
An hour of swimming latter, Rei glaring at her before leaving after caressing Shinji's shoulder, Asuka considered going over and selling Shinji on Keusu just a little more. However by the time she got to him, Misato had arrived with her plan. They were going hunting for bigger sport than a slayers heart, and that sport was already in Kuesu's sights. Her real debut mission, her solo mission, yeah this was going to be good. So what if when she went to put her clothing back on she found her bra torn to shreds, petty vengeance from a cat to long in the tooth.
X-X
Sitting on Misato's couch, her lab coat rubbed against her skin in an annoying sort of way, Ritsuko swirled the wine in her glass. Not what she planned for the night before a mission, but she needed to relax and Misato's apartment was the best option for that. With the television droning on about an unexpected cold front near the mission site but far enough away to not cause issues, Ritsuko moaned happily as she relaxed against the couch. "Something about your apartment, Misato, it's more relaxing than mine. Well when Shinji keeps it clean," she sipped her red wine.
Beer in hand and legs up on the coffee table, Misato's free arm idly twirled about couch, "Yeah he keeps it nice when he isn't being worked like a pack mule. Thankfully Asuka's off with some friend till later so no sharing this time, same with that other girl." Stretching out comfortably, Misato moaned out a mixture of sensual and relaxed as she did. Lazily swiveling her head to the side chided, "So what brings you over here anyway, Maya too busy for you tonight? Shinji supper?"
Well part of Ritsuko's reasoning was to come for relaxation, but the other was the hope to start working on Shinji. Her scientific curiosity spiked by the notion of pure breed demons, she had to know if there was anyway Shinji would allow her to talk with Chizuru. Now she wasn't going to do anything…nasty…but she just had to know the differences between a pure blood and the bound half breed in terminal dogma.
"Wanted a good meal and to stop worrying about dropping Asuka into a volcano. Why you're so insistent on this I don't know," but Ritsuko agreed it was a good idea. From a tactical standpoint it was for the best, from a personal one it was debatable. Taking another sip of wine, Ritsuko felt her cheeks flush, maybe she had to much already. As her level of inebriation raised so did herself restraint, "And I was wondering more that stuff you told me about…"
Carrying two plates of food, Rei sat them down before the two slightly drunk women. "Shinji-san has finished preparing your meals," she spoke through the rib in her mouth. Chewing on the pre-supper snack, the girl shuffled about the living room and sat at the set up shoji board. Her ruby eyes seemed to illuminate as she questioned, "So you have informed Akagi-san of some of the events here?"
Taking a peek at the board, Ritsuko had idly been paying attention to the two teens gaming before her, but hadn't given it much thought. Lifting her plate up, it smelled heavenly, "She was just worried about things. Not like I wouldn't have found out sooner or later, but now I can keep an eye on you all and insure nobody else finds out." Rei normally didn't look that intimidating, or was it the booze, both? No matter, she sampled her curry and the flavor exploded in her mouth, "Shinji-kun you've improved."
Joining the trio of ladies already eating, Shinji came baring Rei's and his own actual supper. Rei's was a large plate of meat with a small amount of greens, and his was the same curry he served the others. Setting his plate to the side of the board, "Well I've gotten a lot of practice lately with cooking for Chizuru and Tayura."
"Well I guess being an owned man has only improved your abilities, though I don't see either of your handlers," Ritsuko teased after another bite. Where all the terror and corruption Misato was worried about? The boy was still passive and shy, an even better chef, and idly playing a board game…oh lord there was so much to fear. "Though I'm not upset they're not here, from what Misato had me suspect there was going to be an orgy or something," she slurred a little.
Blushing terribly, Shinji started coughing as he had been taking a bite at the time, doubling over he started coughing and pounding the floor. Rei, the ever attentive girl, shifted to his side and patted his back, "Chizuru-san and her brother are visiting their mother, Noihara-san and Shizuka-san are seeing to either a replacement blade or repairs. I am acting as my alpha's mate if needed tonight." If anything Rei's features softened as her hand stopped patting and moved to rubbing.
Before Ritsuko could talk, Misato grabbed the scientist's wayward hand and drew it down to the couch shaking her head. "Don't ask, I don't want to know what she means by that. All I know is your favorite cat left with a warning not to corrupt her young master. She took a friend you haven't met yet with her," Misato eyed her can for a moment. After consideration ended she pounded it, and went back to besetting her food.
Not taking Misato's warning to heart, Ritsuko's vision swam as she gathered her plate and swaggered over to the gaming pair. Kneeling over the table, she gave Shinji a passing glace to insure he wasn't choking. He was flushed but apparently better, was he normally this cute? She knew he didn't take after his father, that man was rough and plain whose only real appeal was his power. "Didn't know you two played these types of games, didn't know you even had it Misato," she wobbled her head as she examined the board layout. Shinji was dominating the young Ayanami.
"Misato-san has a lot of board games in her closet," Shinji moved a piece. Concentrating on the board intently, the lad missed the adoring look (well it looked more like a straightening of her lips) of Rei, oh and Ritsuko's listing plate of food. After he planned his moves, he finally addressed Ritsuko, "So would you like to play? Doubt we'd offer you much challenge though."
Misato had games? Spinning quickly to see Misato giggling a little, "And here I thought the only games you had were dirty adult party games." They had played a good number of those in college, just Misato, Kaji, and her. Good memories, well foggy memories of waking up naked in Misato's futon with a wig on her head and Kaji nowhere in sight. Hearing the click of Rei's piece hitting the board, Ritsuko got hit with vertigo as she spun back, "As for gaming…if you don't mind a little trouncing after..." And the good doctor fell forward, her plate of food dropping on the body beneath her.
Misato let out a shrill whooping laugh while Rei barely perceived gasp was drown out by the dripping of food on floor. Hovering prone over the body of one Shinji Ikari, Ritsuko found herself actually a little stimulated. Been ages since she felt anything akin to attraction, Kaji's groping aside, and for some reason…well Ritsuko felt a rush of something. Booze, power at being on top for once, or just all of Misato's stories finally kicking in Ritsuko couldn't help but smile as she caressed the boy's cheek.
"Ritsuko-san, are you…going to get off me?" Shinji timidly asked from his pinned position. He squirmed spilling more curry on the ground as its steaming contents worked at burning his stomach. A hinting of pain in his voice, "R-Rei-san or Misato could you…the curry is really hot."
Feeling herself not so much as pried off Shinji as thrust violently off the boy and careening towards the couch, Ritsuko yelped as the cushions collided with her face. Her mind was a hog of excessive movement and alcohol she just laid on the couch and let the world stop moving. What the hell happened?! Staring into his eyes, it was hypnotic, she liked it! But, after sniffing Misato's couch, somebody was hiding chips in the cracks, she shook the oddity out. She had planned on a small seduction of the lad to get access to Chizuru or this new unknown woman, but not be seduced.
It took a few minutes, she blinked a little, maybe fell asleep or just her head cleared out, "What the hell happened." She spun around, the room was back to normal only Misato was cleaning up the spilled food and Rei was gone. "Well I should know better than to drink so much and spin around. Sorry about the mess," she corrected herself on the couch. Man, she hadn't thought she drank that much, but sudden motion was a bad idea.
Laying a towel on the stained carpet, Misato just shrugged. "It happens, was funny to see Ayanami pitch you like a piece of paper. Though should I question that little play on the floor you had? Not making eyes on my ward are you?" Misato shifted to the chair next to Ritsuko giving the woman a chance to sprawl out on the couch. "You want another glass, or you think you had enough?" she reached and grabbed the can she got herself while Ritsuko was semi-dozing.
Rubbing her head, she at least thought she felt more sober now, Ritsuko sipped her half full glass. Savoring the flavor as it went down she admitted, "Gives credit to your theory about Ayanami. As for the accident, it was just shellshock or something. All your stories about him being an Adonis with all the corruption from his girlfriend, guess I'm just feeling lonely. But NO you don't have to worry," at least Ritsuko hoped not. That was the last thing she needed, to be lusting after a fourteen year old with demonic girlfriends' and body guards. "Where are Ayanami and Shinji-kun anyway?" she picked at Misato's plate of food as hers was now in the garbage.
Moving her besieged plate out of Ritsuko's grasp, Misato pointed at the bathroom with her foot. "You want more, get your own. As for my favorite chef, he's in the bath. Ayanami went back to her apartment to get…best not asked I'm thinking. That girl, I don't know if she knows what she's saying about Shinji-kun or not. I just hope it's her being socially inept and not something kinky," Misato proceeded to demolish her food.
Eying the bathroom door, Ritsuko had the stray thought of whether Shinji was a failure down below like his father was or if Yui's DNA was better tuned. Her rumbling stomach, and the queasiness from drinking, forced the doctor up and into the kitchen. Getting herself more curry, she exchanged work banter with Misato for a good period. Shigeru's break up, Makoto's small crush on Misato, Maya's new apartment, and countless other neutral topics filled the room.
After a good twenty minutes of drinking, eating, and talking Ritsuko felt the all too familiar push of her bladder screaming out for release. "Shinji-kun left the bathroom right? Cause if he's not I'm going to make a mess on your carpet. Far to much wine," she was already off her feet and moving towards the porcelain throne. If he was still in there, she'd knock and demand he hide or something while she kept her clothing free of stink.
"Yeah I heard his door open while I was setting up my Go board. You will submit to my superior tactical might," Misato grumbled something that sounded like 'unlike Shinji' or 'sashimi' but was debatable.
Feeling to stuffy, her body felt way to hot, she let her coat fall to the ground. Shinji or somebody would clean up after her, or it'd just need a good ironing in the morning. The idea of crashing on the couch or Misato's room was rising as the night progressed onward. Lighting rapping on the door, "Coming in so if you're indecent…" That was loud enough right? She didn't know, or care, her legs were rubber. How many glasses of wine, or was it bottles at this point had she drank? Fumbling with the door she threw it open and ambled in and came to a sudden crashing halt. "Whoa, hung like a horse!" she yelped loudly and fell back onto her rump with a crash.
"Are you alright?" Misato slurred as she cried out running. Rushing at the sound of falling, Misato bounded around the corner and nearly tripped over Ritsuko. Finding the same thing Ritsuko did, Misato's cheeks reddened as well, her own drunken state left her falling to her knees snicking, "Shin-chan who were you thinking about with that…monster?"
A shrill yell left the excited boy's body as he grabbed the nearest towel to hide his problem. Due to the rather agitated nature of it though, just wrapping a towel around his waist only exacerbated the problem by making a pitched tent. "Please g-get out, this isn't…isn't what it looks like. S-stop staring at me please?" he shifted away only to flash them his rump…then he joined the ladies on the ground by drawing up to his legs.
Doing backwards crabwalks out of the bathroom, Ritsuko shut the door with her foot. "S-sorry Shinji-kun, thought the bathroom was open," she was suddenly very sober. Now that wasn't what she expected a fourteen year old to have, grown men had…well it was god she was lonely if she was thinking about opening the door again. Getting to her feet, giving Misato's stomach a none-to-friendly nudge, "It was empty huh? You heard stuff coming from his room? Very observant Misato."
"My little boy is all grown up," Misato snickered as she rolled over onto her stomach and whooped. Trying to do a push-up, Misato burst out laughing to hard and fell back down. "Oh boy, I need more booze to burn that from my mind. Or maybe I should take a picture and send it to Kaji," she rolled back onto her back.
Well there went any hope Misato was going to offer anything constructive for the rest of the night. Having known Misato when she blacked-out before, Ritsuko gave the situation a good eighty-five percent chance that Misato was not going to remember anything past cleaning up the mess. Collecting herself, her mind shocked clear, she did hear sounds coming from Shinji's room. "Oh now what…" the hope that maybe it was Himari and the possibility of her being in cat form forced Ritsuko to move.
"Is that you Noihara-kun?" Ritsuko asked as she opened the door and quickly shut it again. "I did not see that…I didn't!" Ritsuko scrunched her eyes shut so hard it hurt and she saw white. She did not see Ayanami Rei laying on Shinji's bed in a black teddie, she did NOT! Teenagers were not getting more nookie than she was, nope, just a delusion and she'd not accept it till later. Making the short trip back to the living room, her plan for the evening shot so full of holes it could be used to strain pasta, she found Shinji covering Misato with her coat. "S-Shinji-kun, I'm…sorry about," she just waved it off and headed to the open bathroom.
Collecting herself in the moisture rich water closet, Misato, Asuka, and Himari's delicate' s hanging for all the world to see, she took care of business. Flushing away her mind it seemed, she rejoined the party, the illusion of Rei did not join them in all her naughty glory. Misato was snoring on the ground, and Shinji was sitting behind the Go board. "This was not what I intended when I came over. Sorry for all the insanity Shinji-kun," she sat across from him at the board. She eyed the bottle of wine and shook her head, no more tonight.
Setting his first piece, Shinji actually just smiled and chuckled, "I'm getting used to craziness lately. Misato said you know the truth about Himari and Chizuru?" He sat uncomfortably before the woman as if expecting a reprimand or scolding. "We, we're not using…they say they don't need to worry about pr-pregnancy. Himari-san is taking some herbal remedy, and Chizuru said it's not a worry. Same goes for…" he just trailed off as Ritsuko set a piece of her own and he followed suit.
So they were having at each other like rabbits in a population crisis, Ritsuko fumbled and dropped her current piece. "I know about their being more than human, and your little trick with that golden light," she did want to see him do that again. Magic, honest to god magic, it was a scientists wet dream…or was that having pool boys that did her every bidding, both? Shaking the image of Shinji in a speedo out of her mind, "As for your, uh, extra exercise as long as it doesn't impact your piloting I can't say much."
Over the next twenty minutes Ritsuko's sense of skill at board games and strategy were diced like lettuce in a salad. Shinji destroyed any and all of her plans without even seeming to try, damn natural talent. But the game ended when Rei came out of Shinji's room, still clad in Chizuru's gift, asking if it was time to get the 'pre-game gitters' out of Shinji's system. Ritsuko joined Misato in la-la land.
X-X
The video feed was of a red blob, the depth was still well above maximum, and pressure was nominal. All those statistics equated into a very bored Matoko Hyuga, who was in charge of keeping Misato apprised of Unit-02's status. He didn't have anything really to say when everything was going perfectly fine, odd when an angel was involved. Being bored left him plenty of time to watch everybody else, think, and well dream of sweeping Misato off her feet.
"Current depth 150 yards, everything is in the green," Matoko informed Misato who he felt hovering behind him. Man she was beautiful, far more intelligent than given credit for, and oh so far out of his league it was criminal just to think of it. "But if Ikari-kun can have a girl like he has…two," a man could dare dream lawlessly. Thinking of one of the young pilot's two known female companions, Matoko found the girl pacing the small command station pensively. Grabbing a wasabi pea from his snack, he chucked it at Shigeru.
The pea bounced off Shigeru's cheek just below his eye eliciting a yelp of surprise and pain as wasabi dust flicked into his eye. "Ouch man, couldn't you have just tugged on my sleeve or something," the long haired man rubbed vigorously at his watering eye. With both Misato and Ritsuko alerted by the small yelp, "Electricity is flowing fine and the coolant cables are secure." Once the heat was off, Shigeru glared angrily at his co-conspirator.
Offering a weak smile and hand gesture of apology, Makoto didn't dwell to long on his victim's suffering. "I wasn't aiming for your eye, sorry. Just I'm bored and this is taking so long," and when jaded Makoto wanted to talk. His mind was currently swirling with the proposed offer of going to an onsen after the operation, but he needed Shigeru to go so it didn't look bad. Spying Misato paying more attention to Asuka's visual feed, "You going to take Katsuragi-san up on the offer of going to that hot spring?" He mentally pleaded.
After actually checking the readings to insure he hadn't lied to the captain, Shigeru groaned. "I don't know. Was thinking of giving Okemi a call, see if we can fix things back up. Watching you hit on the captain, while fun, doesn't seem like a good evening for me," he jibbed. Leaning over in his chair, Shigeru spied the length of coil slowly declining as Unit-02 lowered more. Sighing, "But I won't lie and say a nice soak wouldn't be good. But you do know that they're segregated nowadays."
Hadn't thought about that, Makoto was crest fallen. "But we can still see them in those pre/post soak kimonos. And it's relaxing. Maybe you could try talking to Ibuki or Akagi?" he meaningfully left Misato out. He had spoken to Shigeru about his little(major) crush on his superior officer, so he pleaded the man didn't make a move. Pointing a hidden finger at the still pacing Noihara, "You ever see that girl relax during a mission?"
"She's the Slayer's bodyguard and he's in a giant blasphemy against the gods, how could she be?" Shizuka popped her head in between the two talking men. A bevy of 'hu-hu's' left her lips as the men recoiled at her sudden appearance, "Having him standing on the edge of a volcano doesn't help either."
It took him a moment to realize that the pale girl wasn't Ayanami, and at that point Makoto cried out in a manly shrill voice. "Who are you? This is a Nerv operation, kids aren't allowed inside the box. How did you get in anyway?" if he had a weapon he'd have drawn it, but well his pencil was in his hand. One moment he was talking peacefully with Shigeru the next this deathly pale girl was between them, was she a ninja like the Noihara girl?
"Himari take care of that for us will you, can't leave Asuka at this point," Misato addressed the situation diplomatically. Sharing a word with Ritsuko, Misato turned the communication on, "We're going to go a bit past the safety point, Asuka. We're getting a few readings that indicate it might be just a little further down."
Approaching the two, Himari's brow hardened just a marginal amount as she nodded to the new girl. "This be Shizuka, Ayanami-san's bodyguard. As Ikari-sama has myself to protect during his time abroad, twas deemed apt that Ayanami-san have one as well," she gestured to the petit girl. As if reading the minds of the two men, "As for yon Soryu, she haft brought her own from abroad to see to her…protection."
"That makes sense, she was in Germany till recently. If she needed somebody, guess it's only reasonable hers came with her," Shigeru alternated between the two teens.
Waiting for the two girls to leave, Makoto felt uneasy around the smaller girl. After the two waited for the men to say anything, they didn't, they headed to the back of the command station to talk. Shuddering, "That Shizuka girl gives me the creeps, she looks like a walking corpse. I mean Ayanami is pale, but that girl." Having flashes of the last horror movie he watched, Makoto was half expecting the girl to explode into a wiggling mass of tentacles and…well if he got to watch…NO bad man no imagining your boss being beset by tentacles.
Nodding after checking they weren't being spied on, "You said that right. And if I hadn't seen the footage of Noihara-kun's skills I'd question if either of those kids would make for good bodyguards." A small beeping from his console stole his attention away from grading 'children', the man tapped his dials. "Captain, I'm getting some tug on the line, it's within threshold but pressure is starting to effect the decent," he informed to the not caring woman.
After allowing for any back and forth needed between Shigeru and Misato, Makoto added his two cents about the pressure increasing on the D-type equipment. Couldn't let Shigeru be the LAST man to talk to Misato if he could help it. Back to the boredom he started yapping again, "Odd to have Ayanami's bodyguard here if Unit-00 is on standby at base. Maybe she heard about the hot spring visit and came early?"
Scoffing, Shigeru just shook his head and rubbed his temples with one hand. "I swear you're too excited about this little visit. Did you even look at the weather reports? They're freakish, they say they're seeing snow clouds, SNOW! It hasn't snowed in years, it's hot as balls outside, and yet think it might snow in this area. And all you can think of is Katsuragi-san in a kimono?" Laughing humorlessly, Shigeru gave his buddy a pitying look.
Now who was being stupid, Makoto bit on his lip to stay his own laughter. "It's impossible for it to snow, that's just a lot of stupidity," he gave his monitor a quick glance. Pressure was higher, but the D-type was fine, temperature was higher so that girl must be sweltering, but the vision was still red nothing. "How about a bet then, that girl," he pointed at Himari, "bet she's bigger than Ibuki." Whatever they were feeding girls today, Makoto was sad they didn't feed it to them when he was growing up.
Raising his finger to speak, his face a mixture of shock, disgust, and disbelief Shigeru turned to see the girls talking and stopped. "Well I'll be damned I bet she is. If that kimono isn't hiding to much I think you might be right," he joined Makoto in a small laugh at Maya's expense. Holding up his hands, Shigeru collapsed back against his chair, "Fine, fine, I'll go. But I'm just going to have a chat with our little Ikari-kun over there." He pointed at the stoic form of Unit-01 that was literally on the edge of the volcano letting the cable run through its mighty fingers.
"Talk to Ikari-kun?" Makoto gave Shigeru a queer eye but said nothing. It didn't matter why Shigeru went in the end as long as the man went. Talking to the Third Child, but why? Shinji was just a quiet kid, far to pansy to fight, and if a more determined pilot showed up Makoto would sleep happier. Under his breath, "Whatever floats the boat man, but he does have a girlfriend so…"
Not wanting to push things further, less he risk Shigeru not going and his cover for stalking Misato lost, Makoto just went back to staring bored at the slowly rising numbers. Spying as best he could, the room was small and very conducive for sound, he overheard both groups he was trying to. The teenagers were talking about something called Minori and some sort of incident back in the city. Misato was trying to get Ritsuko to agree to exceed the maximum depth even further, Ritsuko relented.
One of his readings went yellow and Makoto sat forward in his seat, "Katsuragi-san, the pressure has exceeded safety range, bordering on dangerous. External temperature is rising as well. Her lighting isn't tested at this…and there it goes," he grimaced as Unit-02's external lighting rig shattered. Had he been paying more attention he'd have got her the details before it popped, but that's life. Checking for any blue patterns, he gasped, "I'm seeing a faint reading a little further down."
The air about the room intensified as Misato grumbled and leaned closer to Ritsuko's chair. "We push on then, Asuka get the cage ready," Misato was dangerously close to Akagi, and Makoto's mind blossomed.
Soon Makoto's role in things was downgraded into near uselessness. The cage was deployed and working within all green lines. Shigeru started pulling the dangling Unit-02 back up when things decided to jump off the deep end into crazy. Ritsuko's cry of "The angel is hatching' resonated with everybody that heard it. Makoto tried to follow everything, but chatter was all over and to harried to follow. Shinji was asked to throw his knife down, Himari could be heard telling the pilot not to act hasty. The two teenage pilots shared a moment of epiphany, called out some physics term. Ritsuko again could be heard over the drone of, "Shigeru pump all coolant into line three!"
"Done and done," Shigeru quickly entered the commands he was asked too. The duo of commanding officers stood behind the man's chair. The women, even the teenagers in the room crowded around Shigeru's seat and well Makoto felt that sting of jealousy. Why couldn't he have the ladies all around him? A few moments of tense action later, the newly awakened angel was destroyed and the crashing sense of relief came in. "Wait…the coolant cables have been cut just above Unit-02, it's going to tear," Shigeru pointed at the damage reading, and alerted the standby Unit-01.
"Shinji-kun what are you, STOP!" Misato yelled as those in the staging area watched as Unit-01 literally dived into the lava. Alternating to Makoto in the span of a moment, Misato was at his side her finger angrily pointing at the rapidly growing numbers for Unit-01, "Makoto, what are his chances of survival? Without the D-type armor, and the depth of Unit-02, what are his chances? Damn it Shinji-kun, you can't just do things like this."
Moving to Makoto's other side, Himari was inches away from Makoto's face staring intently at the details. "Shinji-sama be doth to reckless for yon child. I can nary protect him from his own courage," she muttered loud enough for Makoto to hear.
At the moment Makoto didn't know who sounded more concerned Misato or Noihara, but he was rethinking his wanting to be the center of attention. If things went bad, well they'd thrash him as the only alternative. Cringing back in his chair as the readings continued to spike as Unit-01 sank, "At the rate of increase, the pressure or heat will cause him to pass out well before he reaches her. Since the cables haven't snapped yet Unit-02 could grab him as he passes her."
Makoto felt the pressure on his chair increase, either Shizuka or Akagi started hanging on the back of it. The boy was stupid, nobody could survive that amount of pressure or heat, but he foolishly jumped in. Nobody would see him throwing his life away to make himself look good to a lady.
"The line's snapped, Unit-02 is falling," Shigeru cried out frantically, his finger jabbing the screen so hard he bruised it.
Her hand clamping down on Makoto's shoulder, her nails bit hard into the flesh, "What is Shinji-kun's status, he still conscious?" The better question was 'alive' but nobody was going to question Misato on her optimism.
Unable to believe the readings before him, Unit-01 was suffering intense pressure and extreme heat without the projection Unit-02 had but yet. "He's awake and making contact in three…two…he's got her!" he would have jumped out of his seat but Misato's hand kept him down. His head wobbled from side to side, Misato's smile was wide and relieved but the Noihara girl was downright love and respect…maybe there was something more to this Ikari boy than Makoto let on.
"He's going to get such a talking too when he gets back," Misato threatened but sounded to comforted to be taken seriously.
Leaving Makoto's side, Himari's little quip left the man chilled, "Shinji-sama shall be punished much severely for his scaring of me." And nobody debated the woman as her eyes were hard as nails, her body language crisp and lethal, the woman was for lack of a better words pissed off.
X-X
Sweating and tender, Shinji shifted in his seat in the van. He'd never say it, but he just felt very odd at the moment. The plugsuit had to nearly be carved off him as it started to melt a little, they had to cut it off him as the depressurization was damaged. Not his proudest moment, but he couldn't let Asuka die if he could do anything to prevent it. The girl was nice, a bit standoffish and proud, but he felt an odd kinship with her. Nothing pronounced like Himari or Chizuru, but…
Looking at the girl in question sitting on the opposite side of the van, Shinji leaned forward to look past Shizuka, "You doing alright over there?" Sure he should have been the one asked, she looked fine and he was the dumb one without projection. What hurt more than the pressure damage or skin sensitivity was Himari wasn't speaking to him. Knowing Asuka could use a good ego stroking, "You got this one all on your own too."
"Slayer, she'd have died if you'd not saved her, so that does mean this was a failure on her part. Dying on the job doesn't mean victory, not when more Guardians exist," Shizuka waggled her elongated tongue at her. If the Mizuchi was angry at Shinji, she hid it well, opting to tease and mock both Asuka and him in equal measure.
Steering the rented van down the road at extreme speeds towards a darkening cloud bank, Misato turned off the music she had blaring. "Regardless of who defeated the angel or who saved who, what you did was without orders Shinji-kun. It was reckless, stupid, and you could have cost us both Unit-02 and Unit-01 had you passed out or died in the plug. From what Ritsuko says we'll be repairing melted armor and pressure damage to the internal workings of Unit-01 for a few weeks. So what do you have to say for yourself," Misato looked at Shinji via the rearview mirror and not the cars she was passing.
"He saved my life! How can you be talking to him like this? Would you rather I'd have sank and died?" Asuka raged for the first time since getting into the car. Ever since her recovery the German said only the absolute minimum, but now her normal energy and vitality swelled. Pouting and crossing her arms, "So what if some tech has to do a little more work replacing armor on that thing. Damage is one thing and losing Unit-02 is another!"
Not one to want a fight, especially between roommates, Shinji leaned as far as his seatbelt would allow. "She has a point Asuka," Shinji heard a grunt from Himari, "What I did was reckless and without orders. All I heard was the cord was damaged and I jumped in. If it hadn't snapped I'd have risked Unit-01 without need." Being the devil's advocate was hard, especially with two volatile women like Asuka and Misato, but he was getting better at it. Longingly looking at the back of Himari's head, her hair done up with a yellow boy, he felt like she was going to tear him a new one.
Not being stupid, Shinji knew what Himari's issue was, and bet he got almost as big a brow beating from Chizuru when she heard of it. He risked his life for Asuka, a girl that was making life a living hell for them. Was it the fact Asuka was a girl or she was a novice demon-hunter, Shinji didn't want to guess? Himari was angry that he risked his life without hesitation, a bodyguard's worst nightmare. A subject with an apparent death wish and a subject she cared for. But he had to see her fight, he wouldn't demand she not do it…so she should allow him this.
"Shinji-sama dashes towards his down demise with heedless rapidity. Even after promises of care he foolishly acts when others could have acted otherwise," Himari tapped her foot hard and fast against the front seat floor. Her face, seen in the side mirror, was not the normal elegant beauty but a crosshatch of rage and bitterness. Alternating to Asuka, "Did thy beast not have arms for which to grab itself, or had thou expected my master to try and die to prove some theme?"
That hurt, the sense that Himari felt betrayed by him and in a sense she was. He had said he'd not be stupid after he let Himari cut him, but again he couldn't just let Asuka fall. "Himari-san, Asuka had the D-Type suit on, she only had pincer hands, she couldn't have grabbed it. I-I'm sorry I broke my word about not taking unnecessary risks, but it wasn't…unnecessary," Asuka was needed to beat the Angels, and his mind would never recover if she'd died without him trying.
"This isn't done yet by a longshot, Shinji-kun, but it's enough for now," Misato cut off any further debate on the issue. "You and I'll have a talk once we don't have spectators to get so agitated," she did offer him a slim smile. Rubbing at the window, she actual shivered, turning up the never used heat. "Is it just me or is it getting colder?" she tried to shift the mood.
Sliding up to Shinji's side, Shizuka pressed herself against him, "I am content with the heat Slayer-kun radiates. It is much higher than normal." She let her tongue dabble at Shinji's cheek for a moment before pulling it back in and going into hibernation or sleep depending on who you asked.
"Tis the only warmth of flesh Shinji-sama shall receive for next fortnight!" Himari glared angrily at her paramour. Her body seemed to vibrate on the irate frequency as she exuded her disappointment.
His hand reached out for Himari before his forebrain kicked in screaming 'Give her time.' Being wise in the way of not pissing people off, Shinji listened and his hand fell back to his side. Readjusting himself so the snoozing Shizuka was more comfortable he caught a glimpse of Asuka looking at him. She had a perplexed look about her, not surprising with how close to death she just got, he just shrugged sullenly and continued looking out the window. Yeah, going to be a REAL relaxing break wasn't it.
Misato tried the radio a bit more, most of it was scientists and reporters commenting on the freak weather in the region, but little he listened to. The adrenaline was seeping out of his body, fatigue rushing in to replace it, the young Ikari did his best to stay awake but it was a losing battle. Ideas of how to make it up to Himari and eventually Chizuru danced about his head, but the lethargy played with his mind something vicious. One moment he was thinking of buying Himari a new dress, the next he was envisioning taking the black cat out for a walk in the park complete with leash. After his cross wired brain tried thinking of the best color for the sheath of Chizuru's new sword he fell asleep.
"Time to get up Shinji, they're leaving us behind," Asuka said while shaking the boy's shoulder. Standing outside the car, the stairs leading up to a very fancy looking onsen, Asuka was pulling the boy out of the car with little hint of gentleness. "Sorry about before, I can't believe she's upset you saved me. I know, well I hope, it's just for the top brass. But it still hurts to see my survival was responded with such scorn," Asuka shut the door after Shinji got out.
Spying the ascending forms of the other women, Shinji felt that pinch in his chest. She left him behind, Himari left him with Asuka. That was a telling maneuver, one he was going to have to work hard to clear. He was willing though, for both Himari and Chizuru he was willing to go through neigh any hurdle to get back in their good graces. "Tama no Yu? That sounds familiar for some reason," Shinji commented on the name above the door. Where had he heard that name before, for the life of him he just couldn't recall. Starting his ascent to the top, he found his movement hindered by a hand grasping his wrist, "Asuka?"
Meeting his eyes for but a moment, Asuka's either blushed or a stray ray of sun pierced the cloud cover. "I wanted…well…I wanted to thank you for saving me. I know things are awkward between us. Keusu and I not being very well received by the…others. But we humans do have to look out for one another," she gave his hand a good shake and left the boy puzzled at the base of the steps.
Ah Keusu, the silver haired woman that Asuka claimed was his fiancé. Shizuka and Rei questioned why Shinji believed Asuka at all, without evidence Shinji had all right to think it a lie. But that comment she said he had saw her before. He had never known a silver haired woman before, but…
Shaking his head, Shinji's fingers traced his lips blithely as he quickly ran to join the group. It was stupid, far too stupid to think, but somehow he thought he knew the touch of her lips. Very stupid, especially with Chizuru at his side already. Ah he missed her, only a week separated but he was sad he didn't know the number at which to call her. With Himari angry at him and Rei back at the apartment, Shinji oddly felt a sense of loneliness. "This is stupid, I'm getting spoiled by them," he saw the slip of Asuka's hair vanish behind into the entrance.
Opening the classical doors to the very old-style onsen, Shinji found his companions standing shell-shocked. "What is wrong?" he asked and saw the two hostesses that were to greet them. Before him was beauty on a level that was neigh criminal. A woman, he had to think she was only twenty, and her subordinate knelt just beyond the entrance on the polished wood. "A-are we late, where are the others?" Shinji stammered after the others reacted to his entrance.
"Ah yes, your fellow co-workers arrived a few hours ago, Ikari-san. May I be the first to welcome you to Tama no Yu, I will be your servant for your stay. Feel free to call me Tamamo, and this is Yukihana," the full bodied long black haired woman gestured to the bluish haired woman at her side. Their kimono's were elaborate and smelled of honeysuckle and cinnamon. But that impish smile on Tamamo's face was so familiar. After bowing deeply to her guests, Tamamo looked right at Shinji and added, "But you, Ikari-san, may call me mother."
At that moment, in a flurry of energy and the large number of pillows she was carrying, Chizuru dove towards Shinji, "You came to visit!"
Mother! That was Chizuru's adopted mother?! Oh god things just got worse…a lot worse. He'd have to explain his actions that Himari was going to no doubt say to both Chizuru and her mother! "H-hi Chizuru-san, I d-didn't know this was your mother's place," he stammered as Misato and Asuka fainted dead away. Well, that was great start of the what would end up being three day stay at Tama no Yu.
X-X
Notes
Bit on the funny bit on the dramatic side. Trying to keep that balance while moving the plot along. I always thought it a bit odd that Shinji suffered no damage from the volcano while they made such a big deal about Asuka's armor but I guess that's plot mechanics. Hope ya enjoyed this chapter and keep reading. I've looked up a bit more on Kanokon/Himari as their manga progressed and man…I'm going to have some fun!
Later
Mercaba