The Friend of my Enemy

by Mercaba

A spring rain and a short walk bring Shinji to the the attention of a young woman that changes not only his destiny but the lives of all the staff of Nerv

23. Chapter 23

Standard Disclaimer

Man January is already gone and I didn't get nearly as much done as I wanted. But such is life I guess. Weather here is something awful, snow and ice all over the place which sucks. Well might as well get on with it as this story jumps into high gear!

X-X

Friend of my Enemy

Chapter – 23

Standing in one of the rooms he was never meant to be in, Shinji's hand traced the vat containing Nozomu. In the amber light of the LCL the girl had a striking similarity to Rei, so much it was uncanny. "So father had something to do with this didn't he? Have you thought of anyway of waking her up?" Shinji looked over at Ritsuko. The small room was nearly full to bursting with people. After a three day observation period in the hospital, Asuka was released and then Misato forced this little get together.

Walking over to Shinji, she put a hand on his shoulder gently and gave it a nice shake. Ritsuko appeared light years better than she had over the last months. "Well I've a few ideas, but Rei-kun has been quite vocal on not taking any risks on her," she caressed the tank with her free hand. Turning around, wrapping her arm around Shinji's shoulder and gaining a stink-eye from Misato, "But I'm doubting this is the only reason Misato wanted us to meet today. You seeing this likely won't change your opinion of anything."

"Yeah I wasn't wanting to see my best friend coping a cheep feel on my ward. For fuck's sake Ritsuko he's only…you are serious about being with him like this?" Misato forced the two apart with more force than necessary. Taking Ritsuko's place, protectively shielding Shinji from the woman's advances, Misato's brow was a mass of wrinkles and confusion. Leading Shinji to a nice corner, away from the others, "I want to know what you lot did to get Asuka and Jinguji hospitalized. I want to know what you know of the recent attacks on people. I want to know why you have been trying to drag Shinji-kun off every five damn minutes!" Her last question was pointed at Lizlet who just blushed and mumbled.

A little uncomfortable being so close to Misato, Shinji gingerly freed himself from her iron clad grip. Misato was just a very touchy-feely woman, and she had been even more so since Ritsuko and he started sharing more time together. "Ritsuko-san and I have…gotten to know one another a lot better of the last few weeks, Misato-san. I'm a little shocked at things to, but it doesn't hurt anybody. As for the other stuff…well I don't know if I'm the best person to talk about that," was Misato frowning again? Was she that upset with him for being with Ritsuko?

It had been odd being with the older woman at first, but after being with Tamamo and Yukihana he knew how to treat her. But with Ritsuko it was more the emotional element they both craved. Both had been horrible scared mentally by Gendo Ikari, and found a kindred spirit in the other. Shinji had kissed the bruises, caressed the scars, and eased Ritsuko's troubled spirit. Oh and he made her scream out in such bliss the woman's voice had been hurt for a day. Rei had been present for most of it, a teachers role, and Rei did not let Ritsuko off light. Perfection was all Rei would allow, so Ritsuko had to act to her specifications.

"Look I'm fine alright? Better than fine so can we drop the hospitalization already?" Asuka huffed and paced the room. True to her words, Asuka was positively glowing with vitality and energy. Blushing when she looked over at Himari though, something was still going on through that girl's head about the little evening they shared. Standing before Nozomu, Asuka joined those that had to touch the tank. Leaning against it, Asuka just closed her eyes, "What happened though was we hunted our prey, a demon lord, and killed him. He was the one that was attacking those rich jerks."

Killed, Shinji was upset that Shuten-Douji had to die to be stopped, but he accepted it. "It wasn't just that man either. He had a small army of lizard men that followed his bidding. Liz-chan," Shinji smiled when Lizlet tittered. His personal maid was just so easy to please it seemed. A small word of praise, a single caress of her hand, or just about anything sent Lizlet into the vapors. The tea-sprite was insatiable too, drained Shinji something fierce, but he loved each moment with her too. "We disbanded a small group of them, while Himari-san and Chizu-chan found a larger one," he pointed at both of his co-wives who nodded.

"Tis as master said, ye fibber to yon-self and tormentor of cats," Himari would never let Ritsuko forget that. Making sure the ring on her finger caught the light as much as it could, she held the hilt of her blade tightly. "Thee sons of Yig had aligned themselves with thy enemy. Strong of back and sharp of claw, they follow strength without question, but our might shattered their hold. I be shocked to see yon Fox capable of things other than seduction and pampering." Another thing that would never end, Himari and Chizuru's need to needle, only now it wasn't spiteful just in good spirits.

Heading back over to Chizuru and Himari, Lizlet joined him as he walked and clung him from behind, Shinji hoped Shizuku wasn't upset at not being here. Mari needed a little more attention before she was fully healed, and now was the best time to administer it. "So that's what has been happening Misato-san. Shuten-Douji had been trying to make a world of only the strong demon and demon-animals. I would have rather stopped him without having to kill him, but it wasn't possible. Asuka-san and um...Kuesu-chan did what they had to," he wondered why Meruhi insisted Kuesu's attention. But Kuesu still had mother issues, and couldn't refute the woman.

"You are staring to intently at Alpha, he is intimidated by such in public," Rei commented breaking the seriousness of the moment. Mostly watching her spiritual sister in her tank, Rei felt her student needed to be put back in place. Always on watch for ways to improve and fail, Rei was a stern task mistress.

Her eyebrow twitching as Chizuru teased and played with Shinji, nibbling on his ear as he tried to hide it, Misato stomped her foot hard. "That does not explain how a munitions warehouse was totally destroyed, Asuka's clothing in tatters and soaked in blood, and yet she's totally fine now! You should have told me about this before you all went out on some crazy mission! What if one of you died out there? We still have the angels to fight, we still have so much left to do…and here you are risking your lives…what…what am I good for if…" she actually started to break and tremble.

"Mother-in-law," Chizuru was always so quick to offer support. Quickly moving off the lab table she had shared with the others, Chizuru wrapped her arms around Misato. "We still need you, always will. Shin-baby loves you, as do we. This was just something we demons and hunters had to take care of. How would you explain our kind to your soldiers?" Chizuru's bust pushed in and smashed against Misato's. They were almost equal in size, a mere 'teen' and a full grown woman…Shinji tried not to let his notice be seen. Oh he failed as Himari pinched his hand and looked away when he flinched.

The door hissed open and a small dry clap resounded in the room as yet another person forced herself into the full room. "My daughter has become so compassionate and caring. Does a mother proud to see her child is so well behaved," Tamamo cooed as she floated across the floor. Taking up Chizuru's seat next to Shinji, the others just boggled as the woman leaned against the man. "Oh don't worry, I let myself into your little base. The men and women at the gates were ever so helpful. I figured it would be best to let you all know what I've learned recently thanks to Jinguji's book," Tamamo didn't react to any of the angry stares.

It had been several weeks since his last visit to Tamamo's onsen, but Shinji was still mystified at the eternal twenty year old. Why the woman wanted to be with him as she was, he didn't know. Tamamo could be with anybody she wanted, man or woman, and yet she insisted on him. Training him for her daughter, was the lie that they both pretended to believe. Tamamo and Yukihana were just powerfully lonely though and didn't WANT to be with anybody else.

"Ok, why the hell are you here now? Shinji-kun you better not be banging this one as well! I swear I'm the only woman that isn't…" Misato fumed but didn't break her contact with Chizuru. Over the last few days, ever since Shinji's show of determination and compassion for both Himari and Chizuru, Misato's attitude towards the Kitsune had improved. Rubbing the girl's arms, Chizuru bristled pleasantly, "Thanks, Minamoto-kun, I needed to hear that."

Pouting cutely as Chizuru chased her off the table, Tamamo walked about the room examining all the women in it. "What my daughter's husband and I do is nothing of consequence. You do reek of pheromones, Misato Katsuragi, one might think you're jealous of the women in this room. And you," she pointed at Ritsuko and let a feral grin slip on. Chizuru and Tamamo were closer in mind than any would have wanted to expect, "I think you could stand a visit to one of the private baths at my onsen. You'd find my personal touch quite enjoyable."

Was Tamamo coming on to Ritsuko? Shinji had a mental image of that and had to banish it quickly. Best not to think of strange things with so many watching him. "W-what did you learn Tamamo-san?" Misato couldn't be jealous. It would be strange and awkward, more so than with Ritsuko! Ever since he came to this city Misato had been there for him, supporting him! A family figure, a sister or mother…but he did love the woman so powerfully it scared him. He didn't want to have anything negative come between them…but if Tamamo was telling the truth he might be hurting her without trying!

"So quick to change to subject, almost as if you didn't want to think about it. That's so cute of you," Tamamo winked at Shinji. Nothing could get past the golden-nine-tail could it. But she didn't press it, just wrapped her arms around Rei and held her like a doll or small child. Petting Rei's hair, "The guardians can be stopped prematurely if we destroy the summon stone. Its part of the rite of the seal. Somebody is trying to force the seal to appear early, Shuten-Douji's actions must have put the fear of failure into them."

Tamamo told the room what she learned from Meruhi's book. How the seal between the spirit realm and earth could be manipulated to effect all worlds. Drawing all demonic taint out of it, forcing human's to change in various ways, and other nightmare fuel that left all of them ashen and pale. Asuka punched a whole in a cabinet when Tamamo spoke of how powerful demons, herself included, didn't truly die when their bodies were destroyed. In time they'd either reincarnate or be summoned into new bodies.

He didn't know how to take all Tamamo said, Chizuru and Himari's arms around him were proof they didn't either. "So…if we find this stone we can stop them from coming? But we don't know what they're trying to do. W-what if we only exacerbate things? And w-what else are you hiding from us?" Shinji knew that look on Tamamo's face. She was holding something back, nervous of saying something. Last time he saw it, Tamamo had actually wanted Shinji to go down on her, but had actually been to nervous to ask. After he coaxed it out of her, well Shinji found Tamamo tasted similar but a little gentler than Chizuru.

"You know me to well, Shin-chan," Tamamo stuck her tongue out and kicked her foot up jokingly. Slowly moving about the room, she stood before Asuka who was nursing her unblemished knuckles. Sniffing the air over the girl, she actually frowned for just a moment before wrapping her arms around the girl in a very confusing hug. Actually lifting Asuka off the ground, "You've done something you don't fully realize young one. You're immortal now…I can smell it on you. You're part demon now. Much like that tea-sprite over there, you're life is tied to some object I sense."

The room went dead silent as Tamamo let Asuka flitter to the ground. Asuka was a immortal? She was a demon like his other beloved? His best friend was going to live forever and he'd die…what happened to her!? "A-Asuka what happened? Does it have something to do with your fight with Shuten?" Shinji quickly advanced on his friend. Why wouldn't she have told him this?! She was both Kuesu's and his… "Oh god…is that the same with Kuesu-chan too?"

"How could you tell them? How did you even know?" Asuka shoved Tamamo away from her and colliding into Shinji. Backing away from them all, inching towards the door like a frightened animal. "W-we didn't know what happened really! Just we…just…I…was hurt. I thought I was going to die, thought I did die alright! Kuesu was hurt too, but then I got better…and we found a double of her book. I didn't want to tell you Shinji, you'd just worry like you always do! I don't want your worry…I don't…don't…want my friends to think of me a freak!" Asuka hunched over ready to strike at anybody getting close to her.

As good as Asuka was, she was no match for Himari's catlike grace and reflexes. Dodging the telegraphed attack, Himari bypassed Asuka's defenses and brought the girl in tight. "Foolish girl! Ye be like us now, and master doth not look differently at us. If nothing else ye now will be with him longer than…" Himari silenced herself as she tried to calm Asuka down.

"You died! Asuka how could you not…not…" Shinji balked! He had thought they were fine and safe, but both Kuesu and Asuka had kept it a secret from him! Kuesu was his wife and Asuka his friend and they kept it from him! Anger, he was actually angry! He had the right to know this! He loved them, differently but still he cared, and they…they… Rei held his hand as he was about to move, about to yell and scream, "Rei-chan wha?"

Kissing Shinji fiercely and hard, her tongue darted into his mouth with growing skill, she defused the Ikari-bomb. "You were thinking in an agitated state. I calmed your emotion, as Mistress taught me. You do not do anger well, we do not like seeing it either. Soryu likely has her reasons for her deception," she kept close, enjoying the closeness.

"All of you into your plugsuits now," Ritsuko groaned and sneaked her way over to Tamamo. "After what I just heard we need to test all of you, see how things are after this whole mess. I don't care what that sex-kitten has just said, and I have a few things to tell you about Gendo's plans that might help put things together, but we never know when an angel will come. So we need you usable," Ritsuko shifted from pupil to scientist at a drop of a hat.

Taking a deep breath, Shinji saw Asuka was obviously upset herself and realized Rei was right. "S-sorry Asuka, I didn't mean to snap. I just…don't like being kept in the dark, being left out," he didn't want to always be protected! He wanted to do for them as they did for him! Being left out, well it hurt. But right now it was time for work, and twenty minutes later, Ritsuko ran her test and confirmed something…he had the highest sync ratio now, and that did not make Asuka happy.

X-X

Sitting on the floor of the apartment, controller in hand and soda nearby, Asuka grumbled as she found her digital counterpart being trounced. "I know you want to talk, but this isn't helping," Asuka grumbled at her current companions. Shinji, Chizuru, and Shizuku were alternating as Asuka's second player. Shinji was the least skilled of the lot, Chizuru was a god of video games it seemed, and Shizuku was hit or miss. If Asuka had her druthers she'd have been off with Kuesu or Hikari right now, she couldn't take Shinji.

"Well maybe if you actually put up a fight instead of pouting about being alive, then you'd do better," Chizuru thumbed her nose. Using a slow but heavy hitting barbarian type, Chizuru bounced Asuka's svelte ninja about like a rubber ball. Drawing her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them, Chizuru inadvertently propped her bust up and impossible large. Licking her lips as the round drew to a close, "And if it wasn't for Shin-chan you'd be hiding in that room of yours growing mushrooms on your skin. He's…we're your friends Asuka, that hasn't changed."

Friends, hah! Asuka didn't want to accept that, but evidence was just to telling to push off. Demons, she had hated them at the start, and now she was receiving comfort from them. Comfort for her losing her humanity, and her ability to age for now. "I'm fine with Shinji playing this game with me, you must be cheating though," Asuka pointed at the near flawless victory. Despite Shinji being her best male friend, Asuka didn't want to see him right now. He has bested her, trumped her score and left her behind. Blame the transformation, her mindset after the battle, or countless other things? No, Asuka only blamed herself. Not that she could show that.

"Excuses don't suit you Train…Flame-hime," Shizuku updated her nickname for Asuka. Sitting behind Shinji, her legs over his shoulders and against his chest, the Mizuchi kept the lad from moving. Waggling her tongue about in its full forked glory, "You've been dealt a deep blow, life altering, and he sees what I do now. You are hurting, wanting to be consoled, but refuse to let yourself be perceived as weak."

The plastic controller in her hand nearly split in half as her rage increased. "I do NOT want that! I'm only playing with you three perverts because he threatened not to cook supper if I didn't!" Asuka thrust an accusing finger at Shinji. Damn him for seeing the truth! Fucking perfect Shinji! Best scores, better slayer despite his attitude, surrounded by loved ones, and yet still so coy and mild about it! It infuriated her! Why couldn't she have even half of what he had? Kuesu…Kuesu would rather be with him than her now. Yet here she sat playing games with demons…her kin now. "If Kuesu wasn't with her mother and Hikari off with your damn brother I'd not be here right now," Asuka sniffed hard.

"Asuka," Shinji started but stopped as his insecurities enveloped him. Taking the controller from Chizuru, and the light peck on the cheek that came with it, Shinji nuzzled his wife's cheek. He thought Asuka wasn't watching, she was, so he was just that little extra affectionate. Picking his character, the weakest of the roster, "What happened to you. D-don't let it bother you a-alright? You're alive, both of you, and even if you're now half-demons…we don't see you any differently." Of course he'd say that, demon lover as he was.

Do not react to it, do not let their little show distract her! Do not get envious or jealous! It was hard, but Asuka kept her wall up. "How could I not let the fact that I died bother me? That had Kuesu's mother not given her that book, one I have a copy of now, we'd both be gone? Tell me that? Tell me how I'm not supposed to let that bother me!" she screamed at him. The secret part of her heart was pleading for silence, for her to shut up, but she didn't listen. Standing up, controller in one hand, they all looked at her, "You can keep your fucking pity! I don't want it, never did! Just trying to get break down and fall into your arms I bet!"

"Shin-chan is just trying to help you is all!" Chizuru got up quickly in defense. Damn fox was always so fast to defend Shinji, just a hair slower than Himari was. Standing between Asuka and her husband, Chizuru stood cross armed and scowling, "It's not pity or even looking down on you. You're different now, forever! Just like us, you're no longer going to age unless you want to appear it. Shin-chan here is the only human in the room, and HE pleaded with ME to talk with you. I want to like you, Asuka, you've good style and a smart as hell. But you have to take that stick out of your cunt!"

Oh she wasn't going to put up with this in her own home! Again that deeper part of her, the one that she tried to hide from everybody, wanted to fall and cry. Accept her new condition and let those around her help her and comforter her, but she couldn't. Scrunching her eyes shut so tightly she saw white, Asuka paced slowly around Chizuru. "Take out the stick so you can have him stick his in its place!" she hurled the controller at Shinji's face in a rage. It was too much, too much too soon for her mind to cope with it all, so she lashed out.

The room was still, and Asuka paled the moment after she let go, an accident. Chizuru could have swatted it out of the air without hesitation, Shizuku could have batted it away with her feet. But nobody expected Asuka to lash out as she had, they trusted her and where there just for her benefit. So the plastic controller flung uninhibited through the air and smashed off Shinji's nose with all of Asuka's strength behind it. His head bounced back into Shizuku's thighs, his hand went to the impact site and red was already spilling out.

"Why did you find that necessary, Flame-hime?" Shizuku quickly grabbed Shinji's head and tilted it back. Both pure-bloods were glaring daggers at the freshly created half-demon, but didn't know what to do. Tend to their bleeding lover, or exact vengeance on the one that lashed out without care. Reverting to her water form, Shizuku flooded over Shinji and reformed standing at Chizuru's side, they made their choice.

Flinching backward, regret in her mind, her body showed the defiance it was forced to. No longer needing to draw from anybody, her new body was a battery in and of itself, Asuka had to balls of small blue flame in her hands. "H-he had it coming for thinking I need any of you! Any of you could have stopped it, but you're just to…to soft! I'm going to my room, and when Kuesu gets away from that mother of hers I'll be the one to talk to her…not you!" she needed Kuesu now! Somebody, anybody to talk to that wouldn't judge her! Shinji wouldn't, but after the defeat at the sync test, Asuka just couldn't approach him. After she literally hurt him, she was shutting doors she wanted open more!

"Oh you're not leaving yet, bitch!" Chizuru had her own foxfire which dwarfed Asuka's easily. The eternally blissful kitsune was livid, face marred and covered in anxiety and anger. Sidestepping, giving Shizuku a chance to move up closer, Asuka got a view of the stanch floor of crimson flowing down Shinji's face, the controller had actually broken against his face! Her hair switching to blonde as her ears popped out, Chizuru was equally as protective of Shinji as Himari was, "We try and try to be friends with you. At times you seem you want it, but after this…you're just a scared little girl. A girl that needs punishment."

With a speed Asuka couldn't follow, Shizuku became a torrent of water that sloshed between her feet and reformed behind her. "On this, Kitsu-hime, I agree with you. We've all come to like you, train you, and trust you. But when we try to help you when you obviously need it, you do that!" Shizuku licked Asuka's cheek.

Reading herself for a beating she knew she deserved, Asuka pivoted sideways to see who would come first. When both girls were about to pounce at the same time, Shinji croaked out, "Stop! It was an accident. She's…frustrated is all. Let's not make it worse." He got up off the ground, head still back and fingers holding his nose gingerly.

Not again, she was not going to be protected and beaten by him again! Indignity after indignity! Asuka ran while both girls were distracted and slammed her door shut. Her temper had a life of its own right now! Mind overloaded with way too much. Changes going through her mind and body, thanks to Kuesu's saving her life…a fact Asuka wasn't sure she should be thankful for yet. Just what happened to her! A life of training to fight and despise demons, upended completely. Demons weren't all bad, she did want to be friends with Shinji's little coven, but now she was actually ONE of them! That was too much, much too much.

"But what can I do now?" Asuka asked herself as she pressed her ear to the door. Chizuru was pleading with Shinji to let her have just a little vengeance, Shizuku the same. Yet Shinji was steadfast that Asuka was having it harder than they expected was all. He said the damage wasn't that bad, that everything was fine. Protecting her again, just like Kuesu had done during the fight with Shuten-Douji. Asuka was nothing but a liability, a stone to be dragged behind them! Sitting on her bed for a solid half hour, she listened to them talk, before long Chizuru and Shizuku started flirting with Shinji. Lucky bitches. Grabbing the doorknob, she stilled her will to go out and apologize when something stopped her, the angel alarm went off.

Throwing the door open, Asuka found her resolve bolstered! She'd get to show her skill and reclaim some of her fire and THEN she'd feel she had the right to talk to them again. Finding Shinji with his shirt off on the couch, Shizuku over his face and Chizuru in the process of unzipping her skirt, they all paused at the sound. "Let's go you perverts. Or do you plan to finish before you head to Nerv," swell way to start her apology. She didn't wait for them, just continued out the door. Getting outside, her hands slick with sweat and that bitterness inside her growing into a hard nub, she found Himari standing, "They're coming…well maybe he will and then they'll be following me."

"Then I shall escort thee to Nerv if Shinji-sama is in their protection," Himari actually had the gall to smile at Asuka! Another one offering pity for the slayer turned demon! Himari had wanted to take a few looks about the old Yig dens to insure they hadn't been repopulated, judging from her lack of perspiration, they must have been. Holding a hand out in camaraderie, "Shall we be off then?"

Confused and uncertain about how she felt about Himari, that one evening left the girl so bewildered, Asuka just took Himari's hand and ran. Best not to tell the protective cat-demon that she smashed Shinji's nose in. Best to keep it a secret that Shinji's efforts to show Asuka she wasn't alone was met with scorn and anger. It was best to just revel in the smooth hand, the strong hand, and concentrate on the battle ahead.

They ran hand in hand, a speeds Asuka was amazed she was capable of now, all the way to Nerv. Maybe her new body wasn't so bad after all. Asuka got suited up quickly, not surprised to find Rei there, Ritsuko and the half-breed were constantly working on a way to cure Nozomu. Well whenever Rei wasn't with Chizuru and/or Shinji that was. Their group was so tightly knit together, Asuka felt unwelcome. A flurry of actions, the upcoming thrill of battle was Asuka's all-consuming thought as they were loaded up and set into position around the angel. It looked like a floating zebra ball. Hardly a threat.

"A-Asuka are you doing alright," Shinji started and looked much better than Asuka had left him. With a pure-blood that could heal him, Asuka bet she knew why he wasn't worse off. Scratching at the side of his cheek, that beaten but determined expression appealing to her, "Private channel if you're worried. Sorry if we put you in a bad spot this afternoon. I just…just wanted you to know we're here for you. We pushed too hard though, when you're ready…"

Cutting Shinji off, Asuka held her hand up and felt that spike of pride again force her to speak. "Save your apologies Shinji. I don't want to hear them from you right now. Not the big strong Slayer, or the best pilot! It's hardly fitting of you now is it? Shouldn't you be going out there and taking care of that so us little girls don't have to lift a finger? WHY DON'T YOU JUST DO EVERYTHING! GO! GO NOW!" she seethed and was panting by the time she finished yelling. So much frustration and bitterness at herself, but she had no outlet other than Shinji. He'd accept her apology, always would. Nobody else, not even Kuesu, could take her brow beatings and come back. Only Shinji was able to see through her false bravado, to see what she was really saying. 'I'm sorry, but I don't know how to say it!'

Unfortunately for Asuka, unlike Shinji she hadn't kept herself on a private channel. No, Asuka berated Shinji openly before all of Nerv and to Rei as well. Misato was quick to open a link, "Asuka now isn't the best time for your little tirades, we have a serious issue here. And you goading Shinji into doing this is foolish." Barrette tightly over her brow, Misato's normal party-girl façade was replaced with her serious business one.

"She's right though, Misato-san," Shinji was already moving his Eva closer to the target. "If I have the highest score I should take point right? I can react faster if needed," he moved with almost female grace through the city.

Shinji acting manly, trying to cover for her rage, Asuka wanted to scoff but didn't risk it. "Whatever, Rambo, just don't go…" Asuka's words failed to leave her mouth. Shinji had fired at the target and her world went from bitterness and frustration to outright terror.

His unit falling into a sea of black tar like fluid, Shinji panicked and fought against his sinking. "I can't get out! It's drawing me in, Misato-san help me! Help! I can't…Rei….Asuka…Chizuru, Himari I'm sorr…" and unit-01 went under and didn't come back out. Signal went down, the cord cut, and the that was it.

Misato sounded the retreat order, then ordered Asuka to drag Rei back as Unit-00 was not abandoning her Alpha as it was. It was a hard fight, but Rei's frantic actions gave Asuka the edge she needed to win. Dragging the grounded Rei to an elevator, Asuka was privy to a treat only she had been given before, Rei swearing in anger and hatred. Oh what Rei threatened to do once free, all the pretty things she'd do to Asuka's form. Asuka didn't hear it though, she was cold and dead inside.

"He did it to cover me…to show he still cared," Asuka just kept repeating as she docked her unit. Her outburst had been to drive the wedge deep into him, but he saw the truth. She didn't know what to do or say, couldn't express her true wants out of being overwhelmed. So rather than have Misato be angry at her, Shinji acted on the order she gave him…and it killed him! She had gotten… "What have I done?"

That was exactly what Himari was about to ask once Asuka got out of her plug, "What haft been going on in thy brain! Shinji-sama! Shinji-sama is…is…all for you! Yon Fox haft fainted after telling me of what had occurred in our dwelling! All for you, he had acted only to help you! And now…he's…he's…" Himari smacked Asuka hard, sent the stunted girl to the catwalk, and had to be dragged off by Shizuku and Rei less she get her blade out.

Rolling on her back, Asuka just gazed up at the ceiling of the hanger, and felt nothing. "What do I tell Kuesu?" she didn't know. Didn't want to even think about it. Maybe he wasn't gone yet, that he could be saved! She had to believe it! This couldn't be how it ended, she owed Kuesu and Shinji far more than to have gotten him eaten by some pit!

X-X

"I want a drink more now than I've ever wanted one in my life," Misato moaned as the clock ticked on. Each moment that nothing happened was one moment closer to Shinji's death by asphyxiation. The boy she took into her home, came to care for, and in some manner love was alone inside that beast. He was going to die cold and alone in under thirty minutes. And there was nothing she could do to stop it! Sitting in her office, she stared at her phone waiting for Ritsuko to call her with the news of the plan. Pulling a small bottle of whisky out of her desk she set it down and just looked at it.

Taking the bottle off the desk and holding it in his hands, Kaji just wiggled it back and forth disapprovingly. "We need you sober, Katsuragi, now more than ever. Getting blitzed won't help," he didn't follow his own advice though. Opening the bottle, he poured some into the cap and tossed it back. His cheek twitched violently to the side and he coughed out loudly, "Gods you have strong stuff. Those kids out there need you to be there for them. Show them a dependable face." Pointing the bottle at the door, he got another drink and screwed the lid back on.

"What am I supposed to tell them, Kaji? What?" Misato reached for the bottle only to have him pull it away more. Being denied by the man that had betrayed her more than once, Misato fell back into her chair angrily. He was right of course, now wasn't the time to drink. Later, after she was alone and this business wasn't was finished it was a different story. Pain and misery would be on the menu for anybody that got in her way in an hour. Collapsing on her desk, covering her face with her arms and her hair spilling all over, she just felt horrid. She felt the moisture of her breath as she spoke so close to the metal, "The odds of him surviving is almost impossible. You didn't see them! Didn't see them talk about how they were going to stick through everything together! And now…now."

He took her hand and pulled it away from her face and held it. "Don't do this to yourself, Katsuragi," Kaji knew he'd burnt that bridge so kept it friendly not more so. Forcing the woman to not stew in her private hell, Kaji drummed his fingers over the back of her hand. Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and offered Misato one, when she didn't take it he popped on in his mouth. "You're not responsible for this, Katsuragi, you're not. Kids know that, they really do. Just go…go talk to them," he took the bottle, and stood up.

"Then why do I feel responsible? They depend upon me to give them strategies and plans. What was my plan during the first sortie? Stand around and watching it, truly genius! What is my plan now, wait for Ritsuko to tell me what to do! I've failed, failed and cost Shinji-kun his life! And I have to tell those girls that love him, that the odds of him living are about as good as me eating that fucking ball out there!" she swiped her hand angrily across her desk. Papers went flying, the framed picture of Shinji and her went flying off and shattered on the ground. Some tactical mastermind she was, no plans and no excuse.

Walking into the office, Rei quickly advanced through the mostly empty office. "Katsuragi-san, reporting as ordered. Am I to report back to Unit-00 now?" Rei's voice cracked ever so slightly. To the uninitiated to the girl she looked the image of calm and collected, Misato knew her better though. A slight motion on the balls of the girl's heels, moving back forth, her eyes didn't stay focused on anything, and the girl's hands were fists. Ayanami Rei was nervous and afraid.

"I'll leave you to this, Katsuragi, and take this. If things go south…I'll split it with you back at your apartment," Ryoji took a good look at Rei and realized the same as Misato did. Holding the smoke in his mouth he didn't exhale it till he was out in the hall, "He's performed miracles before, maybe he'll do it again."

Miracles, yeah that was the only thing that could save her family now couldn't it. "Ayanami, we don't have anything yet. Ritsuko is talking to the JSSDF right now about some options," not like they'd be any good. Those thugs wouldn't try to save him, just end the threat, and Misato couldn't fault them on it! They didn't know Shinji beyond his picture, they'd go for the greater good which was what Misato would do in their place. "How are they taking it," Misato forced herself out of her chair and her body ached as she did.

"Chizuru-sama is still sleeping in the emergency medical wing she was taken too. Noihara is consulting Shizuku and Lizlet about options they might take, while Soryu," Rei paused and her head dipped. Again the girl's fist opened and closed rapidly as Shinji was oft one to do. "Soryu has not left the side of Unit-02 as she waits orders. Ibuki has applied medical care to the small wound Noihara gave her. If we don't act soon he will be out of air," Rei's urgency was not lost on Misato.

Did Rei blame her or would that come later, Misato wondered. "Get to Unit-00, Rei. We won't have a lot of time to act when we get the go order. Get Asuka ready to go to," Misato felt that cold moving in her. That's when her phone rang, and she pounced on it so hard she knocked her desk off kilter. Flipping it on, crushing it against her face, "Yes Ritsuko what is it? What news?" She waved at Rei to get moving as the girl just stood there watching her.

""I'll tell you in person, Misato, just don't waste time. We had to make some unwanted promises to get the mission started earlier than they wanted," Ritsuko's tone told a lot. It was empty, detached and clinical in a manner that was almost inhuman. Asking Misato to meet her in a place overlooking the GeoFront, a nice view of the setting sun, the woman refused to say anything else.

Running full tilt, Misato shoulder rushed Shigeru as she did. The man went twirling to the ground, papers going in all directions, the pain in her own shoulder was muted. Going down on one knee, Misato got herself in the traditional track runners mark, the imagined gun went off in her mind and she went off like a rocket. "Sorry, hurry," she offered the dazed man as she left him to whatever business he had. No matter now, the important thing was the mission. Channeling into her panic and distress, the woman was able to get to Ritsuko in record time and yet was still not winded or even panting. "What is it?" she walked the last few feet.

"You're not going to like it, Misato, not at all," Ritsuko was bathed in the orange rays of the setting sun. Handing over papers held with a heavy black paperclip, Ritsuko put her hands back into her pockets and the stress lines were back. "They're going to drop all remaining N2 mines inside the angel. Unit-00 and 02 are going to contain the blast to protect the city," that voice was so emotionless and lax, it was almost the same as an automated phone recording.

Flipping over the pages, Misato's vision descended from her norm to red, as if a filter was applied over her eyes. "This isn't a rescue mission! This…what is this?" Misato slapped her hands on the paper and let the wind carry them away. This was what she was waiting for, her hopes and prayers answered with bombs? How could this woman, her friend even stand by and accept this, "What about Shinji-kun? What is the plan for him?"

Kneeling down Ritsuko grabbed what pieces of the sensitive details as she could before getting back up. Resigned and empty, "It's not a recovery of the pilot, just Unit-01. The commander is only interested in Unit-01. Pilots life is inconseiquensi" Ritsuko couldn't finish as Misato's open palmed smack silenced her and nearly sent her to the ground.

"How dare you!" Misato grabbed Ritsuko's lab coat and in her fury pulled her in dangerously close. Misato wanted to give Ritsuko a lot of leeway because of what Gendo had done to her, but this was to much. "You and he…was he just a body to you? Using him and now that you don't need him to help you any more, just going to let him umph," now it was Misato's turn to stumble. A fist was leveled right in Misato's chest just below her ribcage. All air left her lungs, double over she wrapped her arms around herself.

The red impact wound of Misato's smack colored Ritsuko's cheek quite beautifully. Turning the tables on the major, Ritsuko grabbed the flight jacket with an insane fury. "Don't you say another word, Misato. Not one more word about my feelings on this matter. At the start it was just a way to recover from the pain I had lived with. At the START it was just me being selfish and enjoying being pampered for once. But I've come to care deeply for that young man. Is it love or just respect and esteem, to early to say, but I will not let you sully it! I don't want to do this," and then Ritsuko shoved Misato off.

Spitting seemed to help her recover a little, so she did. Misato rubbed her stomach as she stood back up as straight as her pained abdomen would allow. Those eyes, those haunted and pained eyes told the woman more than Ritsuko's little speech did. "How much time do we have, how much of a chance does he have?" maybe Misato would give Ritsuko a little less hell over this. Right now her reservations of Ritsuko joining the little party wouldn't be considered. Ritsuko cared about Shinji, and for now that was all Misato needed to know.

"If we rush everything, we'll be five minutes after he runs out of air. It's the best we can do," Ritsuko kept up the air of professionalism. Red eyed and defiant, she didn't let her personal motives gleam through. Pointing at the door, back towards the command bridge, "Get moving, Misato, go and do what you do best. Those two girls will need you to keep them from going off on something. And after the mission is over…I'll be here." Ritsuko just sat then, sat and looked out over the expanse of emptiness. A woman that finally found somebody that cared for her…was practically doomed.

Walking away from Ritsuko, Misato paused at the door for just a moment, "Then we rush as hard as we can then." And boy did she. Everything was ordered without a moments hesitation, anybody opening their mouth to protest was greeted with the stonewall of Misato's glare and then she'd tell them again what to do and how fast to do it. Through all the hectic orders and billowed commands, Misato noticed one thing odd. Up in the command deck, Fuyutski watched on but no Gendo.

"Haft things been progressing in a positive manner?" Himari asked seemingly teleporting at Misato's side. Likely the girl was running through the mess of people in her cat form to easily dodge them, but Misato would never know. Trembling a little, the sword at her side wobbled in Himari's hand, the sword maiden much like Ritsuko masked it well. With a deep swallow, "I must admit to spying upon the orders and plan. Tis not what I wish to hear, but we be faced with little recourse. I have faith though, master shall not be slain in such a manner. And know your fears in your office are ill founded, we don't blame thee."

Ok, Himari had to be hiding in her office in her cat form now, hell Himari was likely following behind Misato since she got on base! Despite the frantic zeal coursing through her, the desire to get this mission moving under the best of her abilities, hearing Himari's comforting words, Misato deflated. "You have no idea how good that makes me feel. Now when we tell him in person it'll be even better," Misato put an arm around Himari's shoulders and drew her in. She needed somebody by her, anybody! Had Makoto been nearby it'd have been the best day in his life, sadly for him Himari was now Misato's anchor. Good or bad, Misato was going to hold onto that cat, the girl Misato most wanted with Shinji.

"In position for this, but let me say I'm opposed to this. It's not a rescue it's an execution," Asuka was not letting her feelings stay silent. Rei didn't bother saying anything, just nodding at Misato's command to get motion.

If her fingers hurt Himari, Misato was glad the cat-demon didn't say anything, as she knew she was clenching hard. "Alright, mission begins in f-four minutes, be ready," Misato remembered what that meant. Shinji's air hand gone out at max one minute ago…a minute without air. The video feed of the planes popped up alongside the concentrating pilots, they were closing in and their bay doors open to deliver their payload. Unwilling to look away from the screen, she felt Himari grasping for her hand and let her take it, "What will you do if…"

"He will be fine," Himari retorted instantly. Full faith and hope in her mate and master. And the two of them watched, holding their breaths waiting for the miracle they both wished for. Their prayers were answered in quite the gory and showy fashion. The white of the flying ball vanished, turning it pure black at first. Then golden lights starting to crisscross the sphere making squares, the light wasn't alone though, red fluid started to pool beneath the ball and flood the street. Gasping delightedly Himari leapt into the air, "Master doth make so flamboyant entrances!"

For a moment Misato felt elated and then disgusted as Unit-01's hands burst out of the sphere. A red tide flowed out of the wound, or birth as it appeared. The whole of Unit-01 was covered in golden light as it roared in anger and triumph as it clawed its way out of its transdimensional womb. Half hearing Asuka comment about the monstrousness of things, Misato agreed, "Let's see that cult see this in a good light." But the darker part of her mind, the tactical mind, did just that. This was the creation of a god(dess), into the world. "Let's go get Chizuru, she'll need to see him. And I'm sure all of you want to too," Misato didn't need Maya to confirm his life signs. Maya did though just as Misato and Himari left the room.

"Thy thieving fox haft slept through all our worries, and yet we go for her before Shinji-sama," Himari didn't disobey though. It'd take time for Asuka and Rei to get Shinji to the infirmary. If this bout of insanity was like the others, Shinji wouldn't be awake when they brought him in. Regardless of her wants though, Himari was dragging Misato at a rapid pace through the hallways. Elated but teary eyed, "I shall have to punish him for causing such fear. Thyself as well, as his superior, neigh, as his family ye must be firm with him. No longer shall he be so dauntless with his life!"

Oh boy was he ever going to get an earful when Shinji was back home! Damn boy just about stole a few years off her life! Backrubs, shoulder massages, and all the chores for a month was the starting offerings he'd have to make. Throwing open the door to Chizuru's room, "Get up little miss sleepy pants, the threat is…"

Empty, the room was empty.

Paging the nurse though, Misato didn't like this. "Think she knew? Somebody tell her?" Misato asked aloud. But she'd not know where Shinji was being taken, so why run so fast? Maybe she went to the hanger to get him herself? Grabbing Himari's wrist as the girl was about to go, "Hold on, Himari. Something…I don't like the feel of it."

"Can I help you major?" the nurse, a strong bodied man asked as he entered the room.

Pointing at the empty bed, Misato hoped she was just being foolish, a little paranoid, "What happened to the girl that we had put in here?" Ran off, bathroom, something…anything besides what Misato was starting to wonder.

"Commander Ikari came for her. He had her put on a secure stretcher. He had paperwork stating her transfer to Tokyo-3 general hospital. Why is something wrong?" the man's green scrubs contrasted with the white walls of the room drastically.

Grabbing Himari by the shoulders, Misato's mind went into a tailspin, "Don't tell Shinji about this yet. Not until we find out what's going on for sure. I'll look in on Tokyo-3…tell him whatever you need." Himari nodded astutely, why add fear on an already stressed mind. Calling Tokyo-3 General though confirmed Misato's speculations. Neither did Gendo contact them, was Chizuru there, or any of them seen. They vanished from the base with no trace. But why would Gendo want Chizuru? Did it have anything to do with what Tamamo said?

X-X

Sitting at Shinji's bedside, Himari cut an apple into slices for him. "I haft been sitting in houses of convalescences alongside friends and loved ones far to often as of late," Himari grumbled as she finished her task. After the battle yesterday, Shinji had the gall to remain unconscious for the whole of the night. Everybody save Kuesu came to visit him at some point it seemed, the card had many names on it. Well it wasn't just Kuesu that didn't sign the card, Chizuru hadn't either. Holding a slice out to her beloved master, "And I thought thee said ye would stop such senseless acts of courage?"

"I won't do THAT again, that's for sure," Shinji balked just a little. From his seated position on his bed, he leaned in to take the offer food, only to bite down and have Himari pull it away. He had only just woke two hours ago, and seen both Misato for a dress down and Ritsuko for a physical which he passed. Himari hadn't left his side the entire time. When she left him alone he did stupidly heroic things. Opening an eye questioningly at Himari, Shinji smiled as she offered it again, "I'm sorry, Himari-chan, I really am. Don't take it out on Asuka either. I made the choice myself."

Letting Shinji eat the slice after his apology, Himari accepted it as truthful. Soryu had punished herself more than Himari did with her single slap. Girl hadn't left Shinji's room either, only she didn't allow herself to enter it. Continuing to feed Shinji his apple, Himari found it a rather enjoyable task. "Doth thou want to discuss what occurred to thee? We are all quite worried about thee. Such fear I didn't know myself capable as when you vanished in that beast," Himari stalled in her task. Truly she had not known such fear as when she thought she had failed. Her task as protector cut short as her master vanished forever.

"I don't…I don't remember much of it," Shinji was never a good liar, now more than ever. But he didn't want to talk about it, so he just chewed his food slowly instead. Pulling his blanket closer up, he tucked it under his arms.

She'd get him to talk to her later, after they left the hospital. The good doctor Akagi insisted he stay the day for observation. From the metrics recorded in Shinji's plugsuit, they did know that Shinji technically died but somehow resuscitated. Himari nearly snapped when she heard that. A life without that timid, easily goaded, yet charming man wasn't something she wanted to contemplate. Handing him some tea she snuck in along with the apple that was now gone, "Take your time, Shinji-sama, when you wish to talk I shall be here to listen. Many want to hear from you. But Akagi-san is insisting they wait till tomorrow. To give you time to rest." Unlike her naive master, Himari could lie very well.

Sipping his tea, Shinji set the cup down and gave Himari a deep and inquisitive look. "I get the impression you're keeping something from me. Both Misato-san and Ritusko-san won't even look me in the eye when they talk to me," Shinji fumbled about on his bed. Examining her face, deep and probing, Shinji just sighed and sunk deeply into his pillow. Mournfully he added, "You won't tell me either will you. Can you at least tell me if…if anybody died?"

"Nobody has lost life due to the mission, maybe of old age, and I would have joined you if you hadn't come back. So let that fret be gone," Himari cupped Shinji's cheek and stood up. She had much to do, that fox needed to be found and fast. Going down on one knee, Himari tugged Shinji's hand along with her and pressed it to her forehead. It helped to not look at him, as her fear likely exacerbated things, "Sleep well master, and do not let them bother you to much. Your other wives," she tittered at that, "unfortunately are being tasked with hunting the oddity Minori."

Opening the door to the hallway, Himari stopped when Asuka was found with eyes closed and hand cupping her ear next to the door. A moment after the door opened, the girl actually realized she'd been exposed and fell back onto her rump. "I-uh…wasn't…" she tried making an excuse and then just gave up, "ok fine, I was spying on you. I had to trick those others to leave. C-can I talk to him?" Standing up, smoothing her skirt out, Asuka did not have the air of confidence she normally had.

"Make it quick as that Tea-Sprite and Wolf will not be distracted for long," Himari gestured for Asuka to enter. When the girl back peddled, arm going up defensively to her face, Himari actually laughed. Fearing another attack, more retaliation for Shinji's actions, Himari held her hand out in peace. It had been a mistake to attack Asuka for Shinji's actions, even if she had been the one to speak, Shinji had been the one to act on it. Gripping Asuka's firm hand, "He is responsible for his own actions, Soryu, and he doth not accuse you of any ill. As such I do not hold you accountable…but mention the Fox and you will hurt." The last was whispered directly in Asuka's ear.

Walking around Asuka, the girl had swallowed hard and hesitated until Himari pushed her in, she then shut the door. It didn't shock Himari at all when Shizuku could be heard mocking Asuka the moment she entered. How long had that accursed Mizuchi been watching? Did it matter? Tossing her ponytail back over her shoulder, her free hand caressed the strands to calm herself. What happened to Chizuru? Where was she? Was she still safe? Ritsuko and Misato apparently had some details for her, but Himari refused to leave Shinji's side till he woke.

"It had been my fear for him that drew me from the Fox's side, allowed this to occur. If I be a fool I shall be a fool all the way," Himari cast a glance back at Shinji's room. While Shinji had been in his volatile state, Himari ghosted Misato constantly in her cat form. Not a single secret did Misato have during that time, Himari had stuck to her like glue. And for that, Chizuru had no defense when somebody came to her. Now she'd make amends to her rival and save her, Himari owed Chizuru more than that. Waving down the approaching, more stampeding duo, "Lizlet, you shall be coming with me for now. Yon Ayanami go and keep him company and unknowing of Minamoto's condition."

Rei just nodded and continued to rush down the hallway, papers were carried in her wake and people nearly got whiplash trying to follow her. Lizlet however opened and closed her mouth making no sounds but agitation and negatives, "B-but I want to see Shinji-sama!" Her whine was near ear splitting, and her face a full blown image of regret. Himari's firmness did not relent and the dragging arm was the last straw. Pouting cutely, a few unshed tears in the corner of her eyes, "It's not fair! You get to see him, Ayanami-san…everybody but me. Why doesn't he get to drink from his favorite teacup?"

"Because ye would not let stop at just drinking tea ye insatiable beast! Almost as bad as the Fox…the Fox I'll need your help in finding," Himari dragged the protesting Chelsie down the hallways of Nerv. Having to share the bed with the sprite, Himari knew for a fact that Chelsie would happily service Shinji every evening if allowed. And it was nerve-wracking to know that it seemed the sprite was getting MORE sensitive to Shinji's touch than less! But now was not the time for love and pampering, one of their number was missing. Finding Misato's office closed, Himari turned quickly on the blinking and confused Lizlet, "The Fox might have been kidnapped in the confusion of last battle. And of our number, we two are the most durable. When we return…you may have the room to yourselves. I had my time, you may have yours."

Gushing happily, Lizlet's face split open in a wonderful smile as she lifted Himari like a kitten in her arms and walked into the office. Well Lizlet walked through Misato's door and left it splintered and destroyed. Guess the sprite was just as worried as the rest, just better at hiding it from the others. "Katsuragi-sama we're here! What do you need us to do?" Lizlet continued to cradle the cat-demon like a baby.

The cup in Misato's hand fell crashing to the ground and Ritsuko pulled the bottle of vodka closer to her and drank deeply. "Did you just see that?" the doctor asked as she set the bottle back down. Misato nodded and took a drink as well before sitting down. Rubbing the bridge of her nose, Ritsuko just shook her head and turned a chair around for one of them to sit in. "Well so much for privacy. Have a seat…or stand…or whatever," Ritsuko patted the chair and kept a distance from the new additions.

Squirming in Lizlet's arms, Himari was amazed at how strong the girl was if not intimidated. "Is it safe to believe that you've found some sort of information on Minamoto?" Himari resigned herself to being held. The older women just watched as Lizlet sat down and continued to hold Himari, just as dainty as ever. Embarrassed to no end, Himari was glad neither Shinji or Chizuru could see this, "This one is excited to finish the our search and get back to her visit of our shared master."

"Just don't go breaking him before I can punish him, alright?" Misato's sneer was quite pronounced. Taking her hat off, the woman rubbed her forehead and the illusion of calm had vanished. Fatigue was sinking deeply into Misato's very being, to much going on and much to much stress with no ways to remove it. "Sub-Commander Fuyutski can you come in please? No reason to hide it now since the door is all over," Misato gestured to the dust and fragments of her door now decorating the whole of her office.

Stepping over the remains of Misato's privacy shield, the older man just chuckled and took the open seat next to Lizlet and Himari. "Young love is such a wonderful thing. And yet women are maturing so much faster than when I was young. Then again I didn't know of your charming type until I was in my thirties," Kozo nodded at the demonic entities in the room.

Blushing softly, Lizlet took it as a compliment as she was oft to, "Well all I did was think of what would be good for sales. And now…well now I want to be appealing to Shin-sama, even if he doesn't put much import on bodies." Oh she jiggled and wiggled those assets of hers in Himari's face.

Her ears popped out in anger as Lizlet was getting distracted and the urge to claw into those bags of flesh was rising. "Be still and silent, Chelsie-kun! We doth not need to see your act to entice Shinji-sama while he be not here! We have important matters to discuss!" Himari's claws bit into her palm. Of course Himari wanted to rush to Shinji's side, to see that his needs were met and her own were as well. But with Chizuru gone, how could they relax, how could she enjoy anything? Thankfully the threat against her bust made Lizlet calm enough for Himari to continue, "Now, what is known of C-Chizuru?" It was hard to say her name, even after all they've shared, but it was right.

"Looking at the security tapes, and confirming it with Akagi-kun. We have seen Ikari meeting with acting head of the Mitama faction of Tendril's Leaf. One of the few families not involved in the recent attacks," Kozo crossed his legs as his eyes danced about the room. He was old, but he wasn't THAT old it seemed, yet he didn't want to show it. Grabbing some paper off of Misato's desk and a pen, he wrote as he spoke, "The two of them have been planning to betray both Seele and Tendril's Leaf from the beginning. Now that both sides have taken serious damage, maybe they've decided to advance their plans."

Taking the paper, it was an address, Himari stuffed it in her bra as she didn't have pockets. "Shall we investigate this location for clues? Would they threaten Chizuru?" oh how Himari didn't want to here the answer. Months ago the idea that maybe Chizuru would be gone would have made Himari happy. Now, she couldn't picture her life without the annoying fox. Who would help her tease Shinji? Who would she mock and joke with? They were a set, the three of them (four since she even was starting to like Kuesu), and the extended set would be devastated without Chizuru.

Leaning against Misato's desk, Ritsuko's chin dipped against her chest as she fanned herself with a folder. The office was getting stuffy with so many people in it, "I don't think he will. From what he had me working on, and what I heard, they need her alive for whatever they're planning. And not to make you worry more…several of the council members said something about needing a slayer as well, specifically they wanted Shinji-kun." Ritsuko daintily fell and smacked her head off the desk after Misato pushed her off. Clutching the back of her head, "Damn it Misato! What was that for? I told you about working with them before, or just not happy with how familiar I am with Shinji's name?"

"You're damn right I'm not happy with how familiar you are with him! He's my ward and you're old enough to be…well almost old enough to be his mother!" Misato whapped Ritsuko with some papers as the catfight started.

Pointing to the hallway, Kozo escorted the two younger demons outside. Stilling hearing the witty banter and plethora of slurs in the air, he just laughed in whimsical fashion. But as soon as his aged chuckle finished he was quite serious. "Go there and see what remains, maybe some clue in how to find them. They won't kill Minamoto, they need her but for what I've never been able to tell. Shinji I swell protected here right now so don't worry about him. Likely they'll need both of them for whatever ends they need. We have one half of the equation, and if played right we can use him to our…did I say use?"

Her blade was at Fuyutski's throat in a blink of an eye, Himari was NOT going to threaten Shinji's life! "I have nearly lost him today, and my heart bodes ill from it. Speak not lightly of his life, or yours maybe forfeit," she'd bluff. The man was harmless on his own, and it was a slip of the tongue. But Himari was not in a gaming mood, not now. After everybody was safe and sound again, a celebration would be requested. A chance to really relax after so many days of fear and uncertainty. Sheathing her blade, "Keep him safe, we shall check the location provided. Let us go." Leaping out of Lizlet's arms finally, Himari ran off with the sprite in chase.

"And then back to serve tea!" Lizlet's pace increased at whatever incarnation of 'tea' she meant. Himari wasn't going to ask, nor did she want to know what Shizuku and Rei were doing right now at the hospital. Let them have the peace for now, they've earned it. Himari was going to earn hers now, and then let Shinji pamper her and spoil her into unconsciousness later! He better be saving his strength, because Himari wasn't going to go easy on him when she had the chance.

Finding the office building turned out to be easier than Himari expected, only the outcome was not to her liking. Surrounded by police tape and boarded up, they had to sneak in. Himari found a broken window that she leapt in as a cat, while Lizlet leapt to the roof and walked down the stairs…damn sprite was a cheater! Gore and devastation was all that was inside the office though, any clues to Gendo and Mitama's location. Such a loss of life here was unjustified and sad. Shuten-Douji had paid for it, for now. After a good hour of probing the remains of the office space, "Let us go, Lezlet-kun, nothing remains here…and I doth not enjoy the smell. We shall need to seek other venues of aid."

Lizlet offered no objection, and thankfully her bust started to vibrate as her phone started to ring. Shinji was released after lunch. Misato was to keep tabs on him in case of issues. Both were taxed to the point of needing some relief, and he provided. They fell asleep in one another's arms, clothing in a pile on the floor. She'd tell Shinji in the morning, and then they could hunt the wayward kitsune.

X-X

Pushing the stretcher with Chizuru strapped to it and gagged, Gendo sweated from the exertion. Gone were the days of him getting into bar fights and exercising, a life behind a desk and giving orders took much of the young man out of him. Didn't help that the girl as bucking and fighting at every turn. "Be still or I'll ask Mitama for something for something to knock you out with. And I won't care what he does to your body while you're under," that stopped the little bitches thrashing.

"You really need to learn you get more flies with honey, Ikari," Mitama chided as he opened a large double door. Their little hide away was an abandoned hospital near the outskirts of the city. Despite not being used, the place was in good repair, and private funds had it provided with power. Calling the elevator, he stood over Chizuru and took his glasses off, "So this is the great Yamato-no-Orochi the eight headed and tailed dragon! You look good enough to eat my dear. If only you knew the troubles we went through to find you."

Disgusting pervert, Gendo pushed the edge of the cart into the man's thigh. Adjusting his own glasses that slipped in his little display, "Do we really have time for you to be playing with teenagers? For all we know the forces that attacked Tendril's Leaf and Seele might be on their way here." He did not backstab, betray, and kill his way to this moment to lose Yui to some degenerate that wanted to fuck a teenager. A soft ding and the door opened, Gendo just pushed Chizuru into the cab.

Her hand secured at her side and her legs handcuffed to the steel restraints of the bed, Chizuru glared fiery hate at both men. The cloth gage in her mouth had to be retied as she chewed through it twice, now it had a wad of her skirt in her mouth to keep her from doing it again. Bucking and tugging on the handcuffs, she cut deeply into her wrists.

All motion in the girl stopped when the acting head of the Mitama clan caressed her arm. "Don't go hurting yourself Yamato, we need your might and strength to finalize our goals. And you don't have to worry about that fossil Shuten-Douji, he's done what this one has a few centuries ago. He's lost his body and reincarnated. But with him its only one soul in the mix," Shiki took a drop of Chizuru's blood and licked it with a shudder.

"Are you finished traumatizing the girl?" Gendo asked as he felt the weight of his gun at his side. This marriage of connivance was nearing an end, and he wondered if Shiki would read the end or not. The girl would suffer yes, but only as necessary to reach his goal. No need for undue pain, only when it served his purpose or to remind those who strayed from his path. Seeing her quivering away from Shiki, Gendo did have to admit, she was a lovely creature, the Third Child had good taste. "Now what do we have to do to begin this? All of Tendril's Leaf's files said we had to destroy all the guardians first," he felt the stone imbedded in his hand pulsate.

Hitting the button for the top floor, Shiki shrugged and continued to hold onto Chizuru's wrist. "You're no fun, Gendo, you're no fun at all. But being human does have mean you can't appreciate the true meaning of what I've told you," he let his hand drift up Chizuru's arm up to her shoulder. "Years, more than you've been alive, we've searched for the Orochi, who was sealed by Kushinada-hime the bride of the storm god Susano-o-no-Mikoto! A god's wife and a great pure blood in one body! I've searched for her for so long! This is dessert my dear human, dessert," he craned his head back laughing.

"History lessons and foolish folklore, I gave you to much credit, Shiki-kun," Gendo didn't break his deadpan expression. Why hadn't Shiki been killed with the majority of the other's supporting Tendrils Leaf! It would have made things easier for him, Gendo had all the man's documents for after the angels anyway! That damn pure blood had to act though, act out and force them to rush their plans. When Shiki's hand went to Chizuru's breasts though, Gendo had enough and drew his gun. Spitting out savagely, "There will be none of that. This girl will bring me back my wife, I will not have her spoiled before then!"

Pulling his hand away from Chizuru who calmed instantly, Shiki paled and backed against the wall. "Sorry, just over excited is all. I had to touch such a lovely pair at least once, to know what Susano-o-no-Mikoto! -sama touched so often. I bet he loves to fire one off right between them," he snickered. Again the soft din of the elevator chimed the floor and the pair were off pushing the whimpering Chizuru down an empty hall. "Did you know we tried to clone Susano-o-no-Mikoto-sama? We tried to make a suitable vessel to contain a god, and almost succeeded."

Pushing the girl, Gendo felt a moment of pity for her as he was going to have to leave her with this thing. Time wasn't ready for him to enact whatever plan was needed to finalize his aims. That mean Chizuru was going to be alone with the man that clearly had other things on his mind than ceremonies. "I know you've cloning technology. You promised me a clone of this one to replace the worthless wolf-demon we've in our basement. One that will be loyal to me and not the Third-Child," he had lost so many of his pawns, but he still would win the match!

"Don't you want to know how we got so close?" Shiki twisted his head backwards in a violent angle. Fixing his suit he pulled out a comb and ran it through his hair. Kicking open a door, a set of manacles hung from the ceiling over a strange symbol on the ground. "Help me get her over the ward," he ordered as he finally helped Gendo move the cart. As the hauled the protesting girl off the thin mattress and he affixed the cuffs, "It was because the real Susano-o-no-Mikoto-sama reincarnated and we just didn't know it. The vessel was flawed then, wasn't controllable without a binding agent…so we made Nue to do it."

Nue, wasn't that the name in the file he received about the Minori girl? Gendo had recalled the stories from Ritsuko and Katsuragi, and even the photo from Shiki, of the young girl and its demon Nue companion. "The Minori girl was your creating of some god vessel?" he snapped the cuffs on Chizuru's ankles and took a step back. Judging from the muffled sounds from her gag she was calling them both a lot of really nasty things. Slightly interested in the man's tale, "Did you want to dispose of her after finding the real soul then?"

Leaning in close to Chizuru, close enough that he could have kissed her if he wanted, Shiki just observed her. "Play nice and I won't hurt or even touch you my dear Kushinada-hime. I need your wrath, your rage to call Susano-o-no-Mikoto to you to protect you. You and Orochi inside you will destroy the seal between worlds. Your anger and depression will see a world devoid of humans and pure-bloods, only half-demons! No longer will we be the bastard race, we will be the supreme…the ONLY RACE!"

Chizuru's eyes went wide as she recoiled from the man, the clanking of her shackles was all the sound she made. Gendo saw the girl's eyes go wide over Shiki's shoulders, as pure rage surged through him. "You plan to go back on our deal, Mitama?" the gun was leveled at the man's head. But before Gendo could shoot, crippling pain lanced through his arm at the wrist, his arm severed and fell with the swing of a sword. Grasping at the stump with the hand Adam was embedded in, "I'll kill you!"

Twirling about, Shiki kicked Gendo's shoulder hard and sent the man down on the ground. "You'll do nothing of the sort, human. As in about twenty minutes you'll be dead and the seal will be exposed. Minori take him to the other ward," Shiki snapped his finger at the new addition in the room.

Older than the picture, roughly fourteen years old in appearance, a young man with long black hair licked the blood off a long sword. "So you're my brother's father? Did you know you gave birth to Susano-o-no-Mikoto's reincarnation?" Minori asked as it started to drag the man across the room to another talisman hidden under an overturned table. Slamming a foot into Gendo's stomach to stop the resistance, "If only brother was never born, then I wouldn't have been a failure. Wouldn't have had to suffer. But he was, and he even found Kushinada-hime. But if I kill him…"

"Enough Minori, no need to tell the condemned anything they don't need to know," Shiki ordered. Taking off Gendo's glove, he knelt at the man that Minori held down. "I had so wanted to wait until after all the guardians were dead to do this. The stone needed time to acclimate to a human soul. If we waited, you'd be able to live to see how you were duped. But I don't have time now, Shuten-Douji might be summoned into a fresh body or that one's adopted mother might find me. I can't take Shuten let alone the mighty Nine-Tail Tamamo. So you'll just have to give all your soul now to break the chains around Yamato-no-Orochi that sleeps in that ones massive bust. Any last words?' he waggled a dagger over Gendo's heart.

Spitting in Shiki's face, Gendo tried to fight against the demon holding him down but couldn't. To much blood lost, to much pain to focus. All his plans, his hopes, and dreams were for naught. Oddly he didn't feel the pain as the dagger went into his chest, just cold. So this was it, how his life ended. "You girl…tell my son…I was…wrong," if he actually said it or not, Gendo didn't know. His life afraid of his son, afraid of others…he was more like his son than others believed. But his son had loved ones, here he died.

Alone and unloved, his wants unfulfilled…but he knew Shiki wouldn't succeed either. He could have faith in that as the cold came over him and he breathed his last.

X-X

Notes

And we enter into the climax! A lot of this chapter comes from the last bits of the Kanokon manga which goes crazy high on the mythological standards. Trying to not get to dark, but have to have some. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and story. Likely only one more chapter and an epilogue left! Was a crazy ride, lot more complex than I expected when I started. But I think it's a suitable successor to 'The Gift' if not better!

Later

Mercaba