Standard Disclaimer
Sorry for the delays in this chapter, had a near issue with work. Turns out after years of emailing myself sections of story, written on breaks/lunch, they opted to say 'you cannot do that' and I nearly lost my job. Put me in an odd head space, and now have to re-think when/where I write. Aside that been a bit sick, better now though.
X-X
Crime and Punishment
Chapter – 6
Sitting at the table, Misato was smiling broadly but Asuka was a tight mouthed mystery. Shinji hated it when Asuka was that way, typically meant pain for him either physically or mentally. Often it was both, so on days like this Shinji tried to placate her with food and avoidance. Misato was enjoying the western breakfast of pancakes and sausage, Asuka just poked at it. A week sans promotion and Asuka only grew more sullen and confusing. So when food didn't work, Shinji was going to fall heavily onto the other escape route.
"Well Misato-san is on dish duty, so going to head out early. Want to talk to Kirika-san about how things are going with her new testing," Shinji scooted out of his chair. Putting his plates in the sink, knowing Asuka was watching him, he could feel her gaze, he had no idea what he did to set her off! Last week was that party, that was it! She eventually joined them in singing, but she had a haunted look . Shinji chalked that up to Kaji and Misato being drunken idiots. Being in a relationship, Shinji could imagine how he'd feel if Kirika started flirting with somebody as Kaji had.
Sipping back her second breakfast Yebisu, Misato was well into her day off, "Make sure you get to school alright? Kiri-chan has been happier lately, and a woman that glows like that often gets it from injections." Misato wiggled the can at her, the last few vestiges of dew tickled about in the can. Yeah, she was far into teasing territory as well. Last night Kirika had been over, a secret talk about Ritsuko's tests, it quickly became 'who can make Shinji squirm the most', and it was a tie.
"You sure its your Amazon you're off to see and not my friend? Meiko's finally over that simpering flu of hers. Bet you're just wanting to gawk at her and..." Asuka cut herself off. When they locked eyes, a strange alien hurt there, she turned to her food and started eating quickly.
Grabbing Pen-Pen's feed and filling his bowl, Shinji's hands paused as a memory DID come to mind. Meiko, he had to talk to Meiko about...that day. Cleaning up the small mess, Pen-Pen would eat the overflow and the bird was on a diet, Shinji used it as cover for his blush to subside. "I should talk to her about those tests as well. They are doing them together. W-well, see you after school Misato-san. Don't drink TOO much, Asuka..." he didn't know what to say to her so fled. His courage had limits, and Asuka was most of them.
Misato rambled something while Asuka ignored him with her new 'hmph!' of dismissal. Seeing Asuka confused was new. Typically when she was angry at him, it was for a reason she loudly declared berated him for until he apologized. Now she went from angry, to confused, to sad, to oddly flirty, and last to lonely. Oh she didn't THINK she came off as lonely, but Shinji knew the signs well. Until Kirika he wore them daily, now his cup was overflowing with interactions. And now that Meiko was back to herself and not the withdrawn/sullen and dainty girl, one that got ALOT of attention at school, he had to come to terms with that odd request of Kirika's during their second evening of carnal bliss.
It had been Meiko, well not JUST Meiko, but she had shared the bed with him. Shinji was no Casanova, but he had an eye for details at time. Sounds came a little easier for him as well. Years of being quiet, skulking about his old home to best avoid rooms, and learning music gave him an ear for detail. Given time to think about it, the change in sensation from what he knew, the...uh...change from sweaty to gushing sweat, and those moans. Going from Kirika's deep throaty moans to muffled and stilted ones. In hindsight it was obvious, in the moment his heart and hormones beat his brain into a pulsating mess of sensational joy.
Didn't hurt that Meiko had to ask those leading questions about Meiko. Bet Meiko had been listening, if he said something she didn't agree with she'd have left. Odd how it both endeared and angered at the same time. A trick, Kirika just had to have her games. Couldn't bring them both into a room and talk about it first, go slow, and in time, say a year or so, then a timid hand hold or cheek kiss. Nope, it was off with the cloths and on with the party!
"Maybe if this is going to work...going to need to use some of that discipline on her," Shinji felt the stirrings of something strange in him. Not an overly sexual being, he enjoyed his couch time very much, but it wasn't a need for him. So having a very 'red' image pop into his mind was a little startling. Kirika bound on the bed, Meiko and him administering a little punishment to bring the wild Amazon a little in line?
Opening the door to the shared domicile, Meiko's hand went to her glasses and corrected the slip they had. "Shinji-kun, what brings you here this early? Misono-kun has left for some Eiken meet-up, didn't you know?" Meiko was clad in her traditional garb again. The last week saw the girl in heavy sweaters, thick layers, and on warm days a rain slicker to keep herself from drenching the world around her. Seeing the girl as a dainty and 'girly' version of herself made Shinji appreciate the woman before him. The other girl was very nice, but lacked the passion that struck at a hidden core in Shinji's psyche.
Now he didn't KNOW he had a very passionate afternoon with Meiko, but the idea left his brain frazzled. "W-were you leaving now? We could go together if you'd like. I wanted to talk to Kirika-chan about her testing with Akagi-san. A-and I wanted to talk to you about that...and...other things," damn his timidness was back. Kirika made him realize he did care more for Meiko than he told others. But he was with Kirika and loyal to her as a berserk Unit-01 was to dismemberment.
Shutting the door behind her, her satchel at her side already, "I had planned to go in early. I've a week of her antics to breakup, so you better be ready to pay her tab. I will be extra hard on..." She stopped herself and opened the door to the stairs for them, was it the sun or was she blushing. Pushing through her block, a trait she shared with Kirika that Shinji adored, her hand casually brushed his thigh as he passed her to go first down the stairs. "Have you spoken to her much lately? She has been home more often with that tech girl from her old school," Meiko's heels clacked on the stairs.
"Just at school mostly, and yesterday when she was over for supper. Misato is wondering about Akagi-san's test as well. Didn't go well, Misato-san drank to much as she has today off, and Kirika-chan was in a flirty mood. So they got distracted," Shinji felt better than say much. But seeing a bit of bitterness enter the oft masked face of Meiko as he opened the door for her, he knew he had to sum up that little courage of his. But first was business, "So what do you think of Akagi-san's tests?"
With a distraction, Meiko pulled out her implement of leathery pain/pleasure and smacked it against her palm. It was a thinking tool of hers, much like Shinji's palm opening and closing, after a few moments of inner debate, she slid her tool back into its sheath...making a show of it and getting a rise out of Shinji in the process. "Strange. I am not used to those suits...and it is strange to be in something that is loose in the chest. The doctor says we are syncing with the automata but at times I think she is having us..." Meiko rubbed at her temple, some of her silver tresses fell from the bun she kept it in.
Comparing Kirika to Meiko had happened in Shinji's private moments, more so after he got the idea of what Kirika had planned, but to hear it from Meiko was different. The image of Meiko in Kirika's yellow and purple plugsuit was now something Shinji really wanted to see! Huh, guess love does cause changes in a mind as he never had such physical wants in the past. But that was for later, now Shinji put a hand on her shoulder to steady the woman who was swaying...man she was tall. "You alright, you're a little pale."
"I am, better," the pause was there and Meiko didn't shake off his grasp. In fact she stepped closer to him, using Shinji as a tiny wall to lean, must have looked hilarious to the others that morning. The tall and imposing woman with her unbuttoned shirt leaning against a mere smidge of guy. With her hips and backside rubbing against him, "But at times in those tests, I swear I can hear her memories. That we are not always testing with the faux bodies but one another. It is strange. But assisting the doctor does give more money, and access to that base and..."
Summing up the courage he oft let disperse, Shinji took Meiko's hand, "Was it you that day? Were you in the room when I had the blindfold?" Not saying EVERYTHING but enough that would make it clear what he meant. Misato taught him well, don't give TO much or you walk into a trap of your own making. Meiko didn't have to answer, the near splintering of his fingers was enough as her grasp tightened.
"What are you babbling about. I never saw you in her room with a blindfold," but Meiko didn't look at him, didn't let go of his hand, and the fluid poured from her. Oh and she realized she did a classic Shinji maneuver and gave more info in an answer than was necessary. Knowing already that she'd spoiled herself, she did something Shinji didn't and just owed up to her flub, "Yes. I heard you. Originally I planned to leave. But...hearing your opinion, your thoughts of me. And I would not give her the satisfaction of seeing me afraid..."
Ok, well emotions were evil as Shinji's spiked so hard he felt about ready to burst. Yes he loved Kirika with all his heart, but maybe she was right that this whole group couple could work as his feelings for Meiko surged. "I guess you know I meant it. And what do you mean afraid?" Shinji's hand was having a hard time keeping hold of Meiko's mostly liquid skin at this point.
Slipping out the appendage, dribbling all over, Meiko kept herself as stern as she could. "To use her phrase, I miscalculated my math. Stack overflow if you know the term. As for...us...allow me time to compose myself. We will talk during your discipline this afternoon. Assuming K-Kirika-kun continues with her rampant acts," fixing her glasses one last time, giving Shinji an adorable smirk, she stormed off leaving the other early morning students with more rumors for the mill. Shinji, Kirika, AND Meiko were a couple? It was maybe true, but the school was already saying growing rumors of insane levels.
With a fluttering heart, and a brain that had its blood diverted to another location, Shinji floated through the school. Oh he knew people saw him, had known the small rumors about him were due for an upgrade, but who cared. Wasn't going to work, not at all, but he was gullible enough to believe Kirika's dream. But oh boy he was going to bring up the 'shouldn't Kirika be punished for what she did to us?' to Meiko later. Now was to see what his girlfriend was up to, she wasn't known for going to school early unless she had odd plans.
"Kirika-san, you left...Ayanami-san?" Shinji entered the Eiken club room expecting Galko or Rias, not the First Child. Though that was who was with Kirika this morning. Sitting with her hands on her lap, head tilted just a slight bit to the side, Kirika across from her with a small makeup kit in her hand administering her own form of entertainment.
Without looking back at him, Shinji could hear the smile on her face, "Leave my cute little Rei-chan? Never, adore this girl. To think she wanted to know about makeup, and I wonder why?" At that Kirika booped Rei's snoot and turn to Shinji with that knowing grin of hers. Gesturing Shinji in closer, waiting for him to get close enough to strike she kissed his cheek. Gesturing to Ayanami, "While she looks very fetching with black lipstick and eye-shadow, very goth, I find the original design superior. Your thoughts Number-2?" Kirika had her little names for him that left his brain mush.
Not expecting to have to give a critique of Ayanami and her sharp and fetching features, Shinji sat next to Kirika. Being asked to do a task though, he did it as best he could. Felt strange to 'gawk' at a girl in front of his girlfriend, Shinji had to accept nothing would be 'normal' with Kirika. Her hair alone was beyond rational thought being as long as it was, now add her thoughts on relationships, who was Shinji to judge?
After a few moments of evaluation, noting that Ayanami was not the stoic and statuesque woman he typically saw. The Rei of the 3rd Angel wouldn't have squirmed as Rei was now, but Shinji didn't want to think about that now. Meiko was enough on his 'is this real' plate. But he'd not lie, "The colors really do stand out, the aesthetic unique and really makes you look... ethereal. But...I agree with Kirika-san that you look more than f-fine w..." and his courage was gone. Likely another trap he walked into thanks to Kirika.
"Told you he'd act like that, didn't I?" Kirika took out a lace hairband and put it on Rei to complete the look. Rei just nodded, whatever talking the two had, why Rei was here, they didn't divulge to Shinji. He wasn't dumb enough to think Rei came all this way AND Kirika came in to school early just to play makeup. Shinji saw the two of them together, also with that tech wiz from Kirika's old club. They were doing something, but using things to cover it. Well Shinji would let them have it, and would help once she asked for it. But for now, he'd play dumb, let her think he didn't see it. Oh and when today's Eiken group event (a smash-mob of Galko, Rias, and Rias's troupe of scantaly clad girls doing a skit) got the girls chased off...Shinji had his reason to meet Meiko as expected and more to push the punishment idea. Meiko was intrigued.
X-X
"So you know if its true if Ikari is banging Shiraki-san or not? He's already got Misono-san, be real greedy if he got that one too," one of Touji's track buddies asked. Nice guy, fast runner, real horn dog.
Picking at his nose, Touji wasn't liking the fact he was Shinji's pressman lately. School had been split on the previous weeks Meiko. Some loved the meek version while others thought it was a sin against the S&M gods. Touji was more the latter, girl rocked that look and something about a strong woman being bent to his will was a real fantasy. But three days on this week and no sign of the timid Meiko remained, so most were on to the next rumor. Since the 'talking with paper' girl had a boyfriend now, it was back to the 'who really was with the sweating goddess of Tokyo-3'.
Shrugging, Touji wasn't sure, "I'm not sure on that man. I mean they spend time together now that Shiraki-san is doing Nerv shit, but I don't see anything different between them. Just that odd punishment shit in the gym. You see something different?" Touji loathed mornings, nobody was here, people came to him to ask dumb questions rather than ask the source, and Hikari was off doing Student Rep stuff so he couldn't watch her.
"I heard they were found making out Monday morning. Some chick from Class 3-B said she saw them at the gates. Not sure I believe that, Ikari ain't the type to ever fuck a girl. He's grada-A cuck material. Shocked that Misono-san hasn't already moved on to somebody else. A guy and not a timid guy like him," dude ran his mouth. Touji knew the reality of it, his lesser buddy was just jealous. Easier to debase somebody than accept maybe girls were looking for something more than they were.
Shinji made Touji re-evaluate himself in that regard. Kirika liked Shinji, no doubt of it. That party for Misato and the Eiken events made it painfully obvious to Kirika's fans they had NO chance with her. But where Touji looked inward to see what made Shinji different than himself and how that might make a woman take notice, this guy was the opposite. 'Something is wrong and it will correct itself! Girls are what television tell us and only like superficial things.' Touji would tell his guy that, but knew it wouldn't matter, guy was set in his ways and until a shock happened to make him realize how dumb he sounded he'd keep sounding his mouth.
But Touji wasn't going to just let this dude talk shit and not get something to mess them up a bit. Leaning back I his chair, Shinji and Asuka were coming as Red could be heard loudly berating Shinji. Wanting to go chat with his better friend he was quick to say, "From what I heard Shin-man is about a foot long and people saw Shiraki-san dry humping him in the gym and about to faint from it. So maybe she knows something we don't about him?" Now that got a wide eyed expression of shock from the teammate who suddenly had to go check his phone.
"Idiot! I told you last night I didn't have time to make my lunch! Trying to have some time with my friend without YOU ruining it. So give me your lunch now," Asuka's yelled. Towering over the boy, Asuka actually went further than normal and gave Shinji's arm a solid punch. Not a 'give me attention' type of hit either, a solid 'you better do what I say or I hit you like this in a softer spot' hit. In the past, Asuka's little love taps could have been excused as they were not painful to look at, this was troubling.
Touji got up and was stunned to see Ayanami was also now standing with her hand gripping her desk and attention on the pair. But Shinji defused the situation with handing his lunch over, not bother to talk to the girl which made her go mute and walk away. Shinji gave Ayanami a dismissive wave and joined Touji. Rubbing his arm, Shinji sat heavily, "She's just in a mood since that party. No idea why, but she keeps getting worse. Going to have to deal with it before Kirika-chan sees it and..."
"Or your side chick does. That girl likes to give out punishments right? Stealing food and assault is a crime isn't it?" Touji slowly sat back down. Oh boy over lunch Touji was going to have words with little miss tsundere. "So how was yesterday's festivities?" Touji had to miss the Eiken club events, he had his own duties on the track team.
When Shinji's eyes went a little wide, and didn't immediately refute the claim, Touji started to wonder if the rumors were true. But Shinji covered with a sigh of pain before saying, "The Keijo club's inaugural session was...a thing. The fact they are pushing, and pushing hard, for Ayanami to join was unexpected. Guess Ayanami-san is really good at the game. Just so much...water. I'm never comfortable around it What about you, what did you do yesterday?" Shinji was always quick to turn the subject away from himself to others, not a self-hype man.
Talking to Shinji about the track practice was boring but Touji was glad to do it. Whenever he did blather at Shinji, dude never looked bored and always interested. Made him feel like Shinji actually cared, why he was a good buddy. Kensuke would roll his eyes and get disinterested and the other guys would never even ask. So Touji went over the practice and the karaoke session that followed. All the while he was texting Kensuke about the need to talk over lunch.
Kensuke was on a kick about his stupid camera though. Something about getting footage off of it from the time Kirika had it, Kensuke was positive they'd find gold on it or something. Something to mock Kensuke over later. If they saw anything on the dumb camera it would be from the party and being a lot of bad singing. Time passed though and eventually the nerd joined them and conversation shifted to games and weekend plans.
"Rise..." Hikari's sweet tone cut conversation short as class was about to begin. Kirika snuck in the back door as Hikari was going over the daily ritual only for Meiko to slam the door open and expose her. Busted, but at this point Touji suspected it was all a game to the Eiken leader. When Kirika continued to crawl to her desk, the sway of her hips and chest were hypnotic, Touji just watched her tail...that massive ponytail drag behind her. Shinji...if you weren't having fun with that girl, Touji was going to decry the gods for abusing the poor lad.
Touji did his best to stay awake during morning classes, but failed two hours into it. Thankfully he set up a book as a tactful shield of his face. Kensuke was the one to wake him when it was lunch time. "Sleeping Beauty, its time to wake up and eat. Shin-man is off dealing with Eiken stuff but will maybe join us if it ends fast enough. So want to eat in our spot?" Kensuke was nuzzling his camera as one would a new puppy.
Groggy and lethargic, Touji felt a moment of shame for missing so much school. But hey not like he cared about what the old fart was talking about. "Sure, mind getting mine today? I have to hit the head hard and might miss the chance?" a lie but was something he DID ask for on occasion.
"Just make sure to not bring the stench with you. I got the footage back, and want to share the first viewing with you. Want you to eat your words, this is going to be amazing, I can just tell!" Kensuke smacked Touji's back and rushed off to get the food.
If it was anything other than that party, Touji would bow down and lick Kensuke's shoe. With little time, and a red headed abuser to hunt down, Touji moved fast. Rushing about the bitch's normal haunts, Touji found her outside in the quad with her gaggle of followers. "Yo Red, you're talking to me now about that shit you pulled this morning," he just dumped with crossed arms and his best 'don't test me' expression.
"What are you..." Asuka started but when she actually took the moment to look at Touji stood up, "Make it quick." Putting Shinji's lunch down and sealing it, Asuka excused herself from the floozies that still thought she was queen shit. Leading Touji away from the girls, not good to be seen talking with a 'lesser boy', Asuka put some good distance away, nice and secluded. Spinning around, her uniform fanning out fetchingly, "Get whatever bullshit you have to say out so I can go back. I TOLD him to make my lunch, he didn't, so I did what he likes and punished him."
Oh the urge to throw a punch or grab her neck was high, but Touji saw others do that only for Asuka to beat them down...and it wouldn't really help now. "What crawled up your snatch and laid a bitch egg? In the past you were cute angry at him, something we could just overlook cause you are a spoiled little bitch not getting what she wanted. What I saw this morning was just plain mean and hurtful. Hell Ayanami nearly went off on you. If Shin-man's girl was there she'd have trounced you and hurled you out the window," Touji's anger kept his words crisp, cool, and on point.
Crossing her arms, Asuka's scowl was pronounced, her mind calculating a response to a question she hadn't anticipated. Kicking her feet hard into the dirt of the path behind the building where they stood, "He's taking MY friend away. He has his own stupid amazon bimbo he's fucking, and now he's sniffing around MY friend. She doesn't like him! It was all supposed to be a lie. Till that stupid bitch could actually pilot, Meiko was trying to get her to leave. Now everything is all messed up." No righteous anger here, Asuka was cold and quiet, which made her words more frightening than passionate.
"Jealousy? You slug him because you're jealous Shiraki-san spends time with him? What are you fucking four?" Touji couldn't believe the incredulity of it! Stomping closer, Touji had to restrain himself from grabbing her by the shoulder straps and shaking her. "Why the hell not talk to Shiraki about things? Why not talk to Shin-man about it? You're supposed to be smart aren't you? So what the hell are you beating on him instead of talking! The hell does any of what you're doing make sense," and people said he was dumb to social scenarios.
A moment of unguarded rage left Asuka as she bore her fierce gaze upon him, he stepped back. "Why the hell should I bother talking to him. He doesn't have time now, always off doing the next body that he can...always off at that apartment with one of them, or they're over in MY home flaunting their stupid relationship in my face! What good would any of it do? But go on, tell me what I should do with ALL your infinite knowledge Suzuhara-sama!" her bellow was from the gut, it echoed and flecks of spit landed on Touji's face.
And Touji thought he saw it, believed he understood. "It's true. The rumors Shin-man and Shiraki-san are a couple...he IS with both of them. And now you're left in the cold, alone, and abandoned by the guy you treated like shit and thought would always be around to simp for you. Do you like him or is it just that you see what people who like each other can have and you….you..." Touji stopped.
Asuka's head dipped forward, her shoulders spasmed up and down a few times as she covered her mouth with her hand. Bitch was crying? Oh, oh fuck this was not what he expected, and not something he had any knowledge of how to deal with! Taking a step away from Asuka, he wasn't brave enough to push his attack or offer support. Hearing one lone hic and sniff, Touji fled. He said it was to give her a moment to compose herself, to have a private moment alone with her thoughts, but he knew in his secret heart it was fear. Would she lash out at him for seeing it, confirm something he didn't want to hear, or was it he didn't want to see Asuka as human. Touji liked keeping Asuka's mental image as a beautiful bitch that didn't deserve sympathy or pity was better than trying to realize she was a human. She was like him with likes, wants, desires, and pains.
"Took your sweet time getting here, you make sure to spray air freshener on your ass?" Kensuke asked when Touji found him. In the customary spot they sold pictures from, Kensuke sat cross legged on the ground, the camera nestled protectively in the crux of his legs. Tossing a bagged sandwich at Touji, it bounced off his chest and landed on the ground, "You alright? Your face is red, run over here?"
His heart was confused at what he just experienced, so Touji just nodded as he plucked his food off the ground. Not hungry, he at listlessly regardless as he sat next to Kensuke. "Yeah, had to run to get here. So you ready to be disappointed in your great footage? How you even sure there is any?" he could still feel his heart pounding. Asuka was human, she wasn't an emotionless bitch, and she was lashing out in pain. Fuck, he wasn't a cruel man and wouldn't punch when somebody was down.
"This camera has a defect in it, why I bought it," Kensuke fumbled with the camera to get the thing ready. Messing with buttons and an exposed side panel, "If I ever got caught by somebody filming and they took my data stick, I'd have the cached ram copy of the footage. Read about it online. Not losing prized footage if I can help it. Gotta be smarter than the goons. Ready to see what she was hiding? Bet we can finally see what she gave Ayanami that day of the Occult club!" Kensuke loved it when his geekiness proved useful.
Finally calming down, his cowardice dismissed as 'letting her have a moment', Touji nodded not that Kensuke noticed, "You're a weird dude at times man. But lets see this and be done with it." Touji wasn't expecting much from this stupid camera, it never really captured anything worth watching.
When the video started, it wasn't the Katsuragi living room, it was a bedroom. Some porn star had a mask on and was sitting at full mast. Intimidating for sure, but those guys weren't real, just like the women in those movies were fake too. But why would Kirika have porn on Kensuke's camera…
Both boys came to the same conclusion at the same time, this wasn't a video she recorded off the net via his camera, Touji shut the video off. "Dude we can't watch this. Its...private. Not that I wanted to see Shin-man's stiffy, not fair to see a private video. Can you delete it?"
Hitting buttons and nodding far to quickly, "Already doing it. Not what I was expecting, not at all. Dude did you see the size of his..." Both boys looked down, at the camera and had just silently agreed to never mention it again. The chance at seeing Kirika in all her glory was lost, but it felt cleaner to not watch something not meant for them. Though did mean Shin-man was getting it on with his girlfriend to some degree, and that made Touji glad for his buddy.
X-X
Ok, she could do this, she HAD to do this or their would be no hope for these stupid kids. Ritsuko steeled herself as best she could. A small nip of brandy went down her throat like a roaring fire. Damn she was bad with hard alcohol, but right now she needed to deaden her brain a little. Misato was off overseeing the construction of the clean room for the simulation body testing chamber. A waste of time since it was going to be canceled. And that SUCKED, Ritsuko spent so much time making those bodies, but no way Misato would allow testing to continue after Ritsuko's subterfuge went down. Bridge crew was idly working on their tasks, lucky sheep, Ritsuko went to Gendo's office.
The two old men were waiting for her, Fuyutski at Gendo's side as always, man looked older every day. "Afternoon Akagi-kun, things going along as planned?" the aged man's voice was still silky smooth, he would have been a great lecturer. Ritsuko heard he had been a university professor at one point, she could hear it.
"Yes, those two girls are still here, the council is starting to grow concerned with our deviance from their scenario," Gendo was doing that stupid finger thing. By the gods, Ritsuko hated when he did that. She knew he was smirking and making dumb faces behind those hands, why else would he do it! And knowing that behind one of those gloved hands was an alien creature made her afraid.
Old men playing games with humanity, pretending to be god-kings or the Illuminati, Ritsuko wanted to laugh. Two big chested girls were throwing the whole scenario off its stride? If the damn thing was that fragile, what hope did they have of actually success? And how were those girls ruining the plan? Well one of them was in a relationship with one of the pilots and improving the kids life. How DARE she do that, how DARE Shinji not be a wreck of a child! And Gendo was all on board with ruining his sons life? Killing the girl...maybe girls his son cared for? Looking at Ayanami made Ritsuko realize just how much a hypocrite Gendo was.
"I have the tanks ready to go today. An hour into the sync test their will be an accident. Their will be no survivors. I assume that will be good enough?" Ritsuko had her own plans. But a lot of hers was uncertain, but she was going to at least try to save those two. They did nothing wrong, but they couldn't stay or somebody else would kill them. "But I can still cancel it if you have reconsidered. This Misono girl is improving as a pilot. Would be a great substitute, and would make a great candidate for Unit-03," Ritsuko hoped she could avoid her dangerous play.
The old men shared a look, Kozo shrugged with a small smile, "She is a very positive girl. The base has taken quite the liking to her. And since the other one has been on base things have gotten even more lively. I think there is even a betting pool to which one is actively..." Kozo quickly coughed and stopped his talk as Gendo gave him a side eye.
Base was full of high school level bullshit and jokes. Guess people never really get out of high school mentality, even when working for a place like Nerv. When it was just Kirika, the rumors were 'were those kids really banging?' That didn't last long as Kirika was very open about her wants. Now another busty girl was getting the rumors of a thruple situation as both girls we always around or talking to the other about the lone male pilot. If the other pilots were on base during one of the Meiko days, oh boy they hammed it up. Base was a buzz of actual positive action. Plus watching that girl use that horse whip...gave Ritsuko ideas. Maybe Gendo would benefit a little punishment?
No, he wouldn't, guy would never let anybody have any control over him or his plans. "No, we continue as planned. The Suzuhara boy is the pilot of Unit-03 as it will have the most psychological damage," Gendo shot down Ritsuko's hopes. That was a running theme anymore. Gendo had no time for Ritsuko, had no joy in his heart it seemed. Using an old document for his reason for killing Shinji's girlfriend? Stupid old man was just jealous his son had somebody that loved him and that he loved. The spark Ritsuko had for Gendo was nearly extinguished, kept alive by the lack of anything else in her life.
"I'll take care of it. But if we go this way, Misato likely will not allow for further simulated body testing. Is that going to be alright?" Ritsuko hated wasting work. But if the two girls 'died' because of an accident with the bodies, Misato would never let her beloved surrogate son test it. Hell, Shinji likely would destroy the damn tanks with Unit-01 after he learned. She felt cold in this office, both due to the A/C and the realization the two commanders were ordering the death of teenagers simply because they brought joy to a boy then wanted...needed depressed. Just what the fuck was Nerv really doing?
Tugging on his collar, Kozo had the decency to appear upset. Giving Gendo a small nod, "I'll deal with the decommission of it. The faux bodies will need to be handled delicately as they're spares. Anit-cloning laws and all that. Katsuragi will never let the testing to forward if deaths were reported. I'd never allow for it if it was an earnest case. Lost potential, but scenario never expected it to work anyway." With a nod at both of them, Kozo left to deal with the delicate work of prepping human/angel hybrid clone body disposal.
"Will you be needing anything else, sir?" Ritsuko asked as a force of habit. Ages ago he'd ask her to supper, and often a small bout of lovemaking afterward. Those were good times, better times, but as things moved further along, the softness all but left Gendo. Gendo didn't even bother to look up at her now, he went back to whatever work he had before and just waved her off. The spark was gone, the fear and awe of the man was now only fear.
Heading to the lab, it took months to setup this stupid experiment. Weeks just to get the 'simulated bodies' ready to go, and it was all going to be wasted. The backup body they had was what allowed for getting Kirika and Meiko into this position they were in. Ritsuko had a fourth made just in case something broke before they were good for the main test. Now it was an excuse to have the problem teens together and separated from the others. Week two of having these girls participating in this experiment, it showed progress...and some strange side effects of cross mental contamination.
The plan was to have each girl individually sync with the faux body. The scientist in Ritsuko however wondered, what happened if BOTH girls synced with the faux body at the same time. They didn't know she was doing it, but can't keep a good mad scientist down! What Ritsuko saw was a bit of crossing of brainwaves, what that meant, who knew. Ritsuko wasn't going to TELL the girls she was doing that, but if they asked her, well she'd make a few guesses. Real shame all of this was going to get ruined. With an act to maintain, she set up for the days test. No real sync tests today so it was just the unfortunates. Had to act fast, had to make it look 'sudden and accidental' or people would question. Well Misato WOULD question, but have to limit the questions. These tests were still in early phase so it would make 'some' sense that it would happen.
"Look I didn't expect Rias was going to have a bikini that was THAT small. With her size I was shocked the thing held. Not MY fault people couldn't handle it either," Kirika's voice wafted down the hallway. Since this was a test of sensitive equipment it was executed far away from normally traveled areas. If things had gone the way they should have, the sterilization chambers would be setup next week.
The stern and admonishing tone of Meiko was quick to combat Kirika's 'sorry-not-sorry' quip, "You say that, but yours was not school issued either. None of which matters as 'bikini bike washes' are not allowed even with permits. As a violation of the rules, I will be taking Shinji-kun for disciplinary actions. Or are you going to finally submit to it yourself?" How the girl said submit gave a chill down Ritsuko's back, but not a bad chill. Ritsuko was finding herself enjoying the stern yet at times playful Meiko girl.
The pair had to be eye turning all over Nerv with their twin plugsuit fashion show. Ritsuko had never had breast envy in her life, not with Misato as a friend, but these two girls were something else. The fact that Meiko was smaller that Kirika and they both had those skin tight suits on had to make anybody who saw them boggle. Down girl, down, don't think about how you like these girls, would make this a lot harder. Not a given her plan would work, and if it failed both girls would die. But it was either Ritsuko try this, or Gendo just sent a hit squad for them.
"I have a little something I need to do today, so just don't break him. Got a date planned. Galko-chan had a guy ask her out so we're doing a group thing to keep her calm. If it goes bad the three of us can just hit a love hotel...oh hey Akagi-san!" Kirika aborted her quip as they noticed Ritsuko was already there. Typically the girls got here before Ritsuko did and got ready, the joys of adulthood and endless meetings.
Was Kirika just saying if a date went bad she'd pimp Shinji to a friend of hers? Kids and their odd games. If Shinji took after Gendo he'd be on the small side, so maybe Kirika was hoping to break her friend in with something gentle? With how Misato talked about the kid, and what Ritsuko saw of him, she bet Shinji would be very passive in bed...another thing his father did. Yui had to be a berserker in the sack or something or Shinji was a very lucky shot. Oh god, even if Ritsuko's plan worked, how would this fall out? If Kirika was setting Shinji up as some nexus of her friends, would removing her even do anything in the long term?
"Get in the tanks girls, we don't have a lot of bonus time today," Ritsuko already was jumpy. No coffee today and her heart rate was already spiking and she felt her armpits sweating. The sooner this got started, the faster she got her plan moving, and the better chances these two had of surviving. Watching Kirika's seemingly pounds of hair flow about she got into her take, Ritsuko saw Meiko anxiously standing by her own. "Something wrong Shiraki-kun?" girl never appeared rattled, well save for last week where she was all meek for some reason.
Taking the pin out of her hair, letting it flow freely, Meiko just shook her head. Unevenly she did relate, "At times I feel I am hearing that idiots mind while we are undergoing these tests. Not something unpleasant, just confusing. Likely just her contaminating me with her personalty. Pay it no mind." With a moment of hesitation she climbed into her tank and it sealed.
So there was some proof to that little side test Ritsuko was doing. Well…that would make this interesting for them. Their was no direct comms between the tanks, but if they continued to synk with the faux body...don't think about it. "Alright girls, going to be another day of each of you trying to make the body move its arms. After this week we'll be good to start with the official test," Ritsuko's voice broke a few times, but they were antagonizing one another and didn't notice.
Ritsuko started her plan as Kirika joked about her plans for Shinji and some girl Rias if said girls boyfriend cheated on her. Had to be a joke, Ritsuko really hoped so, or maybe she SHOULD let Kirika fall off the mortal coil. Making an all girl harem with one male was a fools fantasy, but Kirika sounded like she was gathering girls like kids did trading cards!
First was setting the camera on a loop, only for a few moments to tell the girls what was going to happen. Then it was executing the fake plan. When Meiko slipped that during today's 'Shinji punishment' she neglected to move off his face when she slipped on it and his nose went in deep, Ritsuko was getting very frustrated at hearing just how much hanky panky kids were having, so was just going to get started. Executing the loop, "Girls, shut up and listen."
"Akagi-san, sorry, I do not regret my actions, but it was to much information for you. As for protection I was told that he was sterile while..." Meiko did NOT sound upset or even bothered by her admission of face riding and the plan to go further.
No time to correct, Ritsuko just waved it off. "You're juvenile attempts at sex is not what I'm talking about. The commander has ordered me to kill both of you. You're throwing off his scenario, and wants to get it back on track. He needs Ikari-kun devastated and broken. Having two sexpots building his self esteem isn't good for that. But I can't...do that. So I'm going to TRY and get you out. The O2 in these tanks should last several hours if you conserve your actions. I've no time to go over much, they'll notice soon. So once it goes dark, you'll feel yourself moving...I bribed a guard to take the tanks...and open them. You'll have to go into hiding, leave Tokyo-3 and not contact us until...well you'll know. If you try though, well you're dead, I'm dead, and everything is fucked. Sorry."
Kirika said something about Ritsuko needing to 'do the math' but Ritsuko didn't care to listen. All they'd do is ask for answers or explanations. Things Ritsuko didn't have time for. The camera loop ended, and Ritsuko executed her plan. Her program went live and simulated the 'idea' that the tanks O2 was cycled out and the two girls 'suffocated'. Once she 'confirmed' they were dead, putting on a good show for the camera of her trying to 'save' them. Ritsuko called in her bribed guard to take wheel the tanks out. The man was an unknown, given a clone badge of another worker, and Ritsuko followed Gendo's plan of removing the evidence.
Take out the trash, move it to a secure location, and have it crushed. All was to be done quick and without notifying anybody until it was done. As long as the man took the tanks to where they were supposed to go, a second paid person should be waiting. At least this woman was not a Nerv employee so shouldn't be a big deal. But Ritsuko couldn't contact them now, if she did it'd be noticed and the whole thing ruined. It was in fates hands now, sorry girls, but this was the best she could think of on such short notice.
"Now to go break the news to Misato...life sucks," Ritsuko steeled herself for the next stage of her act. If Misato knew of Ritsuko's plan she WOULD tell Shinji and then its all ruined. This whole stupid plan only worked if people thought them dead AND those two played along.
X-X
Last night, Misato was given news that she just couldn't accept. It rebelled against her mind in a way things haven't done before. At the time, when she was in shock, she didn't question it. Kirika and Meiko suffered some sort of accident that left them brain dead. With no parents, and the fear of the news getting our that a Child was dead, the bodies were already dealt with. Ritsuko showed her the footage. It all looked real, the concepts were believable, but Misato now questioned everything.
The knee jerk happened of course, Misato was the queen of those as Shinji could attest. The simulation body project was shut down, the tank that was being finalized was razed and destroyed. Oddly enough a small portion of the tank had some issues the tech team reported, but they got it in the end. Now however she sat at the apartment debating the whole mess. Only the commanders, Ritsuko, and she knew about 'the accident'. As Major it was on her to decide how to handle it. Tell the other pilots, give them a lie, or something else.
"I just don't buy it," Misato held her empty coffee cup in her hand. Using her foot to give Pen-Pen some belly rubs, her mind just rejected this. To many things have been going on lately that didn't mesh, a pizza with mostly unmelted cheese. Her roommates were due back from school, and all Misato had done while they were gone was sit here and think. For the umpteenth time, Misato grit her teeth painfully, "But why would she do it?"
Only Ritsuko had been in the room, only Ritsuko dealt with the bodies on base, and Ritsuko herself said nobody but she was working on the experiment at the time. So what did Ritsuko stand to gain for either killing those two? But without bodies it was just the video, and those COULD be faked. And then the circle of logic came back to that stupid word, why? Why would Ritsuko FAKE their deaths?
Moving for the first time since she sat, Misato's stomach yelled at her for neglect. Wasn't time to eat though, she needed more brain juice. Pen-Pen warked at her as she poured the last of the cold coffee into her mug. Tasted and smelled horrid, but this wasn't ingested for joy right now. Caffeine was needed to jump start the brain. What did she tell those two when they get back? Shinji would ask where his girlfriend and his...whatever Meiko was to him were. Kid was positively radiant compared to his original mind state. Tell him that both of his lady friends are gone?
"Yeah that would do damage. But what can I tell him that he'd believe? Out of nowhere, 'hey kid had to ship those two off to America for...breast reduction surgery!' Yeah he'd believe that," Misato fell back down heavily into her chair. It groaned as it was weak not because she gained weight. Ok, so where was she at then? Easy, Misato knew she didn't have all the facts here. Nerv was doing odd shit, Ritsuko had been acting odd for weeks now, and now things hit the head. Just hoping it'd get better on its own hadn't worked out.
Gazing out into the living room, one of Kirika's tops was hanging on the back of the couch. It had gotten stained, Misato's fault not Shinji's due to teasing said lad and spilling booze, and Shinji cleaned it. Could she get a dog to track the scent? "No he cleaned it already, kid loves that girl, be no..." Misato's brain latched onto something. "Not a dog-dog, but what about another..." Misato's mind latched onto the idea of tracking. Who else had she been tracking thanks to Ritsuko acting strange?
Ayanami. On the base at odd times to meet Ritsuko, always watching the other Children, and late night missions Misato wasn't privy too. Not the strongest lead, but at this point it was better than nothing! Taking some money out of her wallet, Misato scrawled a note that could only be fully comprehended by somebody who drank as much coffee as Misato had, and left the mess on the table. "Keep the home fires burning for me, Pen-Pen. Got me a Child to interrogate!" Misato felt better to have something to do.
Just sitting at the table with the cyclical logic did not answer anything. Not doing anything made Misato go crazy. A woman of action, of passion, of drive, of...she was procrastinating. Heading to the door, she slid her favorite jacket on smoothly, and as she hit the hallway she saw she had hung around just a bit to long. Standing outside the door of the 'missing' pair, was Shinji knocking at the door. Kid had the key, but would never use it unless they expected or invited him, if only Kaji had that restraint. "You ditch Asuka on the way back?" Misato had to put on her best act.
"Oh, Misato-san, they weren't in school today and Asuka has class duty. Not responding to calls either. You know anything?" Shinji shifted away from the door. Unable to look up at her, bashful for being caught being a dutiful boyfriend, Shinji gave Misato a break.
Should she tell him some aspect of the truth? That in one way or another the two were gone? No, not until she knew more! But her affection for the boy spiked at seeing him so concerned for what to him was a minor thing. Drawing him into a sudden, but not out of character, hug, she wrapped her arms strongly against her. Tiny dynamo of heat, and when he responded to the hug, Misato was positive she heard his heart against hers. Stupid yes, it was just her own, but it was a nice thought. "Ritsuko called, they tested late last night, slept on base, and are testing now. They're behind because Kirika keeps distracting Meiko," Misato would have believed it.
Struggling to get out of Misato's bear hug, Shinji accidentally touched in places he never would outside the bedchamber. Whining just the right timbre to get Misato to let go, "You tease to hard, Misato-san. I guess that makes sense too. Akagi-san doesn't let them have their phones when testing. Guess I'll talk to them when they get back. M-Meiko-san and I have a plan to get a little revenge against Kirika-chan this weekend. We have planning to do." With how his face got redder, Misato knew it wasn't something silly like a bucket of water over a door.
Any other day she'd push harder to learn what her boy was plotting with the 'not-girlfriend' to punish the actual girlfriend. But she had a mission to accomplish, "Sorry, you're just to hug-gable when you're acting all coy. Whatever you two plan, just don't go TO hard or Kirika will start a prank war." Ruffling his hair, Misato fled before her mask broke. If those two girls were truly gone, that this was a fools errand perpetuated by Misato's reluctance to accept reality, Misato had no idea what she'd do!
Driving to what had to be the wrong address, Misato found herself in a heavy construction area outside one of the nastiest buildings she'd ever considered entering. "Like a bad horror movie, or a good one," Misato gripped the apartment door. It felt grimy, oily, as if it hadn't been cleaned in years. But the address was what Ritsuko had given to her, and in turn she gave to Shinji back when he had to give the girl her replacement card.
Shinji was home, their was no tests, and Ritsuko was on task to destroy the other simulated bodies, their was no reason Ayanami should be home. Breaching the apartment, Misato was immediately assaulted by the smell. Covering her nose and breathing through her mouth, she gagged, "What died in here?" Or fucked and left the mess in a corner? Not thinking, Misato hit the button for the elevator and stood there longer than she should have only to realize it was broken, "Because why WOULD it work?" If it did, would she think about using it?
The stairwell was worse, a small oven of bad smells, textures, and left Misato feeling dirty when she got to the right floor. Thankfully the dirt was less prevalent on this floor, just the heat. Speed walking like a champ, Misato hammered on Rei's door. "Ayanami-kun, we have to talk, open the door," Misato was getting light headed from her attempt to avoid the smell.
When the door opened, Misato was gifted with an unexpected blessing, the hard blast of an air conditioner. The door was cracked a few inches, but it was enough for the cool air to flow out, "Katsuragi-san? I was not anticipating you so soon." Rei opened the door fully once she saw Misato was alone, "Ikari-kun is not with you?"
Rushing into Rei's apartment, Misato slammed the door and locked it. Clean, cold, and smelt wonderful in comparison! Boxes littered a corner, and Rei's apartment appeared to be a tech wonderland compared to everything else she saw. "Guess you know how to spend money. And here Shinji-kun said your apartment was a dive," Misato took in the room. Walking into the apartment, well it was messy with boxes and containers strewn about. Guess Rei wasn't keen on cleaning, and a lot of this was new.
"It was as he claimed until recently. Misono and her allies provided them to me. Ikari-kun insisted I move, but they deemed it not the appropriate time," Rei followed behind Misato close. To close really, girl didn't know what personal space was. Breezing past Misato as the older woman stalled, Rei plopped down on a very plush bed and tinkered with a computer. Pointing to a small refrigerator, "If you require a beverage, there is a large variety."
Did the commander know about the gifts Rei got? Was this a security hole? Misato opened the personal fridge and saw it stocked with drinks and treats. Maybe she passed out in the hall and this was all in her head. Grabbing a soda, the cold can felt wonderful against her still warm skin, "They gave you all this stuff? You're living the high life. Why they give you all this but not Shinji-kun?" Misato wasn't even sure she understood some of the things she saw.
"They've gone missing? Is that why you are here?" Rei tilted her head in a strange parody of a bird. A small pile of food containers at her feet, girl really needed to learn to clean. Well she would have, had the small robot not left its nest and did the job for her. Really? Rei had some cleaning vacuum? No fair!
The question left Misato confused for a moment, Rei was expecting this? "Not missing, they're dead. I saw the footage and with how you've been Ritsuko's little pupil lately, I've come to get info. Be honest with me and I'll make sure you're not punished," Misato felt a bit less sure of herself now. Just what the hell had she walked into?
"Not dead, moving," Rei popped a small plastic container in her mouth and started to noisily slurp the contents. Flipping the laptop screen to Misato, it showed life sign and a map with a moving red dot. "You've questions, I've something to give you," Rei grabbed a small stack of USB devices and papers.
Now even more confused by the sudden shift, Misato took the stack and just found those creepy red orbs boring down on her. Kirika's name was on the first missive with 'to Misa-chan' complete with lipstick kiss mark. Tearing it open, Misato read quickly for some clarification to this madness. Only a quarter of the way through the page, Misato found Rei still watching her, "You ARE a little spy! Been working with Kirika for how long now? Did you learn anything?"
Kirika bribed Rei into working with her? Full extent of what Kirika promised Rei was unknown, but the tech wonderland Misato was in was only the first of it. Rei's access to key locations in Nerv, all the secret missions built trust, provided entry to vital locations! The USB had damning information about Nerv and some group called Seele? Misato would have to investigate all of this in time, but first was, "How can you be sure they're both alive?" The writing and been to personal, Misato could see Kirika's mannerisms so Misato didn't think this was a lie Rei set to trap her.
"Injected tracking sensors," Rei handed Misato the laptop. The screen had various tabs, multiple names on it. Some names Misato recognized, Shinji and her own, and others she didn't know personally but knew were from Kirika's old school. Leaning to the side and blinking a few times, "Ikari-kun waiting outside?"
Pointing at the screen, "You should know, his name is here. Or this is all a scam. Why so interested in where he is?" Misato's finger rebelled against her mind and she hit Shinji's button. Normal bio readings, the map went to the apartment. Then she hit her own name, elevated heart rate, yup, and it showed Rei's apartment building. When...HOW...oh yeah she got drunk around Kirika ALOT, and she had been scratching her ass a bit more, it itched...that dirty bitch!
Actually blushing, Rei averted her eyes, "Part of my sign on bonus. Feels right to spy."
"Get your stuff kiddo, you're coming with me until this gets resolved," Misato gathered up some of Rei's clothing into a bag. Dropped the letters and thumb-drives, a few drinks, and...fuck it took the vacuum as well. "My place hasn't been working with spyng devices, not sure about here. Going to play this safe. If those girls are alive we'll get them, if this is all a lie and you're a plant...well rather you be close than ratting me out to the commander!" A lot of reading and data to go over, a lot to do...and she wasn't letting Rei go until she knew!
X-X
Walking down the halls of Hachimitsu after so long was strange, but Meiko was having no issues remembering where everything was. Homeroom was down the left hall, the cafeteria was further down and to the right, and the Underground Student Council room was at the end of the hall. While it wasn't gaudy, the money spent on this school was better than...wherever she was before. Where HAD she been before? No mind, didn't matter, right? Right! Only the USC mattered and making sure Mari was pleased with her actions.
"Now that the Aboveground Student Council is disbanded things can get back to normal," Meiko was pleased with that. The whole ordeal with the sports carnival was hard to remember, just the mask pushing countless gallons of Root Beer down her throat, wished she could remember that. The girls of the school waved at her with pride and small adulation, as she made her way towards the Council room.
A small gaggle of underclassmen were standing at a window and pointed out at the quad, "Look the boys are running again. They stink like monkeys!" They laughed at the notion but didn't take their eyes off the boys. The five males in question were being punished for not reporting a stash of dirty magazines the Headmaster had hidden...in a box with his name monogrammed on it. Only reason the boys weren't back in prison was the fact the name was not mistakable. But a new girl was standing among them, one with purple hair that went down to the ground...Meiko couldn't remember that one.
"Nothing wrong with a unique smell. And that new boy is very easy on the eyes," that strange girl mentioned. Pointing out at the smallest of the boys running, Meiko noticed their WAS six boys and not six. When did this new boy start attending Hachimitsu? Sucking on a massive Popsicle that Meiko didn't notice before either, "Wouldn't mind getting a closer look at that one, bet he's about this big."
When the other girls cutely screamed and looked away, Meiko just rubbed a small headache and walked on. Nothing wrong with talking, even if it was lewd. Meiko used her sexuality back when the boys first showed up at the school, used it against Shingo to drive a wedge between the men being punished. It worked well, but in the end it was all a mistake leading to...foggy. Things were foggy. It wasn't Shingo she wanted to seduce it was…
The dumb amazon kept talking lewd things to the girls, so Meiko just left them to go tell Mari about today's punishments. Entering the Council room, Mari was at her desk and Hana taking notes. "Oh Meiko, you're just in time. A new boy has been added and a new girl. They're from Tokyo-3 and Zashono. Part of a cultural exchange project. Hana just assumed he was guilty of something and added him to the prison. Makes sense to me, all boys are guilty of some perversion," Mari was quite dismissive.
Didn't Mari start feeling differently after...no Meiko was just confused. "Wise move. I saw both of them on my way here. Anything special I should know about them?" Meiko asked moving to her place at Mari's side. Doing some squats, the feeling of her clothing tugging and pulling was very satisfying, she was in her place doing what she should.
"The Ikari boy is very good at sex," Hana said mildly bored as she leafed through her notes.
Stumbling forward, squat abandoned, Meiko nearly knocked her head but thankfully her chest took the brunt of the fall, still hurt like a bitch though. Fixing her wardrobe malfunction, it happened and it was just girls so nobody mentioned it. Getting off the ground, "How do you know that? Why do you know that?"
Mari and Hana dumbly looked at Meiko as if she had lobsters crawling out of her ears, "We both had sex with him already. The president let us borrow him, Mistress Kirika was very nice in letting us use her boyfriend." Both girls were devoid of emotion, regurgitated their lines much like Ayanami would have.
Kirika! Damn it! Waking up from her little dream, Meiko was still in the dark and felt the increasingly nasty feeling oxigenated fluid. "Did you have to do that?" Meiko asked. It was not natural, but the girls learned one hour into the incarceration that if they tried hard enough they could hear the others surface thoughts. As they spent more time mind reading, they got deeper into the thoughts and memories of the other. Not something either girl really wanted.
"I didn't mean to! I'm not good with being trapped like this, not sure why YOU are. So when you started napping I wanted to try! That was your school?" Kirika's mind was a jumble. Guess everybody had something they weren't comfortable with.
Rubbing at her eyes, they got used to the very dim light of the few machine lights, Meiko took a deep breath. Emotions radiated easily over the mental link so Kirika knew she was groggy and frustrated. Just like Meiko knew Kirika DID mean to sneak into her dream. An escape from this place. "To keep you from digging deeper into my memories I'll tell you. I was in the school prison for the actions the USC enacted on the first boys at our school. Was I out long?" she hoped so. Sooner she got out of this tube, the sooner she'd not have to feel the overbearing presence of Kirika's positive attitude and underlying fear.
Kirika was silent for a few moments, then the mental link popped back in, "Only about ten minutes. Thinking we've been stuck here for a few hours not. I don't feel us moving anymore so maybe we get out soon?" They agreed to not try and break out of the locked tanks until they 'needed too'. That anxiety, fear, and forced joy popped back into Kirika's mental voice, "So what gave me away as messing with your dream? I didn't know I could do it until you saw us! This tank is wild, under different situations think be a fun Eiken event!"
"Having my friends become robotic sex maniacs. Neither of them are good with men, so having relations with new student was just impossible," Meiko did NOT like thinking of Mari that way. Mari was her closest friend, the person Meiko wished to please the most. And until after taking down the Above-ground Student Council Mari had no confidence in men. Those men did prove themselves and Meiko saw Mari's opinion had changed as she left.
An overwhelming sensation of curiosity popped over from Kirika's side, "Oh so THAT is the girl you did all this for? Sorry, you were broadcasting that so loud, didn't mean to pry. Want to talk about her? Talk about anything? Will help pass the time." It was desperate and clinging, Kirika was lying and was poking and prodding into Meiko's mind for anything to talk about.
Not liking having her memories peeked at, Meiko's indignation rose. "Do not just peek into my head! How would you like it if I did so to you! What was your REAL relationship with your old male club member?" upon asking Meiko exhorted more mental force and spied herself. A gluttony of memories of teasing, antagonizing, and longing for the boy flooded Meiko's mind. Pulling back, knowing now the truth, "You liked him, but he wanted that other girl. And he wasn't willing to..."
"Yup, you're right it isn't fair to peek into somebody's mind. Going to have rules when I give this idea to Kyoko," Kirika's mind was jostled and a sense of shame came back. Not a normal thing for Kirika, Meiko believed, girl and shame were VERY far away from one another on most given times. Resigned to her fate, Kirika spilled, "And yeah I do feel part of me did love Densuke, why I pushed him so much. But he had eyes only for Chiharu, and nobody else in the club. Not an issue our Shin-chan has."
A different mindset for sure, Ikari was willing to try this unique pairing situation. Meiko didn't get the whole 'groups have to have only two members' thing, but understood it was the norm. "He wants emotional support but was...is afraid of rejection. You are...you are just like him, only you cover it with your hyper sexuality and crazy plans. Drawing many to you with fears they'll leave if they get bored," Meiko curtly fired off at Kirika.
"Yeah well you push everybody away that tries to show you affection unless its that Mari girl because she helped you as a kid! You abuse power, afraid that people will mock or tease you again! Abuse of authority as a means to keep people close and manipulating peoples mental states! Or did you not try to seduce Shin-chan away from me in the start with your slutty training?" now Kirika was mentally yelling.
Then they both laughed at it. The same, all three of them were more alike than different, just had different ways of dealing with it. Yes Meiko had tried to keep Shinji with her once she realized they shared something in common and she liked him. Yes Kirika was afraid Shinji would get bored and leave her so she kept upping the ante of her actions to keep him interested. Yes Shinji was desperate for any affection and initially latched on to anybody that gave him any type of positive affection. How things started had no impact on how things were now!
"So what do we do about Akagi after we get out of here?" Meiko relaxed a little. They had their blow-out, said some mean things, but right now it didn't matter. They were in near dark, in tanks, and mentally tethered together, but Meiko wasn't afraid of dying here. Both of them could break out at any time. So unless there was a guy with a gun waiting to off them, once they busted free they'd be back to Katsuragi to escalate things.
Learning a new mental trick, Kirika sent mental images over the sync-tether. Just to be a bitch it was Kirika enjoying a nice choco-banana that transformed into something quite different. Snickering at feeling Meiko's shame turned arousal, "I knew you'd want to do that too. Going to have to double team him after we get out. But as for Akagi...I forgive her. She could have just killed us, but is risking her life to TRY to get us out. I've given Katsuragi enough dirt on Nerv's commanders and other hidden stuff to burn the whole place down. Akagi...well that woman chose the wrong person to fall for. Apple fell LONG from the tree there."
Not wanting to know what Kirika was talking about, Meiko punched a dent in her tank when Kirika beamed the image into her mind. Guess Gendo Ikari was a very poor lover, and Akagi bore the brunt of it. "So we wait for them to get us? How will the find us?" Meiko had to keep her stomach firm. Making a mess in this tank, well more so, would make it feel even nastier. No filters were running anymore so it was a human soup at this point.
"Well know how you've been itchy on your left tit lately? While you were sleeping, I implanted a small tracker there, just in case. Kyoko is working on better ones, but work with what you have.. So they'll find us, just a matter of how long it takes for Shin-chan to notice us missing and go to Rei-chan for info. Just hope she doesn't get hungry before they save us," Kirika's thoughts betrayed her. Guess Rei and Kirika talked quite a bit about emotions and a certain boy Rei started having red thoughts about. Kirika fostered those thoughts and well...get your allies.
Not to be outdone, Meiko sent an image of Kirika being run ragged with various punishments. Before long both girls were learning just how much mental projection they could muster. Helped pass the time, and helped both of them learn more about one another. They just had to wait, but if things got to bad they both agreed to burst out. For now though, they'd wait for their geek in shining white t-shirt to 'rescue' them. Gave them both an excuse to give him a reward.
X-X
Note
Again apologize for the delay in this chapter. Work fears and then extra work really messed with my head. Losing a job is never a good thing, the fear of it doubly so. Didn't happen and then learning a new time to write was hard.
Only one more chapter left in this one. Meant to be a quick lil ditty based on those Kirika/Shinji pictures out on gelbooru got the brain going 'this could be fun!'
Later
Mercaba