-AN-
New plan, can all world leaders who wish to start a war get dropped off on some remote island in the middle of the Pacific? Let them brawl it out and leave the rest of us alone please and thank you. I'm tired of living through once in lifetime historical events.
-Story Start-
Yawning and scratching at his midriff, Shinji couldn't help but smile as the sun shone high above him. The clouds looked especially fluffy today, and even the noise of the city and the occasional airplane taking off from the airport wasn't enough to dampen his mood. This was peaceful. Relaxing. The roof's fencing yielding to his back was nice and warm, enough that if he didn't focus he might fall asleep.
On either side of him Kensuke and Toji chatter back and for while they eat their lunch. The school rumor mill was in full swing once more, no thanks two his friends. But Shinji didn't care anymore. He had tried heading that off to no avail. Best to just ride the wave. Toji's raised voice did draw some of his attention away from the birds flying overhead, "So, arcade crawl and maybe hit the mall? It's sunny out, you know what that means?"
Kensuke was already grinning and hefting his camera, "Comiket is coming up soon?"
Whacking his nerdy friend over the head, Toji shook his head, "No. My dear Kensuke, it's sundress season and the girls will be out to impress today!"
Nodding along sagely, Kensuke crossed his arms dutifully, "It would be remiss of us not to enjoy the fruits of their labors. I'm in." Both boys turned to Shinji quietly, who raised an eyebrow at them as they regarded him as the strange creature they believed him to be. Was it worth it to invite him along? Would he siphon away all the hotties? Or better yet, would he attract them? "We shall allow Shinji to come, as moral support at least."
Toji grunted as he nodded twice, "Yes yes. Moral support. Not like he needs a girlfriend." The real question was just which one of the other EVA pilot girls was actually Shinji's girlfriend. Asuka sure had seemed to be making some brash moves as of late. Almost as much as Rei. Toji pointed a thumb at the quiet boy as he rolled his eyes, "No taking all the girls mister EVA pilot. Some of us would like to enjoy our youth ya know."
"Hai hai, I'll keep all my bits to myself." It wasn't his fault. If Rei had her way it would be up to him to repopulate the Earth.
"See that you do." The boys all chuckled, before Toji looked around to make sure that they were alone. "Actually, it might make the group more approachable if you bring one of the girls along. Ya know, so we don't just look like creeps."
"But you are creeps." Shinji easily dodged away from the fist headed his way with a laugh. Toji was just to easy to rile up. "Proving my point."
Grunting and tearing at his sandwich, Toji pointed its remains at the blue eyed boy, "The point is to seem approachable and easy going. Having a girl in our midst would help our image."
Unless they met anyone from their school, then the pair was screwed. "I don't know. Wouldn't just a day with the guys be fun?"
Kensuke leaned over as Toji started to choke on his food, "Have a heart Shinji. You get to enjoy the springtime of your youth, why can't we?"
"Not saying you can't, but why do I need to bring one of the girls?" Shinji eyed them both suspiciously. One nervous looking Kensuke, and the other slowly turning blue Toji. Rolling his eyes, Shinji reached out and slapped a hand hard into the bigger boy's back. Food with flying but blessed air returned to the taller boy's lungs. "You're lucky Asuka wasn't here to see that."
"I get to live another day!" Tears streaming down his face, Toji promised to eat slower from now on. "Thanks Shin-man, I owe you my life."
"Hai hai, just don't choke again and we'll call it even." Shinji eyed both boys for a moment, something nagging at his thoughts as they leaned into one another to whisper and plan. That never bode well. "What are you planning?"
Kensuke sat up ramrod straight, "Planning? Who's planning? Not us."
Knowing right away that the jig was up, Toji sighed and waved a hand to try and dispel Shinij's worries. "It's not such a big deal, just make sure to bring Asuka and all is well."
Looking at the athletic boy, Kensuke hissed, "I thought we agreed on Rei!"
"Screw that, the Red devil needs to be put in her place. Only Shin-man can do that." Plus Toji had put a lot of money on Red, he was going to make a killing.
"You're just mad cause you already put money down." Score one for Kensuke.
"Damn right."
Great. So the class had begun betting on who was his love interest again. Shinji could only wonder who would do such a thing. These two certainly hadn't started it. He'd have to, discipline a certain albino later. "Sooo what. I bring one of the girls to prove which one I'm dating and one of you wins some money?"
"It'll pay for the arcade trip and then some." Toji was all grins as he gave Shinji a thumbs up. So it was a small bump in the road that Shinji found out, but that was okay. The shorter boy had a good heart, he wouldn't leave his friends high and dry like this.
Smirking and leaning on a fist, Shinji eyed Toji and decided to strike, "You know, I could always take a neutral party. I'm sure Hikari would looove to come along." He knew it was probably a lost cause at this point to try and push the two childhood friends together, but it never hurt to try. He would not concede to the girls, who also probably planned for this exact scenario.
"Wha-you-leave Hikari out of this!" Toji couldn't fight off the blush that hit him like a truck, which only grew as Shinji began to laugh.
"I don't know. You guys have been betting on my love life, maybe I need to stir things up a bit."
"Hikari's off limits you!" Toji was already rising to his feet as Shinji popped up, ready to dash away at a twitch.
Shinji needed just one more push, "I mean, I tried telling her your feelings before and you stopped me." Putting a shocked hand to his mouth, Shinji's smirk grew to shit eating levels. "Or is it not her, but me? You want me all to yourself Toji-kun?"
"Die!" Launching towards the shorter boy, Toji landed in a heap as Shinji danced away.
Laughing and hopping backwards, Shinji knew better than to stay close, "Going to have to do better than that Toji." Running as the taller jock gave chase, Shinji hoped that things would go well today. An arcade trip did sound fun, sans the betting pool on his love life.
Watching the pair run about the rooftop, Kensuke held up a finger as stirring the pot was always worth it in his book. "There's actually a small group that thinks Hikari does have a chance to steal Shinji from Rei."
Freezing and turning towards his bespectacled friend, Toji couldn't fight off the twitch that was developing in his cheek, "Who the hell thinks that?" Just what the hell was going on with their class? Did they not know Hikari was off limits?
"Small group. Barely half a dozen members. Nothing important." Kensuke wasn't going to say aloud that he might or might not be spurring them along. Because at this point it might really take an act of God to get Toji to make a move on the girl. Hell, Kensuke wasn't even sure if Toji wanted to at this point or not. "Granted, her odds are terrible, like, fifty to one or something like that."
Feeling indignant, Toji raised a fist to his chest, "Hikari is super cute, she could have anyone she wants! She deserves better odds that that."
Both of his friends paused as they blinked at him quietly. Though it was Kensuke who had the lapse in judgement and opened his mouth, "Aren't you…I don't know, supposed to be warding us off from including Hikari?"
"I…uh…you know what, screw it! Com'ere and take a beating!" Launching Kensuke's way now, this one was easier to capture as they began to wrestle on the ground.
Sighing and shaking his head, Shinji knew better than to get involved now. Toji was to far gone at this point and nothing short of a certain domineering freckled girl in pigtails was going to snap him out of it.
Shinji should have known better than to press his luck. The door to the roof slammed open, Asuka in the lead with a wide grin and a bento in hand. "Make way lesser beings! The EVA girls are here." Behind her Rei and Hikari leaned out, Rei as emotionless as ever while Hikari had a smile on her face as she held up a finger.
"Um, Asuka, I'm not a pilot."
Waving such a trivial concern away, Asuka walked up to the still wrestling pair, "Details details. You're still leagues over the rest of these boys." Foot coming up, she caught Toji in the side, "Can you two lovers take it elsewhere?"
Grunting and pushing away from the thoroughly trashed Kensuke, Toji came up to his feet quickly, "It isn't like that!"
Asuka's smirk grew, "I don't know, I never see one without the other these days." Not like she cared, do what ya wanted to. Made more room for her to have fun with Shinji. Also allowed her to drag Hikari along, though it sure seemed like Hikari was starting to think about it. Score.
"What're you doing here anyway? Don't you have a meeting in hell to get to?"
Rolling her eyes and walking back towards Shinji as Rei was already taking a seat to begin eating, Asuka flipped her hair over her shoulder, "Nope. Dunking on you idiots counts as a public service." Strolling over to Shinji, she took hold of an arm and dropped him down next to Rei. Satisfied, she plopped down next to him as Hikari came to sit on her other side, "Besides, it's lunchtime. I'm hungry so don't bother me."
Rolling his eyes as he came back to his previous spot, Toji picked up the remains of his sandwich and got to polishing it off, "We were here first."
Rei held up a finger as she offered Shinji her tea, "Women are meant to be fashionably late."
Taking in Hikari's newer look, hair down and sporting a deep blue headband today, Toji cleared his throat. "H-hey Hikari. Hair looks good."
Looking up from where she was swapping a dish with Asuka, the middle Horaki child looked up to the teen and blinked. "Oh, thanks Toji. Changed it a while ago." Going back to Asuka's gushing over some tabloid she had read earlier today, Hikari put it out of her mind.
"Swing and a miss." Kensuke accepted the slap with grace.
Taking a bite of a vegetarian dumpling and moaning with delight, Hikari smiled and turned bright eyes towards Shinji, "This is really good. You've got to share the recipe with me." It wasn't a question of who made it as Asuka was never quiet about how talented Shinji was in the kitchen.
"Sure, it's pretty simple." Shinji steadfastly refused to look Toji's way, mouth quickly stuffed with rice as Rei was keen on hand feeding him today. Was that how he was going to go out this time? Murdered by a jealous Toji? If so, Shinji planned on at least making the boy work for it.
Asuka smirked and bumped into Hikari, "You can come over this weekend and he can show it to ya. I need to practice my viola anyway and the nerd is a bit of a music buff himself. We can make a full day of it." Though she wasn't really all that rusty, it had been a while since she had played just for fun. It would be a nice change of pace. Plus it got Hikari at the house without the gorilla or the otaku present. Triple win in her book.
Not thinking about ulterior motives, Shinji takes the bait from Asuka, "Guess I should tune up my cello then, make sure it's in good shape." He hadn't played in a while and it would feel good to practice again.
Kensuke spoke up with some genuine curiosity in his voice, "I didn't know you played Shinji."
Swallowing another mouthful, Shinji answered quietly. "Yeah, been playing probably since I could walk. The cello is my mom's. Last piece of her I have left after her passing." Seeing everyone not in the know turn his way, Shinji waved his hands in front of him to dispel their worries. "I'm all good now. I've made peace with it ya know. All good."
Drumming up her own courage, Hikari put her chopsticks down, "Still, I'd love to hear you play sometime Shinji."
Eyes going between the two, it's Toji who decides an interruption is in order, "So, about the arcade crawl today Shinji, you're in yeah?" Distractions were needed.
Kensuke was smirking as he put away his camera, "Something tells me there's a secret fourth option no one has considered." Not his business. Shinji was made of sterner stuff than him, Kensuke could admit that. Besides, watching Shinji surrounded by both female pilots and the class rep gave Kensuke the idea that Shinji would be in for more trouble than it would be worth.
Rei spoke up for her side of the group, taking a sip of tea delicately, "Some time at the arcade does sound enjoyable."
Asuka nodded along, "Sure. We can hit the mall afterward, there's this new store that just opened up selling these really cute dresses I wanna try on. Hikari, you're in yeah?"
"Um, sure. Yeah. I'll go."
"Great. You boys can be our bag handlers." Asuka was all smiles as Toji and Kensuke complained but didn't disagree with her. This was their end goal wasn't it?
Trying to be above it all, Shinji sighed and leaned back to look up into the sky as they others started to plan and snipe at one another. Instead he was back to being as peaceful and free as before. He had a good feeling about today. Things would be fine.
-b-
Shinji knew he had made a mistake. In fact, he knew he had made a mistake when the rest of the school day went by without a hitch so to speak. Asuka didn't try to drag him into a spare closet even once. Rei was on her best behavior, refusing to drop even half suggestive innuendo that could be taken both innocently and lecherous depending on who heard it. The rumor mill ran as always, but it was like someone was holding their breath. Waiting. Plotting.
So here he was, enjoying the arcade with his friends while mentally eyeing up every passerby and quick movement. Because the other shoe was going to drop, and soon. Belatedly he realized that Kensuke just smoked him in their fighting game.
"Yeeaaahh! Take that Shinji! Guess those robot skills don't translate to games after all." Kensuke cheered as he completed another match against Shinji with a near perfect record. Alive or Dead Three was a great fighter, lots of action and fan service. Kensuke had logged many hours here in his spare time and it showed. Now if only he could get the others to put some hours into his favorite game.
Shinji was already distracted, watching Toji get destroyed in a racing game against Asuka put a smile on his face, while a bit further away through the crowd Rei had her face nearly plastered to a plexiglass window as Hikari was winning her a new stuffed toy. That girl and cute things. "Yeah yeah you got me. Now what?"
Smirking and doing a little dance as they walked past colorful and loud machines others were enjoying, Kensuke repeatedly nudged Shinji in the shoulder, "Now I'm going to do my victory dance and celebrate being able to say I beat an EVA pilot." It was the little things to celebrate Kensuke decided. It wasn't quite as good as hacking into some agency he shouldn't, but it was a close second. Maybe third.
Shinji did his best to ignore the looks they were beginning to get, "This is why you're single Aida." Why was the boy gyrating his hips like that? Had he never danced in his life before? Shinji edged away from him quietly.
Having finished up her own trouncing of a now weeping Toji, Asuka grinned and dusted her hands clean, "Well then, who's up for shopping and food?" An afternoon of stomping on idiots really did work up an appetite.
Drawn by the promise of food, Rei was the first to come forward with arms full of something fluffy and multicolored, "I'm sure the boys don't necessarily want to go shopping. Maybe we could send them to go find somewhere to eat while we shop quickly?"
Asuka did not like that idea, at least not completely, "But we need pack mules, the least the boys could do is perform manual labor while they get to enjoy are presence."
Hearing he was about to be put to work, Toji snagged Kensuke around the neck and halted his friend's dancing that was beginning to draw a crowd, "Why don't Ken and I go find a spot at the food court, Shin-man can serve as butler." Plus it would give them time to take in the sights, maybe chat up some cuties without the monster that was Asuka in the wings.
Seeing the trap for what it was, Shinji opened his mouth to say anything before two fingers found their way into his ribs. When had Rei gotten next to him? He hadn't even seen her move.
Turning to the only male pilot suddenly wheezing at their side, Toji grinned and patted him on the back, "Don't you worry Shin-man, we're rooting for ya!" Already dragging Kensuke away, Toji waved and then was out of sight, leaving the coughing Shinji to give Rei the evil eye.
"Was that really necessary?"
Looking the picture of innocence, Rei smirked and began to walk with Asuka, both girls locking Hikari between them, "I don't know what you mean."
Hikari exchanged looks with Asuka and Rei on either side of her, "Um, should we really leave those two to their own devices?" It wasn't like she couldn't guess what the two boys would get up to. Toji thought one of two ways. Either with his stomach or less than mentionable thoughts. If only it hadn't taken her so long to see that.
Linking arms with Hikari as they transitioned from the darker space of the arcade to the much more open and brighter halls of the mall, Asuka was all smiles as her plan was on track to do what she wanted, "They'll be fine. Worse case we send Rei to go find them."
"Blaspheme." Rei was quiet, but Asuka was already holding a finger in the air.
"I get my one don't I?" Asuka could see the gears working in Rei's mind, before the shorter girl nodded and rolled her eyes. "Score."
Hikari could only just follow the conversation, "Do I want to know?"
Shinji followed along behind them, making sure to stay just outside of Rei's grabbing distance, "Probably not. Asuka is always up to some prank or associated mischief."
"You're in the company of three beautiful young women, should you really be complaining?" Asuka's voice was haughty and confidence, knowing what Shinji was really thinking about the situation. "Man up, you'll be fine." Putting a little extra wiggle into her step, Asuka smirked as Shinji's eyes began to wander.
Finally giving it up, Shinji knew he was locked in. Toji and Kensuke were long gone, most likely already drooling over cute girls and going to forget that they were supposed to be getting food. In the meantime Shinji would be following along behind two women who loved to tease him while shopping, and a third who was clueless as to just what the pair had in store for her. Hard choice there. "I'll be good."
Steering the group along as she eyed the rather trendy store she had looked up online yesterday, Asuka called it a win, "I know you will be. Now, Rei, you know the drill."
Turning in to the store with ease, Rei was already splintering off from the group, "Cute with a little daring, no solid colors, price is never a factor."
Hikari's eyebrows raised into her hair as Rei seemed to float among the clothing racks as attendants jumped from customer to customer doing their best to make sales as they could, "You have a system."
"Efficiency is key among us pilots." Asuka was already pulling Hikari among the racks, a hand snaking out to snag a rather revealing red dress with a dragon winding up the left side, "But this is more for you than us today. Our wardrobes are full enough." At least until they moved into a bigger place. If they did at least. Having unlimited money certainly had its perks. "Besides, Shinji's wallet can handle it."
Hikari was already shaking her head, "I can pay for my own-"
"Hikari my girl, let me impart on you a lesson I learned a long time ago." With a smirk Asuka leaned in, pretending to whisper as if to keep what she was going to say from the only boy of the group. "Boys will gladly spend money on girls who want to be cute for them. Shinji's no exception."
Blushing up a storm, Hikari's eyes went wide, "I-I-I-I never said I-"
Another acquisition joined the first, something more orange this time and Asuka was already shaking her head, "You don't have to. I'm observant you know. Plus, you've got good tastes."
Rolling his eyes and seeing Asuka was starting to get on a roll, Shinji considered stepping in and saving Hikari any further embarrassment. Instead he was pulled around as Rei came back, holding up a white dress with red flowers along the hem. Standing there quietly and expectantly, Shinji didn't have to ask what she was waiting for. "It's cute, a solid 8 choice. Very girl next door."
"Hmmm. I can do better. More daring I think." Rei was gone once more, flitting about the racks like a woman on a mission.
Nodding along, three options now on one arm, Asuka pushes them into Hikari's arms and directs her towards the changing rooms. "Start with those. I'll pick some stuff out too and we'll compare."
Flustered and caught up in Asuka's momentum, Hikari nodded along as an attendant helped her along. She felt like she was being set up here. "Asuka!"
"Can't hear you over the sound of you not changing!" Watching the woman hoping to make a few sales smile brightly and lead her friend away, Asuka smirked back at Shinji and gave him a victory sign. "Finally giving in? It's my win I think."
Easily sidestepping Rei who's arm tried to snake around to grab something that was certainly not clothing, Shinji was not willing to submit so easily. "It's not over till it's over love."
Seeing Hikari disappear into a changing room, Asuka began to slowly lead Shinji along the racks of clothes towards the same area. "If you say so. I think I've got you though."
Ignoring the girlish giggling of some of the older patrons watching them, Shinji mentally switched tracks. "Besides the next Angel, what's next on our to do list?"
Pausing to slide clothes along the rail, Asuka turned a critical eye to several very low cut options. European designers certainly were her type of daring. "I've got a little something for Kaji coming up. I think I'm ready to face him for real."
Knowing that was something he would not get in the way of, Shinji bumped her once as she pulled an interesting blue and white stripped dress free and held it against herself, "Want any help? Or do you wanna take this one on your own?"
Thinking about it, and thinking about what Shinji had been up to lately, Asuka nodded and a new cruel smile graced her visage, "I can think of something to do for me. Yeah, you can help." Leading him along some more, she walked backwards to keep his full attention on her.
"You know I'll help you in whatever you want to do, especially when it comes to him." Shinji would never say no to either of his girls. They both knew that. Even for something that to anyone else would be absolute overkill. Or against the Geneva conventions. Belatedly he realized they were no longer in the clothing section. "Uh."
"I'm gonna go pick out something that'll knock your socks off, so be a good boy and wait here for me." Opening a changing room door and shoving him inside, Asuka was all smiles as she walked away. Mission accomplished, now to go make sure Rei wasn't traumatizing some poor employee.
Mumbling about bossy red heads and teenage hormones, Shinji turned to at least find a seat in the small space. Coming face to face with a flushed and half naked Hikari was not on his bingo card for the day. Though it probably should have. The orange dress was halfway up her hips, giving him a flash of modest bra before he turned back around while the girl squeaked and turned away herself to stare into the mirror. "Uh-uh. Sorry, I'll-"
There was a knock at the door that caused both teens to jump, and a woman's voice called out. "Hey there miss. Do you need any assistance?"
If possible Hikari's eyes got even wider. What was she supposed to do? She knew Shinji wasn't the type to perv on girls like this, so she knew Asuka was involved somehow. But she couldn't toss him out now, the store would kick him out. Maybe call security. It would start all kinds of trouble. "I'm okay, just getting a g-good look at my selections."
Smiling and nodding, the attendant turned away, "Okay, your friends warned me you're a little shy, so I'll stay at the end of the hall till they return okay?"
Well there went any plan of getting Shinji out before Asuka and Rei returned. "Th-thank you!" She was going to skin Asuka alive for this. She wasn't ready yet. She needed time to prepare her heart. Not be dropped head first into a hundred meter dash.
Sighing and wanting to bash his head against the wall, Shinji kept his voice down and kept his gaze firmly on the door, "Sorry about this. Apparently this is Asuka's idea of a joke today." More like this was Asuka trying to push him and Hikari together. He knew better, Hikari didn't. "I'll get out as soon as the attendant leaves."
"It-it's okay. I know…I know you're not like that. We'll both owe Asuka a pounding when we get out huh?" Trying to lighten the mood, Hikari suddenly remembered that she was not fully dressed. Reaching down, she began to shimmy her dress up into place while her heart raced. "Never thought my first time having a boy see my undies would be THE Shinji Ikari." She had thought it would be Toji, until the idiot couldn't seem to get the hint. Shinji did though, if the nervous swallow she just heard was anything to go by.
Still getting used to the extra senses afforded him by Adam, Shinji felt out and found Rei and Asuka together, mirth and humor laced their being on the far side of the store. "I uh…well. You're a very beautiful girl Hikari. Any guy would be so lucky." Which was true. He had pursued Hikari on more than one loop before and remembered that it had been enjoyable each time. Though there were more than a couple of train wrecks along the way. Usually whenever he excluded the other two in some way. Territorial girls.
Pausing as she got her arms into the dress, Hikari considered him as she turned to watch his back. Shinji was always such a gentleman. So cool. Calm and collected normally. But here right now he was nervous, embarrassed. Because of her. Heh, something in her felt kinda warm and fuzzy because of that. So instead, she decided acting a little like Asuka might be worth it. Turning around and pulling her hair over one shoulder, she cleared her throat to gain his attention. "Hey uh, could you do me a favor."
Blinking, Shinji still refused to turn around. "Uh maybe. What's up?"
What did Asuka say to her once? Fortune favored the brave? "Could you, zip me up please?" One hand still holding her hair forward, the other was clenched against her chest. Was her heart going to pound out of her chest? It sure felt like it was going to break free any second.
Turning around cautiously, Shinji took in the expanse of creamy skin and took a hesitant step forward, "You sure?"
Nodding quickly, Hikari smiled at her reflection and couldn't help the giggle that left her lips. . "I trust you. You're a lot more mature than any of the other boys of our class. Plus, if you were Toji, you would have either fainted, or probably wouldn't have kept your hands to yourself." Turning back to look at him over her shoulder, Hikari gave him a smile, "I guess blame Rei for making it obvious, but you're a pretty good catch Shinji."
Another step forward to take hold of the dress and its zipper, Shinji worked it upward with a grin, "You know. Toji does like you, a lot actually."
Feeling the dress tighten up as the zipper finished its upward travel, Hikari turned around and took in the calmer boy before her. "Does he though? If he's not sleazing over other girls he's acting all macho and gross. You at least know how to make a girl feel special. I've never seen Rei so happy. Asuka too seems pretty stuck on you."
Slipping up, Shinji reached up and scratched at his hair, "Well, it's easy when I'm surrounded by cute girls. I think anyone would be lucky to have you Hikari."
Leaning in with a smirk, Hikari stared deep into his eyes, "Oh, is that so? Are you feeling pretty lucky Shinji?"
Backing away from the girl taking up his personal space, Shinji cursed all things red and German. "H-h-Hikari I-"
"Can't I feel like the special one, just for a moment?" Turning on the dreaded puppy eyes, Hikari smirked as Shinji backed himself into the wall, with no where else to go, she placed both of her hands on his chest. Huh. There was some defined muscle there.
Knowing he was caught, Shinji sighed and gave up. Asuka won. "You're very special Hikari. You should never doubt that. Don't let Toji being an idiot get into your head." She was close enough now that he could feel her breath on his chin.
"Can you, not bring him up. I want to focus on something new. Something kinda scary. You taught me that."
Knowing that he indeed did tell her that. Shinji finally let his hands settle on her hips. "Yeah, I did, huh?" Her eyes were dark, twin pools that threatened to drown him if he wasn't careful.
Both were startled as another head poked their way in. Rei regarded them both silently for a few moments, gaze tracking from the slightly flushed Shinji to the increasingly embarrassed Hikari. Ah, so this was Asuka's game. She approved. Nodding once, she smiled and pulled away, "I approve Shinji. I can share with Hikari and Asuka. You should hurry though, we need to catch up with the others." And then she was gone, humming a tune as her latest bright yellow selection was carried over a shoulder. She liked this one, now to find some matching heels.
Stuck blinking as the door closed behind her, Shinji and Hikari slowly turned to one another before Shinji sighed heavily. "Leave it to Rei to stir the pot and cause trouble."
Nothing that those firm hands were still on her hips, Hikari tentatively moved her hands up to wrap around and lock behind his neck. "Is this…something she does? Wait, is Asuka…" Trailing off as the idea was so ludicrous, she wasn't sure what to feel as Shinji nodded along.
"Yeah, Rei is an…open minded type. And a bit of a collector. And you know Asuka. Once she sets her mind to something, she doesn't stop till she gets it."
Mulling that over in her mind, Hikari wondered if she could share properly. Asuka was a lot of fun, and quickly becoming her best friend. Someone she could talk to and air her worries freely. Sure she still had a bit of an inferiority complex about the college educated foreign born girl, but Asuka continued to remind her that that wasn't so important. "A collector huh?"
"Yeah, no clue where it came from. She says she's a fan of cuddle piles." Shinji's view was forcibly turned back to the shorter girl pressing herself into his chest. "Ah."
"And what of me. Am I cute enough for the set?" Mentally Hikari wanted to scream. That was not something she would have ever considered saying. Ever. Asuka was a bad influence. "Can I. Just have this?" Her lips were close.
Welp, it was a fun run this time. Why not. "Of course you can Hikari." Hands sliding to wrap around her waist, Shinji pulled her in for a soft kiss. It was warm, hesitant, a new sensation for the shorter girl that Shinji allowed her to lead. He'd have to let her build up her confidence. Later. When they weren't surrounded by a store full of people. Separating quietly, Hikari laid her head on his chest and sighed.
"Well then…." Smiling despite herself, Hikari could admit that at least, she was happy. Thus, she was not upset about this decision. Toji had his chance. Hikari wanted to live and have some fun.
Nodding, Smiling smiled and allowed her to pull away from him, "I uh. I should get going." Seeing Hikari eye him up and down for a moment, the boy swallowed nervously. But instead she turned, opening the door and poking her head out. The attendant was gone and no one else was paying attention. "Coast it clear. You can go."
Stepping out and confirming that it was safe, Shinji did turn back to smile at the girl, "I'll uh, go round up the others."
Striking a pose, Hikari delighted in the blush that grew on his face, "Maybe us girls will have another long chat later. Hmmm loverboy?" Watching him smirk but walk off, Hikari decided she had her own soul searching to do. Fingers coming up to her lips, she smiled again as it wasn't a bad feeling at all. Life was full of surprises wasn't it?"
-b-
With evening coming on and normal teenagers returned home, the fun was over for today. Shinji, Asuka and Rei were back home in the Katsuragi/Ikari residence. True to what they had planned Shinji and Asuka were playing their instruments. A spirited classical number filled the apartment while Rei laid out on the couch with all the care of a washed up college drop out. She had tried to convince Asuka to bring Hikari along for tonight, but the redhead had vetoed the idea, saying that the Horaki girl needed time to digest just what she was thinking about doing. Plus it had been a while since it had just been the three of them.
Eyes closed as she focused on the movement of her fingers and wrist, Asuka smirked as she sat in her chair back to back with Shinji, "Oh stop pouting Rei. You want a big family, you'll get a big family."
"I'm not pouting." One hand rose to click the remote, changing the channel from muted weather to muted variety tv.
Smirking as his own hands moved from muscle memory alone, Shinji turned to look at the pouting girl, "What's the plan for Rei now. Asuka's working on her next bit and I have Ritsuko handled. Do you have anything coming up soon?" Shinji felt like it was taking a long while for the next Angel to show up. Maybe things were a little different this run? Or his mental clock was off.
Thinking it over, Rei thought about what they had done recently. Ritsuko had been tamed, though they had yet to bring her into the fold. Just for the fun of it Rei considered doing it herself. Would the Akagi women believe her, that three teenagers were stuck in a time loop reliving their lives over and over again until the conflict with the Angels was settled for good? Food for thought.
The larger problem were the two other major annoyances at NERV. Seele was always the largest problem, sure they could siphon funds from them over time, but never enough to matter. These were men who literally secretly ran the world. Money meant nothing to them. Hunting them down had only gone so far. The best the trio had done was taking out half of the group before being overwhelmed. But that was a worry for later. When the endgame was upon them.
No her worries centered around Gendo and Kozo. Shinji usually liked to focus on the two of them, his father especially. But he had also requested they leave Kozo to him. Sure she had promised to let him have that, but it didn't hurt for her to make a few plans herself. More options never hurt anyone. "I suppose for now we just have fun and destroy Angels easily. I'm considering maybe bringing Ritsuko up to speed."
Still not stopping in their playing, both Asuka and Shinji considered that. Asuka was the first to speak up, "Have we done that before, tried to bring someone else into this mess?"
Shinji nodded, "Yeah. Ritsuko a few times, usually ended with one of us in a psyche ward. Misato, once. That did not end well." Involuntarily Shinji shuddered. The problem wasn't that Misato didn't believe them, the problem was that she had completely believed them. While having the older strategic genius on their side had been amazing, watching her die horribly to a Seele hit squad had traumatized them all. Though now that Shinji was focused on it, had they ever tried bringing Misato and Ritsuko in at the same time? No. No. Bad idea. Wouldn't work.
Having a feeling Shinji was thinking to loudly, Asuka smirked as she continued to play, the end of their song coming up, "Whatever you're thinking, let it go. This run is for fun. Not heavy angst."
"Says one of the girls trying to build a harem dedicated to sucking me dry."
"You know normally most men would kill to be in your shoes."
Their piece ending, Shinji actually thought about that for a minute. He had two women willing to help build up a harem of other beautiful women to do their best to make sure he was not only happy, but healthy. As far as they knew they couldn't die. They were reborn over and over, to relive their lives to do as they pleased repeatedly. Yet, they always came back together, ad infinitum. Because they truly did love one another. Most men would do anything to to have such a life. "I know. Just. I keep telling you over and over that I'd be happy with just the two of you."
Rei rolled over to look up at the ceiling, "We appreciate all that you have done anata. Perhaps we have decided that you deserve more."
Knowing better than to argue, Shinji turned as the front door opened. Looked like Misato was home. "Hello!"
"I'm home!" Misato kicked off her shoes and walked down the hall to see the three pilots in the living room. It looked like Shinji and Asuka had just gotten down practicing. Shame. "How was your day?"
Asuka flipped her hair, "Oh you know, put some losers in their place, shopped a little. Teenager stuff."
Shinji pointed towards the kitchen, "I kept a portion of dinner for you. It's in the microwave."
"You're a saint Shinji." Walking past the group to her room, Misato was resolved to change and wind down from her day. Ritsuko had been out of it lately, enough that even little Maya was starting to notice. Maybe Misato should invite the good doctor out, have a girl's night and air whatever it was starting to get to the woman.
Watching the older woman leave for her room to change, Asuka finished packing up her instrument and turned back to smirk at Shinji, "Is it just me, or is Misato looking more relaxed than normal?"
Rolling his eyes, Shinji let the clasps for the cello's case snap together, "You're imagining things." He certainly hadn't been putting any real moves on the older woman. Not yet at least.
Humming herself and un-muting the tv, Rei didn't even need to focus on her soul mates, "I've noticed as well, Asuka is not wrong." Asuka turned towards her and both girls shared a knowing look finally. A silent conversation took place before Rei nodded and Asuka stood to put her viola away in Shinji's room. Perhaps it was time for her to lock Misato and Shinji together in a storage closet. Maybe she could give them the elevator treatment.
Seeing that both girls were starting to plot, Shinji shook his head and resolved to at least put up a token resistance. "Isn't Hikari enough?" Well, her and Ritsuko, but the older woman would be harder to explain if Misato overheard them.
Flowing back into the room with a grin, Asuka collapsed onto the couch next to Rei, taking the smaller girl into her lap with ease, "You should be bold Shinji, I believe in you."
"You have plenty of energy for all of us, I know this." Rei's answer was quick and in no way helping Shinji's mental state.
Standing to put his cello away, Shinji just nodded and reminded himself that he had as much or as little energy as he could ever want now. Saying he was exhausted was never an answer anymore. Stashing his instrument in his closet next to Asuka's, he was quick to return to the living room where a dressed down Misato was rejoining them as well. Short shorts and tank top as usual, "Hey Misato."
"Hey yourself. Sorry missed the performance, maybe I'll come home early tomorrow and catch you." Misato was already walking towards the kitchen, food on her mind.
Rei spoke up from where she was relaxing in Asuka's lap, "Their playing has improved, you would enjoy it." They did have more than a few lifetimes worth of practice under their belts.
Shinji collapsed to the floor underneath both of the girls, resigning to whatever program they were interested in tonight. "Maybe I could join up with an orchestra one day, play for Japan?" He had tried it a few times. Both had gone well until the world collapsed around him. Good times really.
Hitting the reheat button on the microwave, Misato thought about a musical Shinji. The thought of him in a clean suit, on stage before the masses. She kinda liked the thought. "It could be a good look for you Shinji, you should consider it when this is all over. You've got the talent."
"Aw Misato, you're just saying that because you're nice."
Even though he couldn't see her, Misato shook her head, "No Shinji I mean it. I've heard you a few times now, you definitely have the skill."
Admittedly happy about the praise, Shinji smirked and relaxed just a bit more, "Well, thank you Misato. I'll give it some thought."
Smirking and watching the byplay between the two, Asuka finally leaned back into the couch and let it take her weight, "You know if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a doting girlfriend praising their man Misato."
Refusing to be baited by the half German, Misato smiled as her food finished warming. Opening the microwave and filling the kitchen with wondrous scents, Misato quipped back easily, "Need I remind you I'm old enough to be your big sister?"
"I wouldn't mind calling you Onee-sama Katsuragi-san." Rei's reply was quick and cutting, getting a flush out of the older woman that she was glad no one else could see.
Seeing that Rei was perhaps a little too into it, Asuka sighed and dragged the shorter girl up, "Maaaybe it's time for bed. We do have school and sync tests tomorrow."
Letting herself be dragged up, Rei shrugged easily, "Was it something I said?"
"You could say that."
Poking her head out of the kitchen and into the hallway, Misato watched Asuka drag a smiling Rei away. "Oh, well I guess we'll see you tomorrow."
"Count on it Misato, don't do anything we wouldn't do!" Adopting a sing song voice, Asuka easily slid her shoes on as Rei did the same.
Misato exchanged a look with Shinji who had joined them in the entryway, "I don't know if I like what you're insinuating."
Shrugging as she pushed Rei out the door, Asuka turned back to wink at Misato. "It's all in your mind, ta-ta!" Then she was gone, leaving Misato and Shinji alone in their shared apartment.
Something Misato was certainly more aware of, "Those two are really starting to get along there. Your little girlfriend is opening up too."
Nodding, Shinji leaned against the wall as Misato went back to the kitchen, "She's relaxing and opening up. It's a good thing I think."
"Yeah. It is." Misato's eyes trailed on Shinji as he had turned back to watch the tv for a moment, perhaps lingering on the boy a bit more than she meant. Things had been different lately. Enough so that it was starting to affect her. Her dreams had been slipping into the more hot and steamy side, involving a certain stronger than he looked male pilot. She couldn't pinpoint exactly when it had started but the real problem was that she was finding less reasons as to why it was a bad thing. Certainly if he wasn't in a relationship she might really consider this. She was no homewrecker after all and Shinji deserved all the happiness he could find. Maybe she and Ritsuko needed that girl's night out sooner rather than later. Finishing another bite as she continues to watch the relaxed boy, Misato finally feels up to teasing. "You know, with all of Asuka's teasing, you don't seem to put off by the idea of being with an old woman like me."
Barely paying attention with his mind wandering down paths long traveled, Shinji answered easily, "You're a beautiful woman Misato. Age has nothing to do with the heart so why wouldn't I be interested?"
Waving him off and going back to her food, Misato noted the flutter of her heart, "You know Shinji, you shouldn't play with an old woman's heart. It's not nice. Not fair either."
Deciding that a shower and bed sounded like a good idea, Shinji was already walking her way. Leaning in quickly, he placed a soft kiss to her forehead to surprise her speechless. "It's not a game Misato. Life's short, we can't do much besides spread what love and joy we have, while we have the time." Smirking at her, he turned away and headed for the bathroom. A nice warm shower was just what the doctor ordered. Never mind his mantra from the girls echoing in his mind. This was to be fun, enjoyable. He could do that. If the girls wanted to blame him later for going overboard, well they could look themselves in the mirror.
Blinking quietly in the kitchen, barely noting Penpen angrily pecking at her leg, Misato did her best to calm her heart. Damn boy either had no idea what he was doing to her, or he knew exactly what he was doing and she should be all the more worried for it. She needed to finish her food quickly, and then bed. She needed to sleep. Sleep and think and maybe consider what she was going to tell Ritsuko tomorrow.
Because if her heart was anything to go by, she was beginning to fall in love with her charge.
-AN-
Shinji gives in, which means it's time to make a lot of other people miserable all for the sake of a few happy people in his life.