Standard Disclaimer

Summer is going to quickly. Work continues to be stressful with a new language I have to learn and we keep losing GOOD tools for cheaper alternatives. An ffNet seems to be going through some oddities. This is a planned short lil story, three chapters.

X-X

Eye of the Beholder

Chapter – 1

Her damp hair clung to the sides of her face, but Asuka didn't notice it. She was staring into the mirror, her eyes specifically. They were normal, they were the same blue orbs she considered the perfect shade. But something was different about them, somehow. The world was slowly looking different now, more vibrant, crisper, and she think she knew why. "But what do I do with it?" she asked her reflection.

It offered no answer, just the soft echo in the humid chamber. Outside the room she could hear Shinji and the stupid bird moving about. He was cooking and the bird was trying to get treats. Misato was due back from her shift and the doting idiot wanted to insure food was fresh for the drunken queen of the castle.

No matter, gave Asuka time to pamper herself and indulge in a long bath. Normally. Today that little tradition was marred with her knew knowledge. She could see the steam wisps, the slight stench of Misato's underwear was cloying. Next time she'd throw those nasty things out of the room. Back to the mirror however, Asuka bore down on her irises, only a single lobed eye. Just one apiece, how it should be.

"Fucking wonder-girl just had to be slow," Asuka swore bitterly. It was obvious when this new 'gift' was bestowed upon her and why. The Tenth Angel was felled now three days ago, and the world was just now getting back to normal. A few places were destroyed, no big loss in Asuka's mind. But the battle was elegant and refined for her part. Shinji did fine as a man should, he held the weight and let the better fighters work. But Ayanami was slow, always a little dense and ridged in motion.

If Rei had cut through the AT field faster, Asuka wouldn't have been gazing into the abyss that was the angel's eye for so long waiting to strike. She had though, and the alien creature's 'eye' had three chambers, a three lobed burning eye. And it spun and twisted. It recognized her, knew Asuka as a threat. And then a small pinch of a headache, hardly recognized at the time, lost in the heat of battle and rush of adrenaline. In hindsight Asuka was able to pinpoint that as the time of the change.

The door to the inner bathroom opened and a rushed Misato strode in, always the impatient bitch. In the moment it took for Asuka to recognize who it was, a small odd thrill of thinking maybe Shinji went mad and was on the hunt. But no, just queen bitch home early and forcing her way into Asuka's sanctuary. "Ah good you're nearly done. Was hot as hell at work, the A/C is still broken. Gonna take a quick bath before dinner," Misato offered Asuka saucy little wink as if that made it better.

"You could have knocked. What if I wasn't dressed. Give that pervert a peek at me!" Asuka shot back. Grabbing a towel for her hair, Asuka was more stunned with her own betrayal. Had she really just hoped Shinji would have burst in? Another result of that last battle, she was thinking more carnally.

Not bothered at all at the notion of nudity, Misato was already taking off her outfit. "You've nothing I haven't seen on myself, or saw at the onsen. And you know he wouldn't sneak in. He's had the option to do worse with me when I get drunk and he's always been a perfect gentleman," Misato threw her sweaty top at Asuka. Hitting the girl in the face with the smelly rags, the woman let out a small chuckle. Calling out as she added her underwear to the pile of 'Shinji's special work', "Shin-chan I left my piece on the table, put it back in the case for me!"

Nearly gagging on the stench, Asuka tore at cloth that stuck to her and wrapped about her. Once she got it off, her tongue ready to unleash a nasty barb on the bitch, she saw it. The flesh of Misato's scar was different. It wasn't the inlaid crisscross of old repaired skin. Discolored and pulsating, it breathed its own pattern, a nauseating miasma of greens and reds, tiny threads grew out of it only to pull back in. Noticing Asuka's stare, "What you've seen it before, don't have to stare at it." Misato turned away and broke the spell.

"It was just the smell of your top. Did something die in the thing?" Asuka needed to get out. Rushing out of the room, away from the infection that spread on Misato's side, she heard Misato say something but didn't recognize the words. In the kitchen, the smells of cooking assaulted her senses and freed Asuka from the threat of vomit. "Making something different today? Smells...good," she was almost drooling at the smell.

Wearing the insipid kiss the cook apron Misato got for him, Shinji was busying himself about pots and pans. Gazing over his shoulder, "You were still in the bathroom? Sorry told Misato you were in your room. Didn't think you'd still be in there. And no, just making stroganoff." Extending the fork with the sauce clad noodle with small bits of beef clinging to it, he offered Asuka a taste test.

"What is the occasion, you finally realize the superiority of western food?" Asuka accepted the offer. The taste was beyond her, just like her increasing vision and smell, her taste was heightened as well. Everything was just changing. Closing her eyes and just basking in the flavor, it helped her to calm down. To not think of Misato's ghastly scar. Putting a hand on Shinji's shoulder, he jumped a little, she could feel his pulse quicken, "Tastes good."

Quick to free himself from her touch, squirrelly as ever, Shinji filled two plates. "Misato-san can get her own when she's ready. It'll stay warm in the pot. And I made it cause you've been a bit...distracted since the last angel. Wanted to do something nice," Shinji met Asuka's gaze for a moment and quickly looked away.

Taking her plate from his hand, Asuka grabbed a soda and went to the table. The television was playing, the news was on and lying about the angel. 'No casualties and minimal damage' was what Nerv claimed. Lies. Damage had been total where the angel's test bombs hit, leaving perfect circles of death. Finding the remote on the table, Asuka turned the station to a music one. Shinji sat diagonally away from her, in his traditionally seat which faced Misato's. "I have been. I keep thinking about the angel. Did you get a good look at it?" was she the only one impacted by this thing?

Allowing himself a glass of water, Shinji was ever the rebel. Giving the poppy song a small grimace, Shinji just shrugged as he accepted Asuka's change. Clumsily working his knife and fork, "No. I didn't really see it. I just focused on holding it up. I had my eyes don the ground to make sure I didn't hit a bad plate like Ayanami did. She likely got a good look though, both of you had to actually attack the thing. Why? Did it look strange?" A stupid question, how could an alien being NOT look strange, but Asuka let it slide.

"Makes sense, holding that damn thing up had to be hard for you with your noodle arms," Asuka teased. But she did reach out and run a finger down his arm. It was warm, firm, she liked the sensation. And since it was a jab at him, he didn't immediately pull away, just blushed a little and shrugged. "I'll talk to Ayanami about it then. It did look strange. But no stranger than the twins well killed or the lava fish," Asuka let the music fill the void.

The food was even better than the small sampling. When she drank her soda, Asuka had to set the can down or she'd spill it. The sugar was so sweet it nearly caused her to choke on it. Even the carbonation tickled her tongue and roof of her mouth as she swished it about. Noticing Shinji getting worried, she just waved it off, "Nothing. Just hungry today." He accepted her comment and went back to eating himself.

Once they were about half finished, Misato had to ruin things again by showing up with her own plate. Making a show of taking a big sniff over it, "Somebody trying to get brownie points with the special grub? Going to make us fat with stuff like this. Then again you COULD put on a little weight Shin-chan." Giving the lad a small elbow to the side, the two laughed at the shared intimacy.

"Aren't you two flirty this evening," Asuka sniped angrily. They did this in the past, the faux wedding couple bullshit, but today it annoyed Asuka. Misato was already trying to fuck Kaji, did she need every man under her thumb? While Shinji quickly moved away from Misato's tickling, Misato actually frowned at Asuka but didn't say anything. Suck it bitch. But as Asuka went back to try eating she smelled it. It was subtle, but Misato had a small stench that Asuka could tell originated from that scar. Hidden mostly by the green tank-top Misato wore, Asuka saw tiny bits of wriggling flesh as the woman loved to flaunt her flesh. "I'll leave you two to it. Just don't make to much noise," Asuka gathered her food and ran.

It followed her as she walked by Misato, Asuka saw it reaching for her. The tiny bit of gnarled corruption twisted and yawned for her as she inched past Misato. It squelched and mewed as Asuka got out of range. Sitting on the couch, turning the music up louder to drown out the diners. Asuka did her best to focus on her food, but damn her heart was racing. Had that monster always been on Misato and she never saw it before? Misato said she got it during Second Impact. Angelic corruption. What else did the angels ruin? Misato didn't notice it, or at least didn't react to it, so maybe it couldn't normally be seen?

More info was needed, much more! Could the contamination spread? Did others have it? Did SHE have it? No, she examined herself in the mirror since the new sensation and all Asuka saw was her normal perfection. She'd talk to Ayanami about the angel, if Asuka could stomach the failure long enough to talk to her. Her life wouldn't be strange if it wasn't for Ayanami making her stupid mistake and fumbling along the intercept course.

"Were you done?" Shinji interrupted Asuka's contemplation. His face was close to hers, he smelt of soap and sauces. Nodding, Asuka felt her tongue to heavy to talk, her brain went on strange schisms she never cared to in the past. When not thinking about this new condition, images of Kaji filled her mind unless Shinji was actually in view. Not a prude, Asuka wasn't immune to the pangs of yearning. But this was larger than she normally felt. Typically it was a small fantasy about Kaji scooping her up and taking her away. Now it was more sensual, more basic, and deeper than the small touches she used to fancy. Her will was strong though, so Asuka suppressed the perversion.

With Shinji gone, taking the empty plate and can, Misato plopped down next to Asuka on the couch. Thankfully a solid distance away, "You alright? Been a bit off last few days. Anything you want to talk about?" Misato played the guardian card, not because she cared but because it was her job. Asuka saw it plain as day! Oh Misato cared about Shinji, she was a whore that would fuck anybody that suited her needs, but to Asuka and Ayanami it was just an act. Tools to be used and discarded.

"I'm fine. Just a little tense, if you catch my meaning," Asuka gave her legs a small look. Let Misato take it however she wanted, period, horny, stomach ache, didn't matter as long as it shut Misato up. With that horrid smell wad of flesh growing on Misato's side, Asuka wasn't going to trust the woman. If this was new, if it had just taken root and Misato just lost to them, Asuka wasn't going to surrender humanity to the thing. Even now, Asuka could see small tendrils poking through the thin top Misato wore, waving and reaching.

Sipping her bitter swill, Misato rose an eyebrow and followed Asuka's hint. "Well just be quiet if you take matters into your own hand. Last thing we need is somebody to hear it," Misato's smile almost reached her eyes. Woman just didn't want to lose power of the men in her life. If Shinji saw Asuka as a woman, would take power away from Misato. Maybe this thing WAS controlling Misato and it was going to try and seduce the idiot. Maybe corrupt him. Could be sexually transmitted! So much Asuka didn't know, so much to learn and plan for!

"Kensuke asked if you wanted a party to celebrate your promotion. I'd set it up for this weekend if you want," Shinji asked as he rejoined the pair. A can for each woman, he took the chair closer to Misato with Pen-Pen at his heels. Asuka would need to break Misato's hold over Shinji just in case the woman had been corrupted. The tendrils were small now, only about an inch in length and thick as a pencil lead, but they tried to get to both Shinji and Asuka.

Kicking her feet up on the coffee table,changing the station back to the news, Misato nodded. "Sounds good. Victory celebration for you two and for my promotion. Invite some of your friends and I'll have some of the bridge crew show up! Oh and the commanders are back, they want to have a talk with all of us. So after sync tests tomorrow we'll have to stay a bit longer," Misato drank heavily, content with her faux superiority. Her plan was stupid, catch a falling bomb. It was the Magi that did the real calculations and the pilots that did the work, but whatever.

Maybe during the party Asuka could sneak Kaji off and...she left the room to go to her bedroom. With the pair distracted, she had enough privacy to deal with that problem. Even that felt better now, her skin was electric, but her mind just became more heated. But after a few mind blasting finishes, she was tired, and clear headed again. Something was different about her, but it didn't make her worse. It made her better, and until she knew who she could trust she would keep it a secret.

The pair laughed in the living room, some comedy was playing, a world where fantasy creatures came to earth and got fat. She peeked out the door at them, saw Misato had coaxed Shinji to the couch and was laying somewhat on him. Her scar touched him, those feelers rubbed against him but didn't do anything. So just touch wasn't enough, at least in short bursts. Good to know, had to know your enemy to kill it.

X-X

The normal boring class was anything but right now for Asuka, but not for the reasons that it should. All around her things looked just a bit different, more so than the day before even! Typically the morning breakfast of bland Japanese banality was actually flavorful and good! Thankfully Misato had drunk herself into a blackout and left it just Shinji and her to enjoy in quiet. Their walk had been full of fragrant smell she never noticed before, but some of the people they passed had color variations. Mostly the older people had dark colored blotches of skin in random places, smelled of death, and she expected they had cancer of some other disease.

Now the classroom was a living tableau of colors and stenches. Just looking at her friends she could tell which was on their period, who had a cold, and what little pig had a hard-on. So much information, so much to take in, and it was nearly overwhelming! And the dreams she had the night before were so vivid. Normally she slept to heavy to remember her dreams, but not last night. Alien thoughts, landscapes that defied description, and needs she didn't comprehend. So she started writing it down, let Shinji try to read it, he'd need to learn German first.

"Stand-bow!" Hikari's command broke Asuka from her stupor. All around her, chairs bounced off the ground, bags moved, and kids started to talk. It didn't cause a headache, more a typhoon in her mind as each single sound registered and she took it all in. Making her way over to Asuka, Hikari's smile was genuine, "And another day done. You got anything going on today?"

Asuka could see the bags of fatigue under Hikari's eyes, see the acne under the skin about to blossom, and a yellowish blotch about her friend's neck. Ugly, Asuka saw true ugliness growing out of her friend and hid her disgust by gathering her things. "Got some Nerv tests today, I'll call you when its done. Oh, got plans for Saturday afternoon?" Asuka's voice held and didn't betray what her vision forced on her.

Leaning a bit on Asuka's desk, "You've tests already? And I've not got anything going on, why?" Hikari waved at a few of the girls that flocked about Asuka, they waved back as they went about their day. Asuka regarded all of them with her new sight, Caked on makeup to cover bruises, a few had brown or black lines of razor cuts that healed, purplish blotches around the stomach of one. It was hideous as much as it was beautiful.

"Well its two fold, the old bastards are back from their vacation and want to congratulate us for saving the day again, and Akagi has to justify her existence somehow," Asuka blinked hard and tried to make the vision recede. It did, but only to a point, the hints of what she saw was still there. Control, she had to learn control or she'd go mad! Looking about the room, Shinji was talking to his idiot friends but Ayanami had skipped out on classes. Bitch just had to be gone when Asuka had a question for her. Not being distgusted by Hikari helped Asuka to look at her, "As for Saturday, want to come over for a party? Misato finally tricked the higher ups into promoting her, and a victory party for us. Shinji is taking care of everything, and you can help me distract Kaji-san from Misato!"

Yelling at the kids on cleaning duty, Hikari was exasperated. "Damn it, I have to watch them or they'll never get done. And that sounds fun, I'll be there. Talk to you later!" With a wave, Hikari stormed off to wrangle in the slackers to get back to work after the pleasantries were exchanged.

"Hey we need to get going, say goodbye to your boyfriends and lets get moving," Asuka called out to the idiot trio. As typical of boys not comfortable with themselves, Touji and Kensuke all but threw themselves away from Shinji less the girls think them 'iffy'. Shinji was non-pulsed, said his goodbyes to his lessers, and joined Asuka. "You invite them to our little party?" Asuka knew he would have, but had to ask.

Nodding as they left the room, "Yeah I did. Kensuke said he'd bring his karaoke machine. I asked him to leave his camera home, but I doubt he does," Shinji stuck his tongue out. That pink appendage was glistening, and for a moment Asuka wondered how it tasted. He didn't notice the hungered look, it had come and gone so fast even Asuka wasn't sure how long it lasted.

It was a boring walk to Nerv, the smells of decay and waste assaulted Asuka as they passed trash bins and random street garbage. When not trying to ignore or suppress her senses they kept creeping up, showing her things she didn't realize or want to know. An old man's eyes were sickly yellow, a young kid not more than five had such a stench of decay that Asuka gagged on it. The world wasn't the stagnant boring place it had been a week ago, and she wanted that back. To much, this was to much. Then she felt warmth spread on her shoulders, blessed and intoxicating, not a breathe away was Shinji's concerned face, "What?" she babbled out.

"You nearly walked into traffic, you alright?" Shinji held her for a moment longer then realized how it looked and let go. Spying on those that were watching the 'young kids' having a moment, he took a step further away from her.

Waving off his concern, Asuka did what she had been doing for days now and lied, "Yeah I'm fine. Just tired and annoyed we have tests today. If Shinji's touch was this electric, Asuka's mind gushed with the idea of what Kaji's would be! Larger hands, calloused with age and experience, she had to force the image from her mind or she'd fall into another delusion. When the light turned, she picked up the pace and walked faster the rest of the way. Leaving the comfortable confines of the shopping area and moving into Nerv territory helped. Gone was the smell of food waste, replaced with oil and the hum of electricity.

Shinji lingered behind her, mostly due to her speed leaving him an excuse to stay behind and observe, but a small part Asuka hoped was to enjoy the view. So she gave him a view, she swayed more, felt the fabric of that uniform rub and cling with her exaggerated steps. Either he accepted her answer as truth or accepted she'd not tell him more, so Shinji kept quiet. That had its own problems now. A sound, something she hadn't heard before, started to ring in her ears. It was to soft to fully understand, it was alien, but if she focused on it the damn thing slipped away as a fish would escape a grasping hand.

"Don't peek unless you want to owe up to it," Asuka threatened once they got to the locker room. It didn't come out as a threat in her tone, it was an offer. And they both heard it, so Shinji quickly vanished into the male side, confused. Not the first time the boy was 'offered' a glimpse into the world of adults, Misato did tease him nearly daily. But it was a first from Asuka, and he did what he always did when he didn't know how to take something, he ran. Finding her locker, Asuka plopped on the bench heavily, "The hell is going on with me." Her plugsuit had no answers for her, Shinji could be heard changing and fleeing.

A few minutes of stagnation later, a soft voice inquired, "Are you not attending the test?" Ayanami was here, and she fussed about behind Asuka with her own locker. Guess Rei was sick enough to miss school but healthy enough for sitting it smelly goop. Part of Asuka's mind bet the commanders railed the girl whenever nobody was looking. A quiet parent-less girl that nobody cared about, practically owned by Nerv. Nobody questioned old men in power, they got away with the worst of things.

"I am, just thinking," Asuka went through the motions of changing into her plugsuit. The slickness of the material was nice, pressurizing the damn thing nearly caused her to faint. A second skin that clung to parts of her body that were not quite ready for the sensation. "Hey about the angel the other day," Asuka sat back down, letting her body adjust.

Clothing hit the ground without care for while Asuka folded hers, locker door slammed open with to much force. Rei was a force of emptiness in a world Asuka was finding was full of so many more things. The hiss of air escaping the suit, Rei was now lingering behind Asuka, looming, "What of it?" those bored tones now held hints of malice? Or was it something else, like the strange sound, Asuka couldn't grasp it quite yet.

"Did you look into the eye? Did you see anything?" Asuka shook her hair over her shoulder and got up. Seeing Rei, Asuka stumbled back and smashed her head against the bay of lockers. A monster, that the only thing that could sum up what she saw. Humanoid form, but a swirl of flesh that moved on its own, changed colors, with the only static thing being those red eyes...eyes that swam and spun like the angels. If she were to stare into it long enough Asuka knew she'd see it had three lobes, maybe more, and that was just her face! What the rest of her looked like, Asuka shuddered.

Leaning closer to Asuka, Rei sniffed just slightly and nodded, "I did, saw what you did, do." Without another word, Rei left Asuka alone. The air around Rei appeared to wave, to bend away from her as she moved, trying to avoid contacting the thing.

It took several minutes for Asuka to even register the pain her head felt. Touching where she hit the lockers, a trickle of blood on her fingers, she was afraid to look at it, afraid it wasn't red. It was, and the relief was strong. "She saw? She see's things like I do?" Asuka's mouth was dry. Floating through the halls to the testing chamber, Asuka hung outside and just watched for a moment. Shinji and Rei were talking, he did not register any sense of horror. No hair, no 'skin', just quivering slat grays and black skin, it was reacting to him. It LIKED him, Asuka could see the tiny tendrils, far longer than Misato's weaving and touching Shinji.

Would that happen to her? Asuka shuddered at the idea, she'd rather die than become a THING like Rei was. Was Rei an angel now? Some odd contamination that seeing that eye caused? Bursting into the room, forcing the Rei-thing away from Shinji, she saw the tendrils lash out at her angrily. "Lets get this started, I want to go home. Shinji, stop flirting and get in your stupid pod," Asuka couldn't look at Rei anymore. Fear, was that her future? Was Rei something different? What caused it?

"Good you're all here, going to be a short test today. Just a baseline, commanders will be down in about an hour to talk," Ritsuko came in not to far behind Asuka. Black veins in her neck, Asuka could smell the stank of cancerous death. Contamination as well! Not as bad as Misato, but Asuka could tell something was just off with the woman. Unable to see it now, Asuka tried to feel for it, a mistake. All she felt was Rei, and the cold alien nature of the girl.

Rei and Shinji got into their half filled test chambers without issue, Asuka lingered. No longer was the LCL a lively orange that smelled of copper and blood. It was a sickly black, things moved about in it lethargic and dying. Akagi gave her an annoyed 'hurry up' hand gesture, and Asuka sank in. Just barely containing her scream as the tank filled up the rest of the way. Asuka breathed in the noxious fluid and felt it strike her brain like a force akin to gravity.

"Alright starting test, try to focus this time alright, make it quick and easy," Ritsuko's bored expression did not help with Asuka's situation.

Syncing with the test chamber had never felt like this before. No longer was it sitting in a tube thinking at a brick wall, something was there on the other side. She could hear it, feel it, and it noticed her as well. Having something to focus on aside the notion she was suffixed with this noxious fluid helped. And just as fast as it started, Asuka heard the swirling sound of the tank being drained. On the feeds of the other tanks, both her fellow pilots appeared bored, un-bothered.

"Shinji-kun you're stable, Ayanami you're down a few points, and Asuka...well one of you was trying today. You're up ten points, good job," Ritsuko actually was stunned by the sound of it. Putting in the commands to open the tanks, she let the pilots out.

Asuka wanted to call out to Shinji, tell him to leave Ayanami alone, but her mind was still on fire. Not the same as the small stitch she felt when she looked at that damned angel, but something was different, accelerated. The LCL had done something, and it wasn't finished with her yet. So Asuka watched Shinji help Rei out of her tank, saw the tendrils caress Shinji's cheek, encircle him, grow. Asuka had to know what Rei looked like out of that damned suit, was it more the same or would it be worse?

The old men were there when Asuka did get out, head still reeling. So Asuka leaned on Shinji, dripped on everything she could. Pointless platitudes were said, congratulating pilots for saving the city in a daring and risky plan. All Asuka knew was, Gendo was corrupted nearly as bad as Ayanami was! The air of decay hung around Kozo, old man pulsated disease. But Gendo's hand had the same warping effect that Ayanami did, Asuka could tell that under that glove would be the same corrupted flesh, maybe even worse from the waves rolling off of it.

Pushing Shinji's shoulder, "I don't feel so good, take me to the changing rooms" Asuka cut the commanders' self congratulation short before they could get to each pilot. The old bastards didn't seem to care, they were more focused on some sort of side mission Ayanami had to do. Sitting at the locker, hearing Shinji showing on the other side of the changing room, Asuka felt better. Then she heard the sound again, it was clearer now, almost a soft music.

Overhearing Rei changing behind her, Asuka forced herself to look at the girl. The whole body was the pulsating rubbery greys and browns, longer tendrils extended out of the body, countless numbers of them. And just above where Rei's navel would have been Asuka saw an apple sized red sphere...a core. An angel, Rei was a fucking angel? And the commander had something the same if not more so? Asuka ran to Shinji's side of the changing room, just barely missing him finishing changing. "Let's go home, I'm hungry," Asuka drug the confused boy out and home.

X-X

The music wasn't overly loud but Asuka felt the sound waves as if it were a breeze against her skin. Smells of various food and drink assailed her senses, each fighting for supremacy. All around her, people talked, joked, and had a 'fun time' at her place. Sitting on the couch, cup of cola in hand, Asuka was swaying to all the sensory overload. Whatever the angel had done to her, the LCL had accelerated it. If she focused on it, Asuka could actually see the vibrations the music had, taste so heightened the cake on the table nearly caused her to swoon. But she could handle it, she had to. Nobody would believe her, they'd think she was crazy like mama, and she wasn't! She wasn't crazy, she wasn't, her journal was proof of that!

Right now she was scanning the guests for possible allies in her crusade to end the infiltration of Nerv. Not everybody was corrupted, not yet anyway, and she'd root out who could be trusted and who was a lost cause. Misato was lost, that growth was proof of angelic contamination. Ayanami was a target, who currently sat stupidly at the parameter of the other kids...tendrils caressing Shinji. Not good, Asuka could see that where those tendrils touched left a small discoloration for a few moments. It got better, returned to the proper human skin, but what if the freak moved beyond simple touches?

"You're up Asuka, what do you want to sing?" Kensuke was the self-appointed karaoke DJ for the night. They had only just broken the stupid device out, but the list of people had grown to just about all participants. His eyes danced from woman to woman, lingering longer on the three adults. Asuka could smell his arousal, it pumped out of him, but he kept it hidden best he could. Handing over the microphone, "want to change your song?"

Moving to the designated singing circle, Asuka shook her head so her hair fell better. Kaji was the hope for a prime ally here, and she had to look good to get his attention. Clearing her throat, "No my original pick is what I want." Around her the teens looked with awe, anticipation, or boredom while the adults only partially gave her any attention at all. Only the geek with the glasses was watching her, and his gaze was intense. The beat started, it penetrated her stomach, and then she sang.

"Asuka...have you thought of...trying to talk to an agency or something?" Hikari gushed just a little after the song ended. Taking the mic, she was next, almost reverently the timid girl just alternated between review screen and singer. Head dipping down, already defeated, "You were good before, but this was something else."

All the teens save Ayanami had equally stunned expressions on their faces, but Asuka noticed the adults just didn't care. They were all fixated on drunken Misato tugging on her top or Akagi mixing drinks. Not defeated yet, Asuka would try harder to get Kaji's attention, get him on her side. Finding the spot on the couch for her was next to Touji, Asuka felt revulsion. Where Shinji was a hard sell, Kensuke was gawking, sadly Touji was just a walking hard-on from Asuka's perspective. "Move over, give me some space," Asuka didn't want to touch him. The smell from Touji was noxious, guy must not bathe.

"Red, when did you learn to sing like that? You taking lessons or something on the side?" Touji did not move much, maybe half an inch. The moment Asuka sat down, Touji relaxed and his thigh went back to touching hers. Given Asuka chose to hem her skirt just a bit higher to entice Kaji, she was sitting skin to jeans with the 'jock'. Slapping his leg, giving Asuka's skin a firm once-over, eyes wide with pent up wants, "You could be an idol or something."

Calling from the drunk table, Misato couldn't go to long without forcing attention to herself, "She'd need Nerv approval for that. What say you Rits, can we get a Nerv idol group with our three pilots going?" The adults, the three Asuka called the bridge rats, Misato, Ritsuko, and Kaji all laughed at Misato's little joke. The ashtray only had one lone cigarette, Ritsuko's, that had been doused when Asuka loudly declared no smoking. Kaji and Ritsuko held do the demand, but they were not happy. The beer cans and cups of harder stuff was filling the role instead.

Once Misato's ego was catered to, Hikari started her song. Not bad, but Asuka could hear the cracking in Hikari's voice thanks to fear and puberty, it was jarring. Nothing was simple anymore, she could hear to much, see more, and it took all her focus to not snap. She wouldn't either! Not her, no, she was a rock others broke on! Hikari finished her song, Kensuke handed the mic to next on deck being Shinji, and the couch slide down. Now sandwiched between the pervert and Kaji, Asuka's heart swooned. Her body pulsated with potential.

"I didn't think you'd actually sing, Kaji-san. You get much chance to?" Asuka sniffed and the intermingled smell was not good. His arm was on the couch behind her, he was relaxed and smiling at her, but the dullness of drink worked its magic on his features. Head wobbled, breathe stunk of tobacco and vodka. But what was worse was lavender perfume clung to him like a mist. It was on his hands, his legs, his neck, all over him. Far more than Misato alone could have done.

Waving his drink about, the hand not behind Asuka, Kaji nodded exaggeratedly, "I've been known to cut a rug from time to time. In college, Katsuragi, remember that one time..." Asuka jabbed a finger into Kaji's side to shut him up, but pointed to Shinji waiting for quiet to start. Holding his cup out to Shinji, "Sorry, Shinji-kun, just a bit excited. Don't get out as much as I used to and having more fun than I should." The adults all agreed to that, the teens had equal expressions but didn't speak. World didn't allow for much fun when at any moment something could just fall on your home or blast you with an energy beam.

Dismissing Kaji's apology, Shinji strangled the mic, "Not an issue. Just glad everybody is having fun. I'll do a food run after my song." He didn't want to sing, but Misato put him up to it. Shinji would be a good ally though, he DID have power of Misato. Idiot didn't see the gazes Misato threw at him, Asuka did. Shinji could ask Misato for anything and she'd consider it, maybe even invite it. And he would be simple to sway to her side. A little affection, maybe more than a little, and he'd follow orders. And given how Kensuke and Touji were presenting themselves via tented slacks, Shinji was larger than them. And his voice was...Asuka's thighs rubbed sending shocks up her spine.

"Lets here it for my lil Shin-chan. Ladies just imagine him singing to you before taking your panties off," Misato drunkenly clapped after the song. Stupid crass woman had to ruin the moment for the lad. The lewd comment got Shinji to toss the mic back to Kensuke and flee to the safe confines of service work. Getting up from her throne, Misato fell heavily onto the couch next to Kaji, inserting herself into the turn rotation cutting the Maya off who did not look happy.

Guests frittered about mingling and pawing at one another, gawking, and making fools of themselves. Ayanami had the gall to talk to Shinji as he brought her food and he stayed standing by her. A safe and null zone for the unknowing, but Asuka saw the monster wrap its ethereal fingers about him. Kaji lost interest in singing and Asuka to shift to Misato and flirt openly. When Asuka moved to get another drink, Akagi took her spot instantly leaving the other Nerv males alone with Maya who had eyes only for Ritsuko.

The night moved on and eventually everybody moved to the living room, spilling drinks and food all over. "Shinji get me another plate," Asuka ordered while Maya sang a very aggressive metal song, and very well. For a moment Shinji was confused, he had been talking with Rei, talking AT Rei, and then the order. "I'm waiting for my turn, and the drunks broke the couch line," Asuka gave him a shooing gesture and he scampered off with a nod. Standing next to Rei, unable to look at her, the glistening rubber texture of its skin was hard on Asuka's eyes, "What are you doing here?"

"I was invited," Rei said simply. Only now Asuka didn't hear the voice of the doll, it was more guttural, warbling, almost a bark. Her plate was laden with half eaten food offerings, none of which had meat, but plenty of sugar. Moving in closer, putting Asuka in range of those tendrils but more so the space augmentation aura that encapsulated her. "Do you hear it?" Rei asked soft enough for the music to keep it private.

Kaji now had both hands behind Ritsuko and Misato, they hadn't moved in a bit, nor did it look like they planned on it. Asuka seethed, stupid bitch just used her tits to get people to work for her. Kaji would never do anything that might get him in dutch with Misato, nor would the other rats. Maya was so fixated on Akagi that she didn't notice the long haired guy gawking at her, and the geek would let Misato lead him by the crotch until his death. No help here, the adults were worthless. Pounding her drink, next she'd have Shinji mix in some booze, "Here what, be specific, freak. Lots of noise right now."

"The music, do you hear it?" Rei gestured to the sky, not the shitty boombox that Kensuke brought. Rei 'ate' by dropping food into her gaping maw, nobody else saw it, only Asuka knew the truth of this monster. Her pseudopods dipped into her drink and rolled over the food before she ingested it. When Asuka actually did look at her confused, "Not ready yet. You will hear it." Leaving Asuka, Rei made a direct line towards Shinji, cutting between Hikari and Touji who were not so casually interacting.

Music? What music could the freak be talking about? Asuka didn't get it, didn't want to talk to Ayanami at all. It wasn't just words, Rei tickled Asuka's mind in ways that felt wrong. Needing some air, Asuka left the living room taking one of the adults cups as she did. Not going to her own room, she went to Misato's. Stupid woman had to dote on all men and force the women to abide by her whims. Sipping the drink, mostly rum with a little cola for masking, Asuka's throat was aflame with raw alcohol. She'd had a little over the years, but none since her ascendancy.

After the first drink, the second went much smoother, and now the flavor was something not abhorrent. "Look at this sty, if she doesn't let Shinji in to clean it..." Asuka kicked about mess. Mixed with Misato's clothing was a tie, one Asuka knew the owner of. Of course she had one, she stole it to shove into her gaping… "Whatever, let them...let her do whatever. She's already corrupted." Asuka kicked the tie into another pile. Bottles of booze littered the room, snack containers, plates, and a messy bed sheet...stained right where Asuka expected to see. Misato even had a small picture!

"Let me guess, a young Kaji to get get your rocks off..." Asuka grabbed the picture and nearly broke the glass with the strain she put on it. Not Kaji, Shinji and her surrounded by boxes. The phrase 'move in day' adorned the image via pen. Secret clubs all around her, nobody invited her to be part of this stupid shit! All the while the world was corrupted and those in charge of keeping it safe were lead by the very things trying to destroy it! One of the pilots an angel and the commander as well! Well she'd take them all down, be a hero! She just needed a...behind the picture was a small box.

Setting the frame back down, Asuka hefted the metal box. It was cool to the touch but damn heavy. A keypad was on the thin side. A gun safe, Misato's, and Misato would be lazy enough to tell Shinji the code so he could put it away for her. A plan, a growing plan! Just needed access, and she knew how. Putting things back the way she found them, Asuka sat heavily on Misato's futon as the booze started to work its way in. Things got calmer, dulled, quiet.

"Asuka you in here?" Shinji opened the door and light spilled in, "you have the lights off?" Music crept into Misato's room, and Asuka swayed with it a little. The timid lad advanced, well honed in dealing with drunks, "Need some water?"

She hadn't turned the light on? But she saw things so...no matter. Asuka got up and polished off her drink, and to spite Misato dropped her cup. Swaying towards Shinji, a mixture of intent and intoxication, she put her hands on his shoulder. "Water sounds good, help me to a chair?" he felt warm against her. She could smell the hint of LCL on him, she liked that. Shifting to his side, she gave him a small thrill by 'accidentally' rubbing her nose against his neck. His blood quickened, heart spiked, and she saw that he did indeed dwarf the other teens. Wouldn't take much to get him on her side, then they just had to bide their time. So that was the next step, get what few actual allies she could.

The party went on for a few more hours. Asuka didn't drink water, she had more booze laden drinks. Sadly for her, Shinji left early to walk Rei home, Kaji passed out on the couch, Ritsuko and Misato retired to Misato's room, and the rest all left shortly after. Asuka woke up in the morning on the chair she was on, a blanket over her, and the smell of food cooking. Oh and she could hear that faint hinting of sound...music that had no origin she could find. It came from all around her, so faint that any sound blocked it, but in the silence of the living room it was all she could hear.

X-X

Hardest part of her plan was going about life normally until she was ready. Well she needed a more formal plan as well, but she was working on that. A week past the party, and two more dunks in LCL, had Asuka abuzz with potential ideas and solutions! Having only seen the Commander one additional time since her first alert, she was now fully convinced he was just as corrupt as Rei. Obviously the Commander did something to the angel with his hand and it seeped into the old pervert. Or not, something else could have caused it. She didn't care, the dark warping effect that pervaded Ayanami wormed its way through the bastard's hand and to a lesser degree his whole body.

"Wow never saw a girl that could out eat me that had YOUR figure," Asuka's current company, a friend of Hikari's sister. Older boy, seventeen Asuka suspected, had his eyes on her thanks to seeing a picture. Guy learned Hikari knew her, so a begging session got this date going. Asuka had no real intent of ever dating the guy, but people were getting suspicious when she never left the apartment anymore.

Well into her second bucket of popcorn, Asuka actually hadn't realized she had taken the guy's food. Movie was boring, romance movies sucked, so she focused on food. Shrugging, "I get a lot of exercise, and still filling out in all the right places," Asuka sat up in her chair and puffed out her chest. The extra time in the LCL had more effects. She was growing, put on two inches in height and her frame was doing marvelously things.

"You are...hard to believe your only..." guy had issues with her age. Fear, he was rife with it, to the point see the blood pumping in his veins, noticed he wouldn't keep eye contact, and breathing was all over the place. Big bad older boy was expecting a delicate flower he could mold, exploit, and maybe fuck ragged and drag around. Hiking his thumb at the door, "You don't seem to care about the movie, want to get out of here?"

She did want to leave, just not with him. Guy smelled of stale spunk and to much cologne, went from pushy to contolled far to easy, and she just didn't like him. "Actually I just have to use the privy, be right back," Asuka winked at the boy. Gathering her things, and taking the popcorn, Asuka left the boy to enjoy the rest of the film alone. Stopping at the concession stand for a refill, Asuka left the theater and out into the late afternoon heat.

"Should just go home, see what Shinji is doing," Asuka mumbled as she ate her buttered slop. Progress with getting Shinji on her side was slower going than expected, and she actually liked that! If she wanted Touji to work for her, all Asuka would have to do would be show her tits and he'd kill for her. Shinji wasn't a walking hard-on, was nice, smelled good, wasn't hard on the eyes…

Closing her eyes, Asuka fought against the impulse that threatened to rise up. After the latest dunk in the foul brew, Asuka found her physical wants growing with her appetite. Until the last dunk her fingers and the occasional tool was able to knock the heat out of her, not so much anymore. Along with the 'growth spurt', Asuka felt more changes. Putting her sunglasses on as the sun was still to bright, Asuka forced herself to head back to Nerv instead of home. Go home, she'd flirt with Shinji and with how she felt she'd push to hard. It wasn't time for that, yet.

"Stupid date should have lasted longer, but damn he was boring," Asuka grumbled. Older boys were supposed to be suave and interesting. The jerk was just coasting on his age to feast on dumb younger girls happy to get attention. The sound was louder now, not music, she'd never consider it music! The angel might think it was, Asuka forced herself to think it was just her blood in her ears or something. Having not brought her headphones, stupid fail date was to blame, so she had to listen to whatever it was.

People moved out of her way, not even realizing they were doing it, just a splitting of the pedestrians as she moved. Moving through construction zones, the dull sounds of metal clanging was a wondrous gift of dulling. Tugging on her hair, it to had grown far faster than it naturally did, Asuka just went back to the plan. The next time she would have a face to face with the old pervert, she had to do something. Expose him? Hah, how would she do that?

Who would believe her if she said 'the commander is an angel' or at least corrupt? With Misato's corruption, she might even know it already! The sub-commander was a walking corpse with all the disease and wouldn't do anything. So the main option was to kill him, kill THEM. Main targets were the commander and Ayanami, maybe Misato too. Akagi had some odd contamination about her, but it wasn't anything Asuka was to concerned with. So how to kill those two?

"Hey, hey are you being represented? I work with an agency that would..." A woman held out a card to Asuka. Woman had been trailing for a bit, trying again and again to get Asuka's attention, but when she got lost in her mind now, Asuka was miles away. It was easy to sink into her mind, listen to the music...listen to the sound and be lulled to sleep. Sleep and dream the vivid and fantastical dreams she had now. Her human dreams were quite red, while the 'other' dreams were unable to put into words. Visions of creatures all about her, flying in space around a great writhing mass, she wanted to join them but was afraid.

Taking the card, it was a talent agency, Asuka lowered her glasses to get a better view of the woman. Using her 'I am interested' voice, "And what would I be doing for this agency of yours?" Asuka nearly laughed when the woman went ridged, blinked fast, and opened her mouth to speak but didn't. Asuka smelled the salad with ranch dressing the woman had for lunch on her breath.

"Well mostly pictures until you're older. We-we'd try to see if your voice is good enough to-to join an idol group," woman trembled. Asuka moved closer, a beast circling its prey. When the woman looked at Asuka's face, her own went slack, "I-uh...don't...want to waste your..."

It was a con, woman's agency was one of the groups that exploited gullible idiots. Sure it started with pictures, then videos, then the clothing was optional, and then it was time to 'repay the debt'. Anger and disgust welled up in her, mind seething with it, "Go throw yourself off a building or something. Make a show of it." Tearing up the card, Asuka threw it at the woman and walked off to Nerv.

The scanners were broken again, Asuka couldn't hear the hum of electricity, a way in if she could get that safe open. Card reader did work, made sense. Who would fix an outside metal detector when the gates only allowed high level entrance keys. This could work, get Shinji to open the safe, sneak it in through one of these broken scanners, and wait. Just need to get Shinji to open it...get him to side with HER. Trust HER.

Weaving through the hallways, putting her sunglasses away thanks to the low light of the base, Asuka found her way to the shooting range. What good would all of this be if she missed at the important part? Thankfully she had access to the range as it was considered part of her job, angels need to be shot. The pudgy man at the sign-in didn't bother having her write her name down. He was content to wave her through and go back to his book. Not like the Children weren't all known on base, and given access in the past.

Not knowing exactly what type of sidearm Misato had, Asuka did her best to guess what the woman would have. Something with girth and stopping power, not a self defense, a murder weapon, that is what Misato would have. Stupid bitch's scent was all over Kaji, slathered the man in her lavender and alcohol musk! Should have been her, should have been her, should have been…

Asuka had to switch out the sidearm she had, she'd crushed the handle of the one she had. Her strength had gotten much higher with her continual hits of LCL. With her NEW test weapon, Asuka hit the range. A few others were there, nobody she recognized so no fears. Envisioning the target was Misato or Ayanami really did help her focus. The sound dampening headset provided at the range muffled the retort of the shot and was enough to mask the stupid sound.

"This is to easy, easier than its ever been," Asuka realized after her third clip. No matter how far back she moved the target, if she squinted damn thing was basically right in front of her. She was a damn natural at this. Shooting an 'A' in the center of mass, Asuka was done. No concern here, all she needed was the target now! But who first? Could she just sneak out with the weapon now, go to Ayanami's and end the bitch there? At school the freak had been constantly watching Shinji, biding it's time before making a move on HER man. With Kaji wasted, Asuka had moved on...and the smell was just so…

Leaving the range, Asuka figured enough time had passed that she could go back to the apartment. She was gone long enough for her roommates to not think anything was wrong. Until recently she had been quite adamant she hated the apartment, found it boring, and wanted to do things outside. Now it was the opposite. It was calmer at the apartment, less abrasive sounds or smells, and her target was there, just waiting to be plucked.

"You are here," not a question just a statement Rei made. Clad in a plugsuit, so only the alien face with human eyes bore down on Asuka. Dripping with LCL, the thing blocked Asuka's egress. Sniffing the air again, "Do you hear it clearer now?"

Doing her best to show no fear, Asuka stood tall, "I thought I left my headset here. What about you, no tests today, why you here?" Asuka had her suspicions, it wasn't the old men making her do things, she was manipulating THEM! Yes that made more sense! Angel got into the old men's heads, got them to do things. Kozo was to old and Rei was burning the old man out, Gendo was being converted! Yes! Yes that was it! Had to be! Thinking was becoming more fluid now, all the nagging parts discarded.

Dripping LCL as she walked, Rei just tilted her head, "Akagi asked for aid. Simulated body testing. You do not have your headset." The pair stood side by side in the hallway, Rei had to look up at Asuka now due to the sudden height change.

"Wasn't here, said I thought it was here. Shin-chan must have taken it, he likes my music," Asuka goaded. It worked, those tendrils reared back like a snake ready to strike. Unable to contain herself, had to push when you have the advantage, "You should stop trying to get in my way with him. I see you watching, pining I should say. Guys like girls that take the initiative. Specially timid guys like him"

That pulpy mass of rubber that was Rei's head wobbled from side to side, "Why? He can be with multiple women. The commander is. Akagi is. Agent Kaji is. I will take your advice about aggression though." No other words, Rei just pivoted on her heel and walked deeper into the base, light distorting around her as she did, not that normal people would see it. Asuka was better now, superior to human, chosen for this task.

"Like hell I'll give you the chance," Asuka seethed at Rei's veiled promise. Not going to let that freak touch what was hers! Getting out of the base, Asuka opted to run home. Sprinting at full tilt, Asuka didn't feel winded at all, ran harder than she ever had and the wind was brilliant against her skin. People were bowled over, dove out of the way of her, and the fear on their face fueled Asuka further. Sheep, these poor sheep were afraid of anything better than them!

With the sun set since she left Nerv, Asuka did miss darkness. Her eyes adjusted so quickly to the lack of sun, it was as if it was never dark now. Needed a sleep mask now to get it dark enough to try going to bed. Not that she needed sleep much now, but without it she didn't have those dreams. Just had to work herself tired.

"I'm home!" Asuka announced herself when she entered her dwelling. Immediately the calming scents assailed her. Food was cooking, television was on a nice show, and the soft light wasn't glaring. Just where she wanted to be. Plopping down on the couch, kicking her feet up on the table, "If you can, bring me a soda or something? Hungry too."

The news prattled on while Asuka heard sounds from the kitchen, "And in more disturbing news, a currently unknown woman threw herself off of the Anaheim Electronics building not two hours ago. The woman snuck through security and…." Asuka changed the channel. No guarantee it was the woman she met, no reason to think she had any relation to it at all! Nope, just a freaky coincidence.

"Brought you two, you've been draining them fast," Shinji teased Asuka by touching the cans to her neck. Startling the boy, she grabbed his wrists and kept him from moving and the cans on her neck. "F-food will be done soon. Misato is taking a shower, she works nights next few days," Shinji tugged just a little, not fighting much.

Snapping the cans out of his hands, Asuka rubbed them up on her cheeks. "Thanks, ran back from Hikari's, warm," Asuka lied. But the cool can was great on her skin, and Shinji's flesh was...it was time to escalate things. If Misato was going to work nights next few days, well now was time to secure her partner in crime.

X-X

Turning on the school's incinerator, Asuka felt the heat through the metal door, saw the flame, and the smoke start to rise from the smokestack. An accident, just an accident, but one if she let go would ruin her plan. Humanities survival was more important than a single life, more than a dozen lives! Turning up the heat, she had to move fast to get a suitable alibi. Nobody would really miss Touji, he was an idiot with no future anyway.

Flexing her left hand, she made a point to remember her strength in the future. Five minutes ago she was about to leave, but that stupid jock had to stop her, and now she was listening to the body sizzle. Touji had pulled her aside to talk to her, accusing her of being creepy, of bullying Shinji more than normal. It wasn't bullying, she was making progress in getting him into position to trust her. That meant making the others avoid him, leave him less options! It was simple!

But Touji didn't see it that way, thought Asuka was just being mean. During the jock's rant, Asuka just tuned him out, not interested in pointless drivel. Things changed when Touji said he was going to tell Shinji about Asuka's current actions regarding the other students. Well that would cause a problem, so Asuka grabbed Touji's arm to stop him. Grabbed him to hard sadly, she heard a snap. How frail humans were becoming. Before Touji could scream, Asuka grabbed the back of his head and covered his mouth. Again, to strong and another small pop, the body went slack and eyes rolled back.

Was he dead or just paralyzed? Didn't matter, who would want to live paralyzed from the neck down anyway? So hoisting the body over her shoulder, Asuka hurried to the incinerator. Thankfully nobody loaded the trash in yet, so she buried the body under the burnable garbage, fiddled with the controls, and then started it. Somebody would eventually find the remains, thing wouldn't burn the bones, but would give her time. Just needed somebody to see her, and that person was easy to pick.

"I can get home before he can, perfect cover," Asuka couldn't see a flaw. Rushing as fast as she could, avoiding populated areas, Asuka got to the apartment well before Shinji did. Cleaning her hands, then cleaning them again, one more time. Yes, she was clean now. Getting her dairy out, she wrote down the days events, explaining it wasn't her intent, but just the only solution.

Turning on the television, loud, she wanted to block out the music right now, didn't want to be to distracted. If only she got another LCL bath she'd likely be able to fully block it out. Her growth however, another inch, left her without a plugsuit. While a new one was being made for her she had to sit out. Fine, whatever, gave her time to finalize her solution for the Commander/Ayanami pair. Couldn't make it to complex or she'd risk a piece failing.

If she was this strong, it was safe to assume Ayanami was as well. Asuka never saw Ayanami exhibit anything like she could do, but Asuka never saw Ayanami do ANYTHING. Got her thinking about Ayanami. Either Rei was directing things in secret or Nerv had something over her. A way to neuter her or control her. Given the dull personality, Asuka suspected they drugged the girl. Still not going to risk a physical confrontation. So the gun was the best option. Next monthly meeting with the commanders was the date. With her new strength she might not even need Shinji to open the gun safe, she might be able to tear it open. But she'd keep that as an option-b. Ayanami first due tot he unknown potential, Gendo second, and if she had time Misato. That scar left Asuka troubled, no idea if it was just a souvenir of being AT second-impact or if it had more potential.

"You're late," Asuka called out to the opening door, "what kept you?" Was he talking to Rei? Was the freak making a play to take her plaything? Better not be, if she had to risk things by taking Rei out first...no...plan.

Sounds of straightening up shoes that were sprawled about, "Kensuke. He is worried about Touji. Apparently they were supposed to hangout but he never showed. We spent a little time looking for him. Never found him, but Touji has done this before. Need anything?" Shinji timidly entered the living room. At the apartment Asuka had been sweeter to him, not realizing she was overly slandering him to anybody that would listen at school. Separate him from others, leave him no choice but her, and then give him the option.

"Get me something to drink? Where you think he went?" Asuka did her best to sound bored. Not liking the fact Touji was already noticed as missing, bit fast for her wanting. At least with Shinji finding Asuka at home, would throw attention away from her. Watching Shinji head to the kitchen, eyes drifting down, she had to admit she was enjoying his frame more and more. Was it her hormones out of wack due to her growth, lack of options, or affection, who knew. She didn't, didn't care either, he just looked tasty.

Pen-Pen's bowl was filled, a glass of water for himself, and the fridge opened. His socked feet padded back to her, "He likely wanted to do something he wanted to keep secret, or he went to visit his sister. Touji doesn't like us to see him as 'emotional' so hides that from us sometimes. Brought you two so you won't need another for a bit." Tossing one than the other after she got the first, Shinji was about to sit on the chair but saw Asuka draw her legs up, a subtle offer of the couch. He took it, better view of the screen, a cushion between them. "You got here fast, none of your friends want to hang out?" Shinji sat prim and proper.

"Wanted to be here," Asuka let her feet slide down the cushion and she gave his leg a pat. Opening her first can, the urge to get a little rum to help dampen her senses was considered. He'd know if she did though, well if her plan went to fruition. Kissing would have a drunken aftertaste, not good. Twirling on the couch, back on the armrest, she took in a few deep breaths to make her chest stand out more, "Were you hoping for some alone time? What do you do here without Misato or me around?" Batting her eyes, she saw his whole body tremble.

His hands were shaking so badly Shinji nearly spilled his water. To avoid that, Shinji drank more than half in one gulp. Shrugging just a little, "No, just lately you've been home more often where in the past you never wanted to be here. I-I'm glad you're here. If it was just me...I'd just clean or cook early. M-maybe play my cello a bit. Not good at it so I don't play when others are here, don't want to bother." Shinji tried to not react to Asuka's feet tapping his thigh, but the small smile on his face, kid was defenseless to affection.

Must be why Misato teased him so much, Asuka realized. It was fun to do, easy to get a funny reaction from him, just so starved for anything positive. Well she was going to exploit that, get him fully on her side, but he'd get some enjoyment. Win-win right? Putting her bare feet fully on his thigh, she gave a small rub, "Is that all you'd do alone? Not going into MY room to find something to sniff?" If it was Misato's she'd aim at Misato first! Again her mind went into a strange spiral. Why did it matter? He was a tool, just that, nothing more. But the idea of HER tool getting his rocks off to Misato (or Rei) wasn't allowed!

"If-if I wanted that, I do your laundry," Shinji tried to tease back. A rarity for him, and Asuka enjoyed that. Finishing his water, very quickly, he used putting the glass down as a cover to shift in his seat. Moving his leg up to hide something Asuka could still clearly see, he leaned just a little away from her. Making the mistake of looking at Asuka, he's mouth hung open a moment before words came back, "Y-you shouldn't tease so hard."

The prey was cornered, weakness sighted, and with Misato working this afternoon it was time to pounce. "What makes you think I'm teasing. I know you can be dense, but even you have to have noticed I've been pretty clear last few days," Asuka batted her eyes at the lad. Slowly drawing her legs back in, the smell of sweat and her soda filled her nostrils with a mix that was nearly intoxicating.

His Adam's apple bounced a few times, unable to look away from the lioness. "Didn't want to assume. Sometimes you are t-thinking about other things and..." Shinji just stopped talking. He was right thought, in the past if Asuka was in a good mood it transferred to him due to her mood shifting. Kid's fears prevented him from thinking it was anything other than a coincidence. Not fair to him that he was just a tool, but Asuka was going to save humanity! The freak and her pawns needed to die, and she'd do it. And if she had to have sex with Shinji to gain his trust.

Licking her lips, Asuka crawled across the couch to her cornered prey. Looming over him, "I guess in the past that was true. But right now I'm thinking about us. Lots of things I'd like to do, with you. Not a coward are you?" Filling his field of view, Asuka playfully kissed his nose. A simple touch, but it sent currents of need in her. "I've things I need help with, but need to know I can trust you. That when time comes you'll stand with me. I can think of a way of building that trust," Asuka's hands when to Shinji's arm and grabbed it. Pulling the mannequin-esque arm to her larger chest, she applied it to herself.

"Y-you're not talking straight. I mean...yeah you've been n-nicer to me. And I would always h-help you," Shinji's hand squeezed softly at first. With her encouragement, he continued to massage the flesh his hand held. Her growth went all over her body, so what once had been something that fit perfectly into the lad's hand, now spilled over. Swallowing hard, locked in place by Asuka, "Are-are you sure about this?"

Leaning back a few moments to take her top off, she tossed both shirt and bra behind the couch. "No stopping now," Asuka put his hand back on. It was so much better to have somebody else do this than doing it herself. He was clumsy, but his fingers were musicians fingers, his palm stoked fire. Could have been anybody, maybe, but it was him now, and it was nearly to much for her senses to accept. Fast, well yeah it was, but she needed to work fast to get him on her side before the next meeting! Her cravings had nothing to do with it, the deep nearly feral need was just preservation instinct. Using her free hand, the one not holding Shinji down, worked to free his slacks.

"Isn't this going to f-fast? I mean I-I am not wanting you to feel upset later," Shinji gasped as air hit his lower half. A coward, but a lovable one that wanted to insure she didn't do something she regretted. Now that his slacks were open, she moved them down, painfully by the grimace on his face, the smell clogged her nose. She could taste him just by that stench, and she nearly buried her face down to bask in more of it. The Asuka of two months ago would be mollified at her actions, but that Asuka was gone, replaced with the new and better model! One that lived free, was stronger, better, and was going to save humanity from that bitch.

Using her hand much like Shinji was, she stimulated the lad. Heat permeated her hand, guess his growth DID go somewhere else. Just the idea of using that tool gave her body a physical throb. "You can be harder, pinch like you saw in the porn your geek friend nodoubt gave you," Asuka ordered. Damn if she wasn't close already, had she always been this hair triggered? Panting, dribbling, drooling, she saw Shinji closed his eyes as he grew even larger in her hand. He did as ordered though, and damn if he wasn't smart enough to not squeeze hard, just the right amount of pleasure with pain.

He grunted, covered her hand with mess as she collapsed on top of him, body going fully prone atop him. Asuka never felt anything that powerful before. Languidly she dabbled her messy finger on her tongue, an unknown need in her. Ambrosia! The stupid videos she saw in college, and girl talk, lead her to believe the mess would be a foul brew, it was not. No other flavor could compare, it was the flavor of life, and she wanted more of it. NEEDED it, but for now, she rested atop her tool, both of them spent from the...it took twenty minutes? Time was strange, Asuka just rested. Each breath had her rub against his chest and it sent small waves of pleasure, his arms wrapped around her, and a small part of her, shed a single tear at how content she was.

"Lets just lay like this a bit longer," Asuka murmured. Shinji stroked her hair with one hand, and she felt his was still quite vigorous but didn't make a move, content to hold her. Why was she sad, why did something feel wrong? It wasn't, this was needed, this was the way forward! That small sad girl that Asuka felt deep inside, was locked up and buried. No room for weakness now, just take what she needed, and in the end she would be celebrated.

X-X

Notes

So this is a bit of an homage to The Dunwitch Horror. This chapter was dedicated to Asuka where the next will be a diff character per chapter. I have hope that this chapter shows Asuka's descent from 'normal' to something 'touched' and changing.

Hope you enjoy it, its going to be short so if you don't there is no fear I'll be back to my normal more upbeat stories soon

Later

Mercaba