Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction ❯ The One I Love Is...Mst ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 9 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Zentrodie 
Anime/Manga: Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.09.2003 | Pages: 15 | Words: 8.1K | Visits: 647 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Comedy | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.09.2003 | Pages: 15 | Words: 8.1K | Visits: 647 | Status: Completed
Standard Disclaimer
hey now iko iko on ai
i don't own a thing
iko iko on day
wish i did
hey hey now iko iko onday
but I don't so don't sue
gonna set your flag on fire :)
Ok ok That was bad but hey, bet it at least got a smile out of ya he he
and thats the point
sorry for taking so long with this, just kinda took a smack to the face bout
my writing and had to gather my bearings
and you guys at www.darkscribes.org sorry for my whining, but I'm better now
and I'm sure your ready for more pointless stupid blather, and you know what I'm going to give
it to you! why? because I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO,...honestly work and night classes...
my lifes so boring!!
Just to warn you..I don't know how well my action scene skills are so...bare with me.
-------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Shinji: Why do you have to do this?
Asuka moving the couch out of the way: She needs to learn her place, thats why!
Rei voice as passive as ever: Her constant boasting has gone to far.
Asuka: BITCH!
Rei: We still haven't clearned the arena yet.
Shinji: But why fight?
Asuka/Rei: We were trained to.
Shinji: Does it have to do with whats on the movie.
Asuka: You can be so dense sometimes.
Rei: Shinji-kun, yes it does.
Shinji: 'Great..just great' try not to break anything..furniture..glass..yourselfs
Asuka: Just one broken doll, thats all.
Rei: No, it will be your ego.
Shinji/Asuka: 'She can say that without changing her tone of voice..creepy'
Asuka: Lets get this overwith so the others don't have to see your mangled body on
the floor.
Rei opts not to answer with words but a left hook to Asuka's midsection.
Asuka: Not..bad 'takes a few breaths then backhands Rei sending her reeling to the wall.
Shinji: Please..stop?
Asuka and Rei glaring at each other: If you insist on saying that we'll make you leave.
Shinji: 'Can't win..guess all I can do is help fix the damage.'
The fight begins in earnest. Rei charges at Asuka, taking her off-guard by her offensive
stance and allowing Rei to kick her stomach. Asuka takes to the floor but recovers her senses
soon enough to sweep Rei's feet out from under her, then delivers several elbows to
the midsection. After a few blows Rei rolls out from her possition, stands, and kicks
Asuka lightly in the side of her head.
Asuka: 'She's faster than I expected..thats going to leave a bruise!'
Rei breathing a bit ragged: 'Her talent is not an over estimate like I believed.'
Asuka gets to her feet and wipes a trickle of blood from her lip: Lets ROCK!
Asuka taking the inicative after her 'war cry' buts Rei in a head lock and delievers several
short punches to the face then finishes off with a knee slam. Rei staggers a bit and her vision
begins to go hazy, shaking it off best she can, she offers a snap kick at Asuka's side, as
planned Asuka caught the offending leg but didn't notice it allowed Rei the opportunity to
use the added leverage to jump and spin kick her.
Shinji: 'Their going to kill each other!! this is so pointless!!'
The two combatants now stagger back to their feet.
Rei/Asuka: 'My teeth are loose...going to have to stop holding back'
Asuka: Ready to go down in front of MY Chibi-hentai!
Shinji blinks a bit: huh?
Rei: I'll die before I submit to you.
Asuka: Lets finish this.
Asuka again hoping to take Rei off balance by using quick jabs and kicks is statled when
she hits....
Shinji/Asuka: An AT-Field!
Shinji: Rei!
Asuka: You cheating BITCH!
Rei: Incorrect, all living things have one of these, you just don't know how to use yours.
Asuka: Fine..I won't complain, just make my victory that much better!
Shinji: 'I always thought something like this would happen.'
Asuka makes several more attempts to hit Rei but never does more than push her back, after
several strikes however...
Shinji: THE COUCH!!
Rei's AT-field slices through the couch..its a nice cut, lazer like even..but still the couch
is now in several pieces. Undetered by the destruction Asuka gets her idea.
Asuka: Shinji, kick me that tennis ball!
Shinji: Tennis ball?
Asuka: Pen-pen's!
Rei: You are breaking the rules.
Asuka: Shove it, you get that field, I want a tennis ball!
Shinji kicks to ball to Asuka who picks it up and charges headlong into Rei's field, and after
the initial contact whips the tennis ball at the wall sending a rebound straight at Rei's head.
The field flings Asuka against the wall knocking her out as the tennis ball strikes Rei directly
at the base of her neck knocking her out as well.
Shinji looking at the room: Guess its a draw...now to apply the bandages.
Twenty minutes, some bandages, some cleaning, a call to Misato to tell her about the
couch.
Hikari: Hi guys we're back with snacks..guys?
Touji: What happend here!
Shinji just finishing laying Asuka and Rei on...parts of the couch: Fight.
Kensuke: Fight?
Shinji: Yup, you guys left and they decided to wager who go the handcuffs.
Hikari: Really?
Touji: Who won?
Shinji: Neither.
Kensuke: I'm glad I picked up another pair.
Shinji raises his eyebrow: Another pair?
Kensuke smiles wickedly and pulls out two pairs of handcuffs: Thought something like this
would happen.
Hikari: Are..they going to be ok, what happend to the couch?
Shinji: They'll be bruised but otherwise fine...its got trashed, Misato said she'll send
over a special couch.
Touji: Well I want to watch that next movie, put it in.
Hikari: What about Asuka!
Touji: Think she'll even wake up?
Kensuke: They look out of it.
Shinji: Been like that for twenty minutes..after the cleaning I just...
Pen-Pen: Wark!
Hikari: I forgot about you! 'scoops up pen-pen' he's so kawaii!
Shinji: Feed and played with him.
Touji: Wait..those bandages..did you?
Kensuke: Get a feel while you put them on?
Shinji: NO!!
Kensuke: He look Touji, that bird's getting a feel.
Touji looking at Pen-Pen and Hikari: HEY!
Hikari playing with Pen-Pen: He's so cool.
Before Touji could make another remark, Pen-Pen's mistress arrives with two Nerv men.
Misato: Just put it right there 'points to the vacent spot the couch used to take.'
Touji/Kensuke: HELLO MISATO-SAN!
Misato: Hi guys..what happend to Rei and Asuka?
Shinji: Fight.
Misato: Explain things..oh and rember how I said it would be a special couch?
Group: Yeah.
Misato smiles: Pen-Pen come here 'we waddles over and she fixes something to his back-pack.'
Hikari: Whats that for?
Misato: Its the operator for the couches at-field generator.
(thank Scheduled Scenario Productions for that idea :) )
Kensuke: WHAT!
Misato: This is the second couch we lost..can't buy anymore so..
Shinji: But why Pen-Pen?
Touji: Why not?
Hikari: 'He's just trying to score points!!!'
Misato: Why thank you Mr. Suzahara.
Touji: Anything...say..want to watch a movie with us?
Misato: 'I still rember that one movie...giggles a bit' Sure why not 'takes a seat
oddly enough Pen-Pen jumps onto her lap and ahem..uses her assest for a pillow'
Touji/Kensuke make a move for the couch but..: AHH!!
Shinji: Guess he doesn't want you on the couch.
Hikari: Guess not 'smiles while Shinji and she gets on the couch'
Touji/Kensuke: 'Lucky damn bird'
Shinji: Hit play.
Touji hits play and movie starts: 'Hope your girlfriends get you for this Shin-man'
>>>(LET THE MST BEGIN!!!! look for >>> to tell where I've added stuff :) )
The One I Love Is...
Chapter 8 - Tears / Those three words I should have said
>>> MIsato: Need more beer?
>>>Shinji: Kick my dad?
>>>Pen-Pen: Wark! (I like sardines)
Written by Alain Gravel <rakna@globetrotter.qc.ca>
Based on characters created by and copyright GAINAX
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/2236/
==== ===================================================================
Chapter 8 - Tears / Those three words I should have said
As he heard footsteps closing in, Kaji Ryouji knew that the time had
come. He had become too much of a threat for SEELE and NERV to live much
longer.
>>>Hikari: Well when you try to back-stab both of them...
>>>Misato: He's as dangerous as a hang-nail.
The urge to try and simply escape was great, but it would not
solve anything. Only with his death could he protect those he loved and
cared about.
>>>Touji: Sounds more like a Shin-man escape messure.
>>>Shinji: It is, my final one.
>>>Kensuke guestures to Asuka/Rei: They'll kill you first.
He opened his eyes and raised his head, so that he could see the
eyes of the person intent on killing him.
"Hi. You're late."
The sound of a shot echoed in the room.
Kaji Ryouji fell limply onto the ground. His assassin left without a
word...
>>>Misato: Hey, they do kill him..'This is like that movie I watched with him and
>>> Ritsuko'
>>>Kensuke: That was so cool! I mean real spy stuff!
- - -
For the third time, I tried to solve that stupid math problem... and
failed to do so. I looked at the two girls sitting in front of the TV,
having some video game match.
>>>Shinji: To bad they couldn't have played a game instead of doing it in real life.
>>>Kensuke: Real life mortal kombat..should have left my camera.
>>>Touji: Bet the demaon tries to strangle Ayanami when she loses.
A very noisy video game match. Especially
since Rei was beating Asuka almost every time.
"Take that! That! And that! You're dead Wonder Girl!!!! YES!!!
VICTORY!!!"
But, then again, I guess it was a blessing that Rei did indeed beat
Asuka most of the time since the redhead tended to shout even more
loudly when she was the winner.
>>>Shinji: I thought they had their own place?
>>>Hikari: At least she's not at my place playing those things..Kami-sama she
>>> can go on like that all night!
I groaned. Unfortunately, this didn't go unnoticed by a certain
Sohryu Asuka Langley.
"What are you complaining about? Still stuck on that stupid math
problem?"
>>>Kensuke: No, he's got two loud, boorish, and rude girls making alot of noise.
>>>Misato: Thats normal for this place.
>>>Touji: Well not they won't try to score with him.
>>>Shinji: I just want to get my work done.
"I can't concentrate with all the noise you two make! Could you at
least lower the volume of the TV...?"
"No!"
I groaned again.
>>>Misato: That went easy enough.
>>>Touji: You expect him to put up a fight?
>>>Misato: Nope 'smiles' isn't that right Pen-Pen?
>>>Pen-Pen: Wark. ( whatever)
"Why are you playing here anyway? Don't you have your own
apartment?"
"We don't have a TV."
"Buy one!"
"We can't afford one."
"But you just spent God knows how much money on those new dresses
you just bought two days ago!"
"Yeah, and now I'm broke..."
>>>Shinji: Food or dresses.
>>>Misato/Hikari: Dresses.
>>>Shinji: TV or dresses?
>>>MIsato/Hikari: Dresses.
>>>Touji: Why?
>>>Hikari: If you have to ask you'll never know.
I sighed as I let myself slump on the table in defeat. I tried to
look at Rei for help... no use, she was still glued to the TV.
>>>Kensuke: Thats a crual way to gloat.
>>>Hikari: All that hair and super-glue..
>>>Shinji: Last time I played her she just glued my shirt.
>>>Misato: That took alot of time to get off...maybe we shouldn't let Asuka play those games.
I really
wished Asuka hadn't shown her that game...
"Well, if you can't study, at least try and be useful! I'm dying of
thirst! You could at least treat your house guests better, baka!"
House guests!?
>>>Touji: You know, Masters.
>>>Kensuke: Kinda like us, now drinks!
>>>Misato: Yebisu.
>>>Pen-Pen: WARK!
>>>Misato: Make that two.
>>>Shinji: 'house guests my ass! free loaders more like it, does commanded'
"Hai, hai..."
Why did I keep taking this? Because I wanted Rei to have fun. And
also because I didn't really dare take the chance to upset Asuka.
>>>Touji: Better to serve the devil then stand in her path.
>>>Misato: All women can be like that.
>>>Touji/Kensuke gulp.
So, I
just did what I was told and went to the kitchen to get some drinks. I
guess it was alright anyway, I was thirsty myself. Ignoring all the
beers on Misato's side of the fridge,
>>>Misato: Good, I need all of them.
>>>Shinji returning: But you have at least 4 cases!
>>>Misato: Never know when a party will break out.
>>>Shinji: Or your car breaks down again.
>>>Misato: I was picking YOU up when it got damaged!
I opted for some orange juice. I
didn't feel like making tea and we were out of soda (Asuka and Rei had
run out of soda two days ago, so the redhead had found it easier to raid
our fridge than going out to buy some).
>>>Kensuke: Wonder what Ayanami looks like during a Suger-High.
>>>Shinji: Exactly the same just...more expressive.
>>>Misato: Oh really...find this out when you sneek over to her place?
>>>Shinji: Misato-san please!..don't kid like that.
>>>Misato: Ah, like shooting fish in a barrel.
When I came back to the living room with a tray holding three
glasses of juice, I noticed by Asuka's expression that she had obviously
lost *again* to Rei. I smirked; at least there was some justice.
"Here."
Rei took the glass, finally acknowledging my existence for the first
time in an hour by thanking me (which gave Asuka the opportunity to
knock down Rei's character in the game).
>>>Hikari: Thats obsession.
>>>Misato: Over stimulation.
>>>Kensuke: THE NEW DOA GAME!!
>>>Hikari/Misato: Ew.
I then handed a glass to Asuka
who happily drank it now that victory was hers. Soon enough, the two
girls went back to the game. I sighed and tried to go back to work.
That's when Misato came in. As Misato entered the apartment, I
immediately sensed that something was wrong.
>>>Kensuke: How can that be, she just ma...
>>>Misato: Yes Mr. Aida?
>>>Kensuke: No..nothing 'gotta watch it.'
>>>Shinji/Touji snicker.
"I'm back."
The way she had said those words... Misato usually tried to be
cheerful, even if her day at work had sucked.
>>>Misato: Every day but Saterday and Sunday sucks..Nerv sucks..damn bastard
>>> Commander making me do all the reports...WHY WHY!
>>>Shinji: How much did you drink before coming home?
>>>Misato: I forget.
>>>crew sweetdrops...even the sleeping duo.
But today... she looked
tired, almost on the verge of collapse. But worst of all... her eyes
seemed... lifeless.
Neither Rei nor Asuka noticed this, being too engrossed in their
game. They probably didn't even realize that Misato had come in. And the
volume of the TV was so high that I had barely heard her myself.
>>>Touji: That and being boarderline deaf due to that SDAT of yours.
>>>Kensuke: Bet your ear-drums bleed.
>>>Shinji: I..don't have it that loud...do I?
The Major walked toward the fridge, but as her hand reached to open
it, she stopped.
I was growing worried. No matter what happened, she always gulped
down a beer after work.
>>>Shinji: The Pope could be visiting and she'd drink before saying Hi.
>>>Hikari: Asuka said you drink while bathing..is that right?
>>>Misato: It was just that one time..spilled it and...
>>>Shinji: You drank all the water in the tub.
>>>Misato: I can't waste it!
Then, she looked toward the phone and noticed the light that
indicated a message. I hadn't even seen it until now. For the first time
since she came in, some expression showed on her face. But I didn't like
what I saw.
>>>Misato: Oh they think I..'I can't stand him anyway.'
>>>Shinji: Misato-san?
>>>Misato: Nothing.
Almost clumsily, she made her way to the phone and pushed the
button.
I think that neither Rei nor Asuka heard the message. They would
have reacted. But I heard it.
'Katsuragi, it's me. I'm sure you're listening to this message,
after I've caused you so much trouble. Sorry. Please tell Ritchan "I'm
sorry."
>>>Misato: You tell her, you ruined her lab coat not me!
>>>Kensuke: What?
>>>Touji: Messages from the great beyond.
And there's one more thing to trouble you with: I've been
growing... flowers.
>>>Shinji: What happend to the watermelons.....'looks at the others.'
>>>HIkari: WATERMELON!
>>>Touji/Kensuke: Take us to them..now!
>>>Misato wiping drool off her lips: I love watermelon.
>>>Shinji: 'Sorry Kaji-san.'
I'd appreciate it if you could water them. Shinji-
kun knows where they are. Katsuragi, the truth is with you.
>>>Kensuke: No, the truth is "out their!" ( X-files used to ROCK..before later seasons)
Don't
hesitate. Move ahead! If I can see you again, I will say the words that
I could not say eight years ago. Bye.'
>>>Misato: Get bent?
>>>Shinji: Here's your wallet?
I didn't really react to the words at first. I understood what the
meaning behind them was, but I think that part of me didn't want to even
consider that possibility. But the tears that fell on the wooden table,
as well as the sobs that escaped my guardian's lips before her knees
gave in and she collapsed on the table...
>>>Misato: Kami-sama I'm a good actriss!
>>>Shinji: You mean?
>>>Misato: That man's just a friend..still I won't want him dead..but...
>>>Shinji puts hand on her shoulder: Its ok.
>>>Misato wipes a tear: They make these movies to realistic.
it was impossible to ignore
that. She was... crying in a way I would never have thought possible
from her. Something had happened... surely, something had happened...
to Kaji...
"Misato-san..."
As I ran to her side, Rei and Asuka finally noticed what was going
on around them.
>>>Shinji: Thank Kami-san I did something, I'd would have to ram my head
>>> against a cinder block if I did't do SOMETHING.
>>>Misato: You care to much sometimes you know that.
>>>Touji/Kensuke: Lucky bastard.
"Mein Gott! Misato, what's wrong?"
>>>Touji: Bout time she realized SOMETHING!
Asuka was probably too surprised to do a thing. Rei has a puzzled
look on her face, as if what she was currently seeing something she had
difficulties to comprehend and did not know how to react to.
>>>Hikari: Thats sad on so many levels.
>>>Shinji: Name one?
>>>Hikari: She cried before but doesn't know what to do when somebody else does?
>>>Misato: Selfish girl isn't she 'smiles.'
After all,
she mostly only knew the Major's confident and sometime carefree side,
she didn't know the sensible woman that Misato could also be. Awkwardly,
I touched the Major's shoulder with a finger.
"Misato-san..."
"Shinji! Why? WHY?"
>>>Misato: Why did they have to cancel Sailor Moon!
>>>Touji: Only make two seasons of "those who hunt elves"
>>>Kensuke: Couldn't Kami-sama let me switch minds with Pen-pen right now?
Her reaction took me by surprise. She grabbed my shirt, pulling me
down on the floor, before collapsing herself, then shrinking into a
fetus position like a child would have.
>>>Hikari: Bet those two wouldn't like to see that.
>>>Shinji: She inhaled me!
>>>Misato: Didn't know your back could bend that way.
I've seen many things in my life. I've been in the heat of battle.
I've seen people get hurt. I've seen people die. But the sight that
always hurts the most is seeing a woman cry this way.
>>>Shinji: Only saw it in movies..but my fault.
>>>Misato: Sensitive!
>>>Touji: More like wuss.
>>>Hikari: You insesitive JERK!
>>>Touji: What I say?
I hate that. And each time I hate myself because I feel so helpless.
I looked at this grown woman on the floor, crying before me, and I
didn't know what to do. So I simply knelt down and took her in my arms,
hoping it would at least provide some comfort.
"It's okay Misato-san... it's okay..."
>>>Misato: 'This is to familiar to...' (again mst of "lonely Hearts")
>>>Shinji: Misato-san your blushing.
>>>Touji: OH no..nonnonononono
>>>Hikari: Touji, pull your head out of you butt! its not that.
>>>Kensuke: Just emberisment?
>>>Shinji/Hikari: Yeah 'maybe.'
I felt stupid for saying that, for I didn't even know exactly what
was wrong, but those were the only words that came to mind. But those
words must have brought some comfort, as Misato began to calm down a
bit.
It was strange holding her this way. Misato was my guardian, the
person who was always there when I had a problem, at least when she was
sober. Usually, she was the one who tried to comfort others. Also, I had
never held a fully grown woman in my arms before, only teenage girls.
For the first time, I realized that, as beautiful as they could be, Rei
and Asuka still had a lot of growing up to do compared to Misato. As I
did.
I looked up at the two girls, who appeared completely lost as to
what to do in this extraordinary situation. Asuka tried to approach us,
but took a step back right after making a step forward. She stared at
us, then at a confused Rei, then at the door, then at her feet, then at
us again.
"Shinji, do you think that you'll..."
"I'll handle things."
She seemed a bit guilty, yet relieved.
"I... I... I'm sorry to be this useless... I just..."
"It's okay..."
Asuka looked at Rei and with a silent sign, indicated the door. With
a nod from the blue haired girl, both were out of the apartment an
instant later.
Well, seemed that the task of taking care of Misato was mine alone
now that the girls had left me on my own. I couldn't really blame them.
I felt lost myself. I... I was only a child... I didn't know that to do.
"A fool... such a fool..."
"Misato-san..."
We stayed there for a while, maybe a few minutes, maybe an hour, I
didn't know. Each time I thought that she would stop crying, the tears
just came back, full strength. When it did, I just held her tighter.
When she would calm down, I would let my fingers gently flow through the
long dark purple hair, hoping it would have some soothing effect. It
felt soft under my hand, almost like silk. Neither Rei nor Asuka's hair
was this soft. Maybe it was a side effect of all that LCL we were
constantly immersed in. Or maybe Misato simply had softer hair.
"Misato-san... maybe you should lie down in your room..." I tried to
suggest, once she seemed to calm down for good.
"Yes..." she barely whispered.
I helped her get up and practically carried her there. She just
didn't seem to have the strength to stay up on her legs. It had not been
easy. While of average size for a woman, Misato was still a lot taller
than me, and she was definitely heavier than Asuka. It was a lot to
carry for my small and weak frame. But we did make it. With a foot, my
hands were too busy holding her, I opened the sliding door. I had never
really entered her room, it was considered as off-limits, and I couldn't
help but gasp at the state of disorder it was in. I had taken a peek
once, around the time I had came to Tokyo-3. At the time, it was already
a mess. But now... I looked in disgust at the beer cans, litter and
clothes lying around. I wondered, was it me who was abnormal for wanting
to sleep in a tidy room?
Of course, with my general luck, something was bound to happen.
As best as I could, I tried to carry Misato to her bed without
tripping on some of her stuff. However I didn't plan on Misato walking
on a beer can and, with her already unsteady balance, falling on the
said bed, dragging me along with her. The outcome of this... I had
fallen on top of a female... *again*! Surely, it was a curse! Well, at
least this time, my hands were on the bed and not... somewhere else.
I know some people who would not label this as "bad luck".
We both opened our eyes. I stared at her dark brown eyes, red and
puffy from too much crying. She stared into mine. Then, I felt an arm on
my back, pushing our bodies together and a pair of lips on mine...
* * *
I woke up with a start, as I felt something hit my stomach. My eyes
snapped open to see a foot there. I looked at the owner of the foot.
Misato was dead asleep. She now seemed at peace. I almost laughed as I
noticed the way she was drooling on her pillow.
Careful not to wake her, I got up and exited the room. Thankfully,
in her sleep she had released the hold she had taken on my wrist to keep
me close.
As I looked at a clock for the current time, I realized it was very
early in the morning, but not early enough to go back to bed and try to
catch some sleep. I would have to go to school soon enough. I yawned. I
had probably barely managed to sleep one hour, maybe two, last night. I
could feel it, the day would be a very long one... Lazily, I made my way
toward the bathroom. Maybe I would feel better after a long bath. I had
plenty of time to take one.
* * *
I exited the bathroom to end up face-to-face with Misato. Her hair
was a mess and she was wearing her bathrobe, clearly intending to take a
bath herself. I felt pretty self conscious as I stood there, wearing
only a towel around my waist. It was clear that for both of us, this
seemed like an embarrassing situation. We looked at each other. I
couldn't help but remember what had happened a few hours ago. She must
have noticed the blush on my face, as she blushed herself.
At least, she seemed to be feeling a bit better, part of me noted.
"I... I... I'll prepare breakfast. You... you can use the bathroom
now," I said, in an attempt to put an end to this awkward situation.
Then, I ran to my room, as fast as one holding a towel around his waist
could.
* * *
When Misato finally joined me for breakfast, she was already
completely dressed in her NERV uniform, unlike every other morning. As
usual, her hand reached for the fridge to no doubt pull out a beer, but
I stopped her by putting my own hand on the door.
"I think this will be more helpful," I said as I handed her a cup of
coffee. I had already drunk two, even though I hated the taste.
She gave me a weird look, but gave in. While she did look better
than the night before, she seemed a bit worn out. She probably didn't
have enough strength to protest.
Coffee in hand, she sat down and took a few sips of the hot brown
liquid. Without so much as a word on my part, I put a plate of toast in
front of her and pulled some jam out of the fridge.
"That's all we have for breakfast?"
"I didn't really feel like cooking."
Misato nodded in understanding. As I sat down, she eyed me
nervously.
"Shinji... about last night... well... I... I wasn't thinking
straight..."
"It's okay, Misato-san."
I smiled at her, a warm smile. She seemed a bit surprised by my
reaction.
"No harm done, right?"
I paused for a few seconds. Should I really say that?
"Besides... it was... enjoyable..."
I knew that I was probably blushing heavily, now. Misato stared at
me, wide eyed, then blushed herself before laughing lightly. It felt
good to see her that way.
"As long as we don't tell Asuka and Rei, we should manage to stay
alive," I added, before laughing lightly myself.
We didn't really say much more after that. We were probably still a
bit uncomfortable. And I could tell that Misato was perturbed by
something else. As I noticed the way she seemed to stare at the phone, I
grew worried that she would collapse in another fit of tears. That is,
until we heard a "quack" coming from her side.
"Pen-Pen!"
The smell of toast had probably woken up the now hungry penguin.
Before I could get up and try to find something for him to eat, Misato
picked him up and held him tightly in her arms, in the same way a little
girl would hold a teddy bear. She looked so sad... This couldn't go on
much longer. Something was hurting her and I felt that... she needed to
share that pain.
I was reluctant to ask the question that was on my mind. I had an
idea of what was tearing her apart. But... I didn't dare ask. Ignorance
is bliss. What you don't know can't hurt you. And... I didn't want to be
hurt myself...
"What... what happened... Misato-san? Is... is it... is it Kaji?"
Damn! I had asked!
She winced upon hearing Kaji's name, and held the warm water bird
tighter. Tears silently made their way down her cheeks to fall on the
animal's feathers.
The next words were harder to say. Well, no turning back now...
"So... it's really about Kaji. I... I heard the message last night.
Is he... is he... dead?"
Shock appeared in her face. She almost dropped Pen-Pen. She put him
back on the ground, probably not willing to take the risk of such a
thing occurring again.
"Shinji-kun... you... you don't have to know..."
She looked at me, her eyes almost pleading.
"I... I can't... I can't run away from the truth... not forever.
Besides, I already know. But... if you don't tell me... I know part of
me will... just... try to... evade the truth..."
She looked at me, her expression shifting from surprise to pride.
Despite the tears that just kept falling, she gave me a shy but warm
smile, before becoming very serious. Her lips parted, she tried to
speak, but failed. Only the second time did I hear a faint, "Yes. He's
dead."
Up until now, I had done a good job in avoiding the truth. It was so
easy. Kaji was such an extraordinary man. He always seemed so cool, so
in control. He always seemed to have a solution to every problem. Kaji,
dead? This just didn't seem to make sense. So far, I had avoided the
truth. But now that Misato had said the words...
"I see."
These where the only words I could think to say. As I spoke, I was
realized how dry my throat suddenly was.
At first, the feeling I felt was not as I though it would be. I knew
sadness. I knew how it felt. But I didn't feel that way. I felt
rather... hollow. This was disturbing.
"Are you sure?"
Part of me still didn't want to believe it. Maybe that was why I was
feeling this way.
Misato nodded. Calmly, I raised my cup of coffee to take a sip.
"Misato... this is Kaji we're talking about... he can't... he can't
be dead..."
"Shinji. He's dead. I know."
The tone of her voice. The unmistakable hurt on her face.
That, I couldn't ignore.
First Mother.
Along with her, Father.
And now Kaji...
My cup of coffee fell on the table, part of the warm liquid
splashing on my shirt. I felt a familiar pain in my chest, and familiar
tears running from my now blurred eyes.
"Shinji!"
How odd... now, she was the one to get up and embrace me in her
arms, despite her own tears.
"Shinji..."
It was a good thing that Asuka was now living with Rei. She probably
would have been disgusted at seeing me cry like this. She would probably
have said something like, "Are you a man or what?"
No, I was wrong. I knew how much she liked Kaji. He had been her
first crush. He also had been the closest thing she had to a father. He
had been the closest thing I ever had to a father, so I could imagine
how she would have felt. If she had been here... she would probably have
been even more hurt than me.
"Let's... let's not tell Asuka..." I managed to say after a while.
"You're right," agreed Misato, still holding me. "Just make up some
story about him dumping me and going back to Germany. It will do... for
now."
"Yes... we can tell her... when all this is over. With time... she
won't think about him as much..."
Misato let go of me. We both tried to wipe our tears. She would soon
have to go to work and I would have to go to school. The pain and sudden
void in our lives still existed, but somehow, I think we bolt felt a bit
better. Just a bit.
"Are you okay, Misato-san?"
"No... but... one day I will..."
There was a long pause. Neither of us knew what to say.
"He said that if we were to meet again, he would have said the words
that he should have said eight years ago. I regret not having said them
myself. Shinji... if you haven't already... tell Asuka and Rei that you
love them. You never know... when those you love... will no longer be
there..."
I nodded. Those three words. 'I love you'. I had never said them
properly to either of them.
I stood up and was on my way to go change and pick up my school bag
when a question occurred to me. A simple question, but it had a lot of
impact.
"Why?"
Misato looked at me for a long while. She seemed hesitant to answer.
I guess that she was working on choosing the right words.
"He was a security risk."
Hearing those words, only one conclusion came to my mind. My hands
tightened into fists.
"Did HE give the order to kill him?"
"The order came from his office."
"I see."
I looked at my fists, as I started to register that my fingers were
hurting. My knuckles were white. I opened my hands, so as not to harm
myself. But the anger was still there.
"I don't know how, I don't know when, but he'll pay..." I said in a
low voice that probably worried Misato, judging by the expression she
was wearing.
She came to me and put one hand one my shoulder, and the other
brushed through my hair. It had a calming effect. Suddenly, I realized
that we had never been quite as close as we were now.
"Don't do anything rash, Shinji. I'll take over Kaji's work. I'll
look for the truth. And once I've found it, we'll see what we can do
with it."
"Misato-san..."
I looked at her. Pain had left her eyes, to be replaced by purpose
and resolve.
"Promise me you'll be careful."
Again, she embraced me into a hug, a more cheerful one.
"I will, Shinji-kun. I will..."
* * *
"So, what was Misato's problem?"
There was concern as well as curiosity in Asuka's voice. I wasn't
surprised that she would ask. But I hadn't expected it so soon. We had
barely left the apartment complex to go to school.
"Kaji dumped her," I said flatly. Quickly, my brain was working to
build a reasonable story.
Asuka stopped dead in her tracks.
"What?!"
"I believe he said that Kaji-san broke his relationship with Major
Katsuragi."
Asuka glared at Rei.
"I know what he said! I... I just can't believe it..."
"Believe it. They're not together anymore. And probably never will
be."
This wasn't completely the truth, but it wasn't completely a lie
either.
"But... but... they love each other! Why?" asked Asuka.
"Seems he didn't love her as much as we thought. The instant he got
what he wanted... he just threw her away."
Shock registered on both girls faces as they heard those words. I
felt bad saying such things about Kaji. But it was for Asuka's own good.
It's weird. It's so easy to lie when the lie causes less pain than the
truth.
"He got... what he wanted...?"
Apparently, my lie wasn't very convincing after all. Asuka had
trouble accepting it.
"I believe he meant that Kaji-san did not feel anything anymore for
Major Katsuragi once he had sex with her," Rei conveniently explained.
Surely Asuka had understood what I had meant. After all, she was
supposed to be more intelligent than me. However, understanding
something and accepting it are two very different things. Luckily, Rei's
words usually had a lot of impact, which made this "fact" easier for
Asuka to accept.
"That can't be..."
Anyone who knows Asuka knows that her emotions are very intense. So,
it was no surprise to see her facial expression to change from shock and
disbelief to boiling anger in barely a second.
"That bastard! When I see him, I'll... I'll... I'll tear him apart!
To think I thought he was so great...!"
"You won't see him again."
"Uh?"
Rei looked at me, a suspicious look on her face. I guess I had let
too much out with those words. She could now see through the lies. But
Asuka didn't seem to understand. It was all that mattered.
"He left for Germany," I lied again.
"That coward! Humpf!"
This said, Asuka stomped toward school. I guess she needed to work
out some anger.
"Don't tell her," I simply said to Rei.
She silently nodded in understanding.
The truth is something precious. But it can also hurt. Sometimes,
it's better to feel anger then pain. Not always, but sometimes, it is. A
few days later, I realized it had been a wise decision to keep this
secret from her...
* * *
As I let myself fall on my bed, I sighed in relief. What a day...
School had been okay, and there hadn't been any tests at NERV today, but
still, I was dead tired. I had been worried when Misato skipped dinner,
but I felt a bit better when she called, to say that she would be
working late. She was probably trying to keep herself occupied. I
couldn't blame her. I had not known Kaji as well as her and the pain was
still there. I had found myself unconsciously crying a few times today.
Misato... She was my superior officer, my guardian. But she was also
always there when I needed her. I thought about all the times she had
given me advice. All the times she had tried to help me, even if I
didn't want anybody around. She was like... a mother.
Then I thought back at the night before. How vulnerable she had
been. How it had felt to hold her in my arms, so close. How she had
seemed lost, grabbing my wrist, begging not to leave her alone in her
room.
A lot of guys would probably have been envious. She was very pretty
after all. Even if she was lazy around the house.
Not only was she my superior, and the closest thing I had to a
mother now, but she was also a woman, I realized.
I thought back at the moment when we had both fallen onto her bed.
How she had drawn us together. How our lips had touched and the way it
felt, as I melted into that kiss...
I closed my eyes and tried to chase those kind of thoughts out of my
head. Dammit! I already loved Rei and Asuka! I couldn't think about
Misato this way!
It was only a simple kiss, dammit!!!
I tried to concentrate on the mother figure that Misato was to me.
This was all I wanted, what I longed for. Someone who would care for
me... but not in the same way as Rei or Asuka.
Keeping this image in mind, I slowly drifted to sleep, wearing a
contented smile.
- - -
Kaji Ryouji groaned as he struggled to get up. The pain in his chest
was almost unbearable. Almost. He inserted a finger into the hole in his
shirt and could feel a bullet imbedded in the metal plate that he had
bound there. It had stopped the bullet, but the impact had likely broken
a few of his ribs. At least, he was grateful that the bullet had been
meant for his heart and not his head. Still, he regretted not having
used something more sophisticated like a light bullet proof vest.
Painfully, he stood. He wasn't sure how long he had been
unconscious, so he had to act fast before the cleaning crew would come.
Out of its nearby hiding place, Kaji pulled out a half filled
garbage bag as well as the corpse of a NERV security agent who had
previously tried to shoot him. The man was also an infiltrated agent of
SEELE. It was ironic that even "dead" he would still do some work in
Ikari's favor.
Carefully, Kaji took the man's wallet and replaced it with his own.
He also removed the black vest and sunglasses the man wore. The man had
similar build and hair color to him. But one problem remained. From the
garbage bag, Kaji pulled a gun equipped with a silencer. Emptying an
entire clip into the corpse's head was enough to make its face
unidentifiable. The mess it had made would also prompt the cleanup crew
to get rid of the corpse as soon as possible. He almost laughed,
thinking about all the time people had wished to wipe the smile off Kaji
Ryouji's face. He thought they would have approved.
From his bag, Kaji removed a black vest, similar the the one the man
had worn. He put it on, as well as the man's sunglasses. He put the
blood stained vest of the man into the bag, to be disposed off into the
nearest garbage can. Smiling, the man formerly known as Kaji Ryouji
walked away from the corpse, knowing that now he would be able to easily
leave NERV Headquarters. However, the smile on his face was fake.
"I'm sorry to impose this on you Katsuragi," he thought, "but it's
the only way I can protect you..."
There was still much to do. Now that he was dead, he could attempt
to track down SEELE. Only a shadow had hopes of exposing an organization
that ruled from the shadows. If he could find a way to eliminate SEELE,
then Katsuragi and the Children would be safer.
"Take care, Katsuragi. Protect this city and the Children as best
you can. If I'm successful, maybe we will meet again..."
[To be continued...]
Next time:
Chapter 9 - Shattered mind / I'm here for you
Omake:
"You're a little late, aren't you?" Kaji asked as he smirked. Misato
hated that smirk. So she shot him in the chest and walked away.
"That was for using me." She said grimly.
After she had left, Kaji stood up and took off the kevlar vest he
was wearing. He took care of business, (i.e. - replacing his body with
one of a dead agent, plus he had to use the bathroom; Misato could be
really scary) and walked towards the nearest door to leave.
"Oh, hey Hyuuga." Kaji smiled.
"You'll never hurt the Major again!" Hyuuga screamed.
*BLAM!*
Kaji fell to the ground. Satisfied with his work, Hyuuga went back
to NERV Command. After he left, Kaji got up, took off his kevlar stomach
protector, and walked out the door.
As he boarded the elevator, he ran into Asuka.
"Asuka-chan! How are you?"
"This is for leading me on!!!"
*BLAM!*
Kaji slumped over before falling to the ground. Satisfied with her
work, Asuka stepped off the elevator and made her way home to Shin-
chan's cooking. Seeing she had left, Kaji stood up and removed his
kevlar jock strap. He doubted he would ever have kids, though.
After sneaking out of the Geofront, Kaji decided a quick drink would
be a fine idea. So he went to the nearest bar.
He made himself comfy and ordered a beer. Then he noticed his
companion next to him.
"Pen-Pen?"
"Wark!"
*BLAM!*
Kaji fell to the ground yet again. Satisfied, Pen-Pen finished off
his beer, then Kaji's, and left. After he left, Kaji stood up and
removed his kevlar thigh socks. By now, Kaji was not happy. So he
quickly made his way to the airport, stopping only at 7-11 for a ho-ho
and a porno mag.
"Kaji-san!" Shinji exclaimed.
*BLAM!*
Shinji slumped to the floor. Better to be safe than sorry, Kaji
thought as he walked to the airport.
(my thanks again to Godsend777 for that little piece)
Author's notes:
I scared a few of you, didn't I? I'm sure some of you did wonder if
Shinji and Misato... perverts! ^_^
Now, the big question, who shot Kaji? Having Misato do the job would
have brought more drama to this chapter, and could very well explain her
reaction when she heard the message (without Shinji, she would have
probably stayed on the kitchen floor until morning). But... as hard as I
tried to explore this possibility... I had trouble finding proper
justification for her shooting him. So, like in the series, I left the
question open. Of course, some of you may still wonder what Misato
exactly meant by "Shinji. He's dead. I know."... (am I evil or what?)
About Kaji's fate... Well, I'll admit it, I picked up the idea from a
fanfic series I really love and admire. I won't name it, not to spoil
some people. I thought it was a great idea and the irony of the
situation was just fitting. Also, it gives me some possibilities to
exploit in case I encounter some problems toward the End.
Alain Gravel
rakna@globetrotter.qc.ca
September 16th 1999
Started on February 20th 1999
First pre-reader draft finished on September 7th 1999
Second pre-reader draft finished on September 16th 1999
Final draft finished on October 10th 1999
Final revisions on March 14th 2000
hey now iko iko on ai
i don't own a thing
iko iko on day
wish i did
hey hey now iko iko onday
but I don't so don't sue
gonna set your flag on fire :)
Ok ok That was bad but hey, bet it at least got a smile out of ya he he
and thats the point
sorry for taking so long with this, just kinda took a smack to the face bout
my writing and had to gather my bearings
and you guys at www.darkscribes.org sorry for my whining, but I'm better now
and I'm sure your ready for more pointless stupid blather, and you know what I'm going to give
it to you! why? because I HAVE NOTHING ELSE TO DO,...honestly work and night classes...
my lifes so boring!!
Just to warn you..I don't know how well my action scene skills are so...bare with me.
-------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
Shinji: Why do you have to do this?
Asuka moving the couch out of the way: She needs to learn her place, thats why!
Rei voice as passive as ever: Her constant boasting has gone to far.
Asuka: BITCH!
Rei: We still haven't clearned the arena yet.
Shinji: But why fight?
Asuka/Rei: We were trained to.
Shinji: Does it have to do with whats on the movie.
Asuka: You can be so dense sometimes.
Rei: Shinji-kun, yes it does.
Shinji: 'Great..just great' try not to break anything..furniture..glass..yourselfs
Asuka: Just one broken doll, thats all.
Rei: No, it will be your ego.
Shinji/Asuka: 'She can say that without changing her tone of voice..creepy'
Asuka: Lets get this overwith so the others don't have to see your mangled body on
the floor.
Rei opts not to answer with words but a left hook to Asuka's midsection.
Asuka: Not..bad 'takes a few breaths then backhands Rei sending her reeling to the wall.
Shinji: Please..stop?
Asuka and Rei glaring at each other: If you insist on saying that we'll make you leave.
Shinji: 'Can't win..guess all I can do is help fix the damage.'
The fight begins in earnest. Rei charges at Asuka, taking her off-guard by her offensive
stance and allowing Rei to kick her stomach. Asuka takes to the floor but recovers her senses
soon enough to sweep Rei's feet out from under her, then delivers several elbows to
the midsection. After a few blows Rei rolls out from her possition, stands, and kicks
Asuka lightly in the side of her head.
Asuka: 'She's faster than I expected..thats going to leave a bruise!'
Rei breathing a bit ragged: 'Her talent is not an over estimate like I believed.'
Asuka gets to her feet and wipes a trickle of blood from her lip: Lets ROCK!
Asuka taking the inicative after her 'war cry' buts Rei in a head lock and delievers several
short punches to the face then finishes off with a knee slam. Rei staggers a bit and her vision
begins to go hazy, shaking it off best she can, she offers a snap kick at Asuka's side, as
planned Asuka caught the offending leg but didn't notice it allowed Rei the opportunity to
use the added leverage to jump and spin kick her.
Shinji: 'Their going to kill each other!! this is so pointless!!'
The two combatants now stagger back to their feet.
Rei/Asuka: 'My teeth are loose...going to have to stop holding back'
Asuka: Ready to go down in front of MY Chibi-hentai!
Shinji blinks a bit: huh?
Rei: I'll die before I submit to you.
Asuka: Lets finish this.
Asuka again hoping to take Rei off balance by using quick jabs and kicks is statled when
she hits....
Shinji/Asuka: An AT-Field!
Shinji: Rei!
Asuka: You cheating BITCH!
Rei: Incorrect, all living things have one of these, you just don't know how to use yours.
Asuka: Fine..I won't complain, just make my victory that much better!
Shinji: 'I always thought something like this would happen.'
Asuka makes several more attempts to hit Rei but never does more than push her back, after
several strikes however...
Shinji: THE COUCH!!
Rei's AT-field slices through the couch..its a nice cut, lazer like even..but still the couch
is now in several pieces. Undetered by the destruction Asuka gets her idea.
Asuka: Shinji, kick me that tennis ball!
Shinji: Tennis ball?
Asuka: Pen-pen's!
Rei: You are breaking the rules.
Asuka: Shove it, you get that field, I want a tennis ball!
Shinji kicks to ball to Asuka who picks it up and charges headlong into Rei's field, and after
the initial contact whips the tennis ball at the wall sending a rebound straight at Rei's head.
The field flings Asuka against the wall knocking her out as the tennis ball strikes Rei directly
at the base of her neck knocking her out as well.
Shinji looking at the room: Guess its a draw...now to apply the bandages.
Twenty minutes, some bandages, some cleaning, a call to Misato to tell her about the
couch.
Hikari: Hi guys we're back with snacks..guys?
Touji: What happend here!
Shinji just finishing laying Asuka and Rei on...parts of the couch: Fight.
Kensuke: Fight?
Shinji: Yup, you guys left and they decided to wager who go the handcuffs.
Hikari: Really?
Touji: Who won?
Shinji: Neither.
Kensuke: I'm glad I picked up another pair.
Shinji raises his eyebrow: Another pair?
Kensuke smiles wickedly and pulls out two pairs of handcuffs: Thought something like this
would happen.
Hikari: Are..they going to be ok, what happend to the couch?
Shinji: They'll be bruised but otherwise fine...its got trashed, Misato said she'll send
over a special couch.
Touji: Well I want to watch that next movie, put it in.
Hikari: What about Asuka!
Touji: Think she'll even wake up?
Kensuke: They look out of it.
Shinji: Been like that for twenty minutes..after the cleaning I just...
Pen-Pen: Wark!
Hikari: I forgot about you! 'scoops up pen-pen' he's so kawaii!
Shinji: Feed and played with him.
Touji: Wait..those bandages..did you?
Kensuke: Get a feel while you put them on?
Shinji: NO!!
Kensuke: He look Touji, that bird's getting a feel.
Touji looking at Pen-Pen and Hikari: HEY!
Hikari playing with Pen-Pen: He's so cool.
Before Touji could make another remark, Pen-Pen's mistress arrives with two Nerv men.
Misato: Just put it right there 'points to the vacent spot the couch used to take.'
Touji/Kensuke: HELLO MISATO-SAN!
Misato: Hi guys..what happend to Rei and Asuka?
Shinji: Fight.
Misato: Explain things..oh and rember how I said it would be a special couch?
Group: Yeah.
Misato smiles: Pen-Pen come here 'we waddles over and she fixes something to his back-pack.'
Hikari: Whats that for?
Misato: Its the operator for the couches at-field generator.
(thank Scheduled Scenario Productions for that idea :) )
Kensuke: WHAT!
Misato: This is the second couch we lost..can't buy anymore so..
Shinji: But why Pen-Pen?
Touji: Why not?
Hikari: 'He's just trying to score points!!!'
Misato: Why thank you Mr. Suzahara.
Touji: Anything...say..want to watch a movie with us?
Misato: 'I still rember that one movie...giggles a bit' Sure why not 'takes a seat
oddly enough Pen-Pen jumps onto her lap and ahem..uses her assest for a pillow'
Touji/Kensuke make a move for the couch but..: AHH!!
Shinji: Guess he doesn't want you on the couch.
Hikari: Guess not 'smiles while Shinji and she gets on the couch'
Touji/Kensuke: 'Lucky damn bird'
Shinji: Hit play.
Touji hits play and movie starts: 'Hope your girlfriends get you for this Shin-man'
>>>(LET THE MST BEGIN!!!! look for >>> to tell where I've added stuff :) )
The One I Love Is...
Chapter 8 - Tears / Those three words I should have said
>>> MIsato: Need more beer?
>>>Shinji: Kick my dad?
>>>Pen-Pen: Wark! (I like sardines)
Written by Alain Gravel <rakna@globetrotter.qc.ca>
Based on characters created by and copyright GAINAX
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/2236/
==== ===================================================================
Chapter 8 - Tears / Those three words I should have said
As he heard footsteps closing in, Kaji Ryouji knew that the time had
come. He had become too much of a threat for SEELE and NERV to live much
longer.
>>>Hikari: Well when you try to back-stab both of them...
>>>Misato: He's as dangerous as a hang-nail.
The urge to try and simply escape was great, but it would not
solve anything. Only with his death could he protect those he loved and
cared about.
>>>Touji: Sounds more like a Shin-man escape messure.
>>>Shinji: It is, my final one.
>>>Kensuke guestures to Asuka/Rei: They'll kill you first.
He opened his eyes and raised his head, so that he could see the
eyes of the person intent on killing him.
"Hi. You're late."
The sound of a shot echoed in the room.
Kaji Ryouji fell limply onto the ground. His assassin left without a
word...
>>>Misato: Hey, they do kill him..'This is like that movie I watched with him and
>>> Ritsuko'
>>>Kensuke: That was so cool! I mean real spy stuff!
- - -
For the third time, I tried to solve that stupid math problem... and
failed to do so. I looked at the two girls sitting in front of the TV,
having some video game match.
>>>Shinji: To bad they couldn't have played a game instead of doing it in real life.
>>>Kensuke: Real life mortal kombat..should have left my camera.
>>>Touji: Bet the demaon tries to strangle Ayanami when she loses.
A very noisy video game match. Especially
since Rei was beating Asuka almost every time.
"Take that! That! And that! You're dead Wonder Girl!!!! YES!!!
VICTORY!!!"
But, then again, I guess it was a blessing that Rei did indeed beat
Asuka most of the time since the redhead tended to shout even more
loudly when she was the winner.
>>>Shinji: I thought they had their own place?
>>>Hikari: At least she's not at my place playing those things..Kami-sama she
>>> can go on like that all night!
I groaned. Unfortunately, this didn't go unnoticed by a certain
Sohryu Asuka Langley.
"What are you complaining about? Still stuck on that stupid math
problem?"
>>>Kensuke: No, he's got two loud, boorish, and rude girls making alot of noise.
>>>Misato: Thats normal for this place.
>>>Touji: Well not they won't try to score with him.
>>>Shinji: I just want to get my work done.
"I can't concentrate with all the noise you two make! Could you at
least lower the volume of the TV...?"
"No!"
I groaned again.
>>>Misato: That went easy enough.
>>>Touji: You expect him to put up a fight?
>>>Misato: Nope 'smiles' isn't that right Pen-Pen?
>>>Pen-Pen: Wark. ( whatever)
"Why are you playing here anyway? Don't you have your own
apartment?"
"We don't have a TV."
"Buy one!"
"We can't afford one."
"But you just spent God knows how much money on those new dresses
you just bought two days ago!"
"Yeah, and now I'm broke..."
>>>Shinji: Food or dresses.
>>>Misato/Hikari: Dresses.
>>>Shinji: TV or dresses?
>>>MIsato/Hikari: Dresses.
>>>Touji: Why?
>>>Hikari: If you have to ask you'll never know.
I sighed as I let myself slump on the table in defeat. I tried to
look at Rei for help... no use, she was still glued to the TV.
>>>Kensuke: Thats a crual way to gloat.
>>>Hikari: All that hair and super-glue..
>>>Shinji: Last time I played her she just glued my shirt.
>>>Misato: That took alot of time to get off...maybe we shouldn't let Asuka play those games.
I really
wished Asuka hadn't shown her that game...
"Well, if you can't study, at least try and be useful! I'm dying of
thirst! You could at least treat your house guests better, baka!"
House guests!?
>>>Touji: You know, Masters.
>>>Kensuke: Kinda like us, now drinks!
>>>Misato: Yebisu.
>>>Pen-Pen: WARK!
>>>Misato: Make that two.
>>>Shinji: 'house guests my ass! free loaders more like it, does commanded'
"Hai, hai..."
Why did I keep taking this? Because I wanted Rei to have fun. And
also because I didn't really dare take the chance to upset Asuka.
>>>Touji: Better to serve the devil then stand in her path.
>>>Misato: All women can be like that.
>>>Touji/Kensuke gulp.
So, I
just did what I was told and went to the kitchen to get some drinks. I
guess it was alright anyway, I was thirsty myself. Ignoring all the
beers on Misato's side of the fridge,
>>>Misato: Good, I need all of them.
>>>Shinji returning: But you have at least 4 cases!
>>>Misato: Never know when a party will break out.
>>>Shinji: Or your car breaks down again.
>>>Misato: I was picking YOU up when it got damaged!
I opted for some orange juice. I
didn't feel like making tea and we were out of soda (Asuka and Rei had
run out of soda two days ago, so the redhead had found it easier to raid
our fridge than going out to buy some).
>>>Kensuke: Wonder what Ayanami looks like during a Suger-High.
>>>Shinji: Exactly the same just...more expressive.
>>>Misato: Oh really...find this out when you sneek over to her place?
>>>Shinji: Misato-san please!..don't kid like that.
>>>Misato: Ah, like shooting fish in a barrel.
When I came back to the living room with a tray holding three
glasses of juice, I noticed by Asuka's expression that she had obviously
lost *again* to Rei. I smirked; at least there was some justice.
"Here."
Rei took the glass, finally acknowledging my existence for the first
time in an hour by thanking me (which gave Asuka the opportunity to
knock down Rei's character in the game).
>>>Hikari: Thats obsession.
>>>Misato: Over stimulation.
>>>Kensuke: THE NEW DOA GAME!!
>>>Hikari/Misato: Ew.
I then handed a glass to Asuka
who happily drank it now that victory was hers. Soon enough, the two
girls went back to the game. I sighed and tried to go back to work.
That's when Misato came in. As Misato entered the apartment, I
immediately sensed that something was wrong.
>>>Kensuke: How can that be, she just ma...
>>>Misato: Yes Mr. Aida?
>>>Kensuke: No..nothing 'gotta watch it.'
>>>Shinji/Touji snicker.
"I'm back."
The way she had said those words... Misato usually tried to be
cheerful, even if her day at work had sucked.
>>>Misato: Every day but Saterday and Sunday sucks..Nerv sucks..damn bastard
>>> Commander making me do all the reports...WHY WHY!
>>>Shinji: How much did you drink before coming home?
>>>Misato: I forget.
>>>crew sweetdrops...even the sleeping duo.
But today... she looked
tired, almost on the verge of collapse. But worst of all... her eyes
seemed... lifeless.
Neither Rei nor Asuka noticed this, being too engrossed in their
game. They probably didn't even realize that Misato had come in. And the
volume of the TV was so high that I had barely heard her myself.
>>>Touji: That and being boarderline deaf due to that SDAT of yours.
>>>Kensuke: Bet your ear-drums bleed.
>>>Shinji: I..don't have it that loud...do I?
The Major walked toward the fridge, but as her hand reached to open
it, she stopped.
I was growing worried. No matter what happened, she always gulped
down a beer after work.
>>>Shinji: The Pope could be visiting and she'd drink before saying Hi.
>>>Hikari: Asuka said you drink while bathing..is that right?
>>>Misato: It was just that one time..spilled it and...
>>>Shinji: You drank all the water in the tub.
>>>Misato: I can't waste it!
Then, she looked toward the phone and noticed the light that
indicated a message. I hadn't even seen it until now. For the first time
since she came in, some expression showed on her face. But I didn't like
what I saw.
>>>Misato: Oh they think I..'I can't stand him anyway.'
>>>Shinji: Misato-san?
>>>Misato: Nothing.
Almost clumsily, she made her way to the phone and pushed the
button.
I think that neither Rei nor Asuka heard the message. They would
have reacted. But I heard it.
'Katsuragi, it's me. I'm sure you're listening to this message,
after I've caused you so much trouble. Sorry. Please tell Ritchan "I'm
sorry."
>>>Misato: You tell her, you ruined her lab coat not me!
>>>Kensuke: What?
>>>Touji: Messages from the great beyond.
And there's one more thing to trouble you with: I've been
growing... flowers.
>>>Shinji: What happend to the watermelons.....'looks at the others.'
>>>HIkari: WATERMELON!
>>>Touji/Kensuke: Take us to them..now!
>>>Misato wiping drool off her lips: I love watermelon.
>>>Shinji: 'Sorry Kaji-san.'
I'd appreciate it if you could water them. Shinji-
kun knows where they are. Katsuragi, the truth is with you.
>>>Kensuke: No, the truth is "out their!" ( X-files used to ROCK..before later seasons)
Don't
hesitate. Move ahead! If I can see you again, I will say the words that
I could not say eight years ago. Bye.'
>>>Misato: Get bent?
>>>Shinji: Here's your wallet?
I didn't really react to the words at first. I understood what the
meaning behind them was, but I think that part of me didn't want to even
consider that possibility. But the tears that fell on the wooden table,
as well as the sobs that escaped my guardian's lips before her knees
gave in and she collapsed on the table...
>>>Misato: Kami-sama I'm a good actriss!
>>>Shinji: You mean?
>>>Misato: That man's just a friend..still I won't want him dead..but...
>>>Shinji puts hand on her shoulder: Its ok.
>>>Misato wipes a tear: They make these movies to realistic.
it was impossible to ignore
that. She was... crying in a way I would never have thought possible
from her. Something had happened... surely, something had happened...
to Kaji...
"Misato-san..."
As I ran to her side, Rei and Asuka finally noticed what was going
on around them.
>>>Shinji: Thank Kami-san I did something, I'd would have to ram my head
>>> against a cinder block if I did't do SOMETHING.
>>>Misato: You care to much sometimes you know that.
>>>Touji/Kensuke: Lucky bastard.
"Mein Gott! Misato, what's wrong?"
>>>Touji: Bout time she realized SOMETHING!
Asuka was probably too surprised to do a thing. Rei has a puzzled
look on her face, as if what she was currently seeing something she had
difficulties to comprehend and did not know how to react to.
>>>Hikari: Thats sad on so many levels.
>>>Shinji: Name one?
>>>Hikari: She cried before but doesn't know what to do when somebody else does?
>>>Misato: Selfish girl isn't she 'smiles.'
After all,
she mostly only knew the Major's confident and sometime carefree side,
she didn't know the sensible woman that Misato could also be. Awkwardly,
I touched the Major's shoulder with a finger.
"Misato-san..."
"Shinji! Why? WHY?"
>>>Misato: Why did they have to cancel Sailor Moon!
>>>Touji: Only make two seasons of "those who hunt elves"
>>>Kensuke: Couldn't Kami-sama let me switch minds with Pen-pen right now?
Her reaction took me by surprise. She grabbed my shirt, pulling me
down on the floor, before collapsing herself, then shrinking into a
fetus position like a child would have.
>>>Hikari: Bet those two wouldn't like to see that.
>>>Shinji: She inhaled me!
>>>Misato: Didn't know your back could bend that way.
I've seen many things in my life. I've been in the heat of battle.
I've seen people get hurt. I've seen people die. But the sight that
always hurts the most is seeing a woman cry this way.
>>>Shinji: Only saw it in movies..but my fault.
>>>Misato: Sensitive!
>>>Touji: More like wuss.
>>>Hikari: You insesitive JERK!
>>>Touji: What I say?
I hate that. And each time I hate myself because I feel so helpless.
I looked at this grown woman on the floor, crying before me, and I
didn't know what to do. So I simply knelt down and took her in my arms,
hoping it would at least provide some comfort.
"It's okay Misato-san... it's okay..."
>>>Misato: 'This is to familiar to...' (again mst of "lonely Hearts")
>>>Shinji: Misato-san your blushing.
>>>Touji: OH no..nonnonononono
>>>Hikari: Touji, pull your head out of you butt! its not that.
>>>Kensuke: Just emberisment?
>>>Shinji/Hikari: Yeah 'maybe.'
I felt stupid for saying that, for I didn't even know exactly what
was wrong, but those were the only words that came to mind. But those
words must have brought some comfort, as Misato began to calm down a
bit.
It was strange holding her this way. Misato was my guardian, the
person who was always there when I had a problem, at least when she was
sober. Usually, she was the one who tried to comfort others. Also, I had
never held a fully grown woman in my arms before, only teenage girls.
For the first time, I realized that, as beautiful as they could be, Rei
and Asuka still had a lot of growing up to do compared to Misato. As I
did.
I looked up at the two girls, who appeared completely lost as to
what to do in this extraordinary situation. Asuka tried to approach us,
but took a step back right after making a step forward. She stared at
us, then at a confused Rei, then at the door, then at her feet, then at
us again.
"Shinji, do you think that you'll..."
"I'll handle things."
She seemed a bit guilty, yet relieved.
"I... I... I'm sorry to be this useless... I just..."
"It's okay..."
Asuka looked at Rei and with a silent sign, indicated the door. With
a nod from the blue haired girl, both were out of the apartment an
instant later.
Well, seemed that the task of taking care of Misato was mine alone
now that the girls had left me on my own. I couldn't really blame them.
I felt lost myself. I... I was only a child... I didn't know that to do.
"A fool... such a fool..."
"Misato-san..."
We stayed there for a while, maybe a few minutes, maybe an hour, I
didn't know. Each time I thought that she would stop crying, the tears
just came back, full strength. When it did, I just held her tighter.
When she would calm down, I would let my fingers gently flow through the
long dark purple hair, hoping it would have some soothing effect. It
felt soft under my hand, almost like silk. Neither Rei nor Asuka's hair
was this soft. Maybe it was a side effect of all that LCL we were
constantly immersed in. Or maybe Misato simply had softer hair.
"Misato-san... maybe you should lie down in your room..." I tried to
suggest, once she seemed to calm down for good.
"Yes..." she barely whispered.
I helped her get up and practically carried her there. She just
didn't seem to have the strength to stay up on her legs. It had not been
easy. While of average size for a woman, Misato was still a lot taller
than me, and she was definitely heavier than Asuka. It was a lot to
carry for my small and weak frame. But we did make it. With a foot, my
hands were too busy holding her, I opened the sliding door. I had never
really entered her room, it was considered as off-limits, and I couldn't
help but gasp at the state of disorder it was in. I had taken a peek
once, around the time I had came to Tokyo-3. At the time, it was already
a mess. But now... I looked in disgust at the beer cans, litter and
clothes lying around. I wondered, was it me who was abnormal for wanting
to sleep in a tidy room?
Of course, with my general luck, something was bound to happen.
As best as I could, I tried to carry Misato to her bed without
tripping on some of her stuff. However I didn't plan on Misato walking
on a beer can and, with her already unsteady balance, falling on the
said bed, dragging me along with her. The outcome of this... I had
fallen on top of a female... *again*! Surely, it was a curse! Well, at
least this time, my hands were on the bed and not... somewhere else.
I know some people who would not label this as "bad luck".
We both opened our eyes. I stared at her dark brown eyes, red and
puffy from too much crying. She stared into mine. Then, I felt an arm on
my back, pushing our bodies together and a pair of lips on mine...
* * *
I woke up with a start, as I felt something hit my stomach. My eyes
snapped open to see a foot there. I looked at the owner of the foot.
Misato was dead asleep. She now seemed at peace. I almost laughed as I
noticed the way she was drooling on her pillow.
Careful not to wake her, I got up and exited the room. Thankfully,
in her sleep she had released the hold she had taken on my wrist to keep
me close.
As I looked at a clock for the current time, I realized it was very
early in the morning, but not early enough to go back to bed and try to
catch some sleep. I would have to go to school soon enough. I yawned. I
had probably barely managed to sleep one hour, maybe two, last night. I
could feel it, the day would be a very long one... Lazily, I made my way
toward the bathroom. Maybe I would feel better after a long bath. I had
plenty of time to take one.
* * *
I exited the bathroom to end up face-to-face with Misato. Her hair
was a mess and she was wearing her bathrobe, clearly intending to take a
bath herself. I felt pretty self conscious as I stood there, wearing
only a towel around my waist. It was clear that for both of us, this
seemed like an embarrassing situation. We looked at each other. I
couldn't help but remember what had happened a few hours ago. She must
have noticed the blush on my face, as she blushed herself.
At least, she seemed to be feeling a bit better, part of me noted.
"I... I... I'll prepare breakfast. You... you can use the bathroom
now," I said, in an attempt to put an end to this awkward situation.
Then, I ran to my room, as fast as one holding a towel around his waist
could.
* * *
When Misato finally joined me for breakfast, she was already
completely dressed in her NERV uniform, unlike every other morning. As
usual, her hand reached for the fridge to no doubt pull out a beer, but
I stopped her by putting my own hand on the door.
"I think this will be more helpful," I said as I handed her a cup of
coffee. I had already drunk two, even though I hated the taste.
She gave me a weird look, but gave in. While she did look better
than the night before, she seemed a bit worn out. She probably didn't
have enough strength to protest.
Coffee in hand, she sat down and took a few sips of the hot brown
liquid. Without so much as a word on my part, I put a plate of toast in
front of her and pulled some jam out of the fridge.
"That's all we have for breakfast?"
"I didn't really feel like cooking."
Misato nodded in understanding. As I sat down, she eyed me
nervously.
"Shinji... about last night... well... I... I wasn't thinking
straight..."
"It's okay, Misato-san."
I smiled at her, a warm smile. She seemed a bit surprised by my
reaction.
"No harm done, right?"
I paused for a few seconds. Should I really say that?
"Besides... it was... enjoyable..."
I knew that I was probably blushing heavily, now. Misato stared at
me, wide eyed, then blushed herself before laughing lightly. It felt
good to see her that way.
"As long as we don't tell Asuka and Rei, we should manage to stay
alive," I added, before laughing lightly myself.
We didn't really say much more after that. We were probably still a
bit uncomfortable. And I could tell that Misato was perturbed by
something else. As I noticed the way she seemed to stare at the phone, I
grew worried that she would collapse in another fit of tears. That is,
until we heard a "quack" coming from her side.
"Pen-Pen!"
The smell of toast had probably woken up the now hungry penguin.
Before I could get up and try to find something for him to eat, Misato
picked him up and held him tightly in her arms, in the same way a little
girl would hold a teddy bear. She looked so sad... This couldn't go on
much longer. Something was hurting her and I felt that... she needed to
share that pain.
I was reluctant to ask the question that was on my mind. I had an
idea of what was tearing her apart. But... I didn't dare ask. Ignorance
is bliss. What you don't know can't hurt you. And... I didn't want to be
hurt myself...
"What... what happened... Misato-san? Is... is it... is it Kaji?"
Damn! I had asked!
She winced upon hearing Kaji's name, and held the warm water bird
tighter. Tears silently made their way down her cheeks to fall on the
animal's feathers.
The next words were harder to say. Well, no turning back now...
"So... it's really about Kaji. I... I heard the message last night.
Is he... is he... dead?"
Shock appeared in her face. She almost dropped Pen-Pen. She put him
back on the ground, probably not willing to take the risk of such a
thing occurring again.
"Shinji-kun... you... you don't have to know..."
She looked at me, her eyes almost pleading.
"I... I can't... I can't run away from the truth... not forever.
Besides, I already know. But... if you don't tell me... I know part of
me will... just... try to... evade the truth..."
She looked at me, her expression shifting from surprise to pride.
Despite the tears that just kept falling, she gave me a shy but warm
smile, before becoming very serious. Her lips parted, she tried to
speak, but failed. Only the second time did I hear a faint, "Yes. He's
dead."
Up until now, I had done a good job in avoiding the truth. It was so
easy. Kaji was such an extraordinary man. He always seemed so cool, so
in control. He always seemed to have a solution to every problem. Kaji,
dead? This just didn't seem to make sense. So far, I had avoided the
truth. But now that Misato had said the words...
"I see."
These where the only words I could think to say. As I spoke, I was
realized how dry my throat suddenly was.
At first, the feeling I felt was not as I though it would be. I knew
sadness. I knew how it felt. But I didn't feel that way. I felt
rather... hollow. This was disturbing.
"Are you sure?"
Part of me still didn't want to believe it. Maybe that was why I was
feeling this way.
Misato nodded. Calmly, I raised my cup of coffee to take a sip.
"Misato... this is Kaji we're talking about... he can't... he can't
be dead..."
"Shinji. He's dead. I know."
The tone of her voice. The unmistakable hurt on her face.
That, I couldn't ignore.
First Mother.
Along with her, Father.
And now Kaji...
My cup of coffee fell on the table, part of the warm liquid
splashing on my shirt. I felt a familiar pain in my chest, and familiar
tears running from my now blurred eyes.
"Shinji!"
How odd... now, she was the one to get up and embrace me in her
arms, despite her own tears.
"Shinji..."
It was a good thing that Asuka was now living with Rei. She probably
would have been disgusted at seeing me cry like this. She would probably
have said something like, "Are you a man or what?"
No, I was wrong. I knew how much she liked Kaji. He had been her
first crush. He also had been the closest thing she had to a father. He
had been the closest thing I ever had to a father, so I could imagine
how she would have felt. If she had been here... she would probably have
been even more hurt than me.
"Let's... let's not tell Asuka..." I managed to say after a while.
"You're right," agreed Misato, still holding me. "Just make up some
story about him dumping me and going back to Germany. It will do... for
now."
"Yes... we can tell her... when all this is over. With time... she
won't think about him as much..."
Misato let go of me. We both tried to wipe our tears. She would soon
have to go to work and I would have to go to school. The pain and sudden
void in our lives still existed, but somehow, I think we bolt felt a bit
better. Just a bit.
"Are you okay, Misato-san?"
"No... but... one day I will..."
There was a long pause. Neither of us knew what to say.
"He said that if we were to meet again, he would have said the words
that he should have said eight years ago. I regret not having said them
myself. Shinji... if you haven't already... tell Asuka and Rei that you
love them. You never know... when those you love... will no longer be
there..."
I nodded. Those three words. 'I love you'. I had never said them
properly to either of them.
I stood up and was on my way to go change and pick up my school bag
when a question occurred to me. A simple question, but it had a lot of
impact.
"Why?"
Misato looked at me for a long while. She seemed hesitant to answer.
I guess that she was working on choosing the right words.
"He was a security risk."
Hearing those words, only one conclusion came to my mind. My hands
tightened into fists.
"Did HE give the order to kill him?"
"The order came from his office."
"I see."
I looked at my fists, as I started to register that my fingers were
hurting. My knuckles were white. I opened my hands, so as not to harm
myself. But the anger was still there.
"I don't know how, I don't know when, but he'll pay..." I said in a
low voice that probably worried Misato, judging by the expression she
was wearing.
She came to me and put one hand one my shoulder, and the other
brushed through my hair. It had a calming effect. Suddenly, I realized
that we had never been quite as close as we were now.
"Don't do anything rash, Shinji. I'll take over Kaji's work. I'll
look for the truth. And once I've found it, we'll see what we can do
with it."
"Misato-san..."
I looked at her. Pain had left her eyes, to be replaced by purpose
and resolve.
"Promise me you'll be careful."
Again, she embraced me into a hug, a more cheerful one.
"I will, Shinji-kun. I will..."
* * *
"So, what was Misato's problem?"
There was concern as well as curiosity in Asuka's voice. I wasn't
surprised that she would ask. But I hadn't expected it so soon. We had
barely left the apartment complex to go to school.
"Kaji dumped her," I said flatly. Quickly, my brain was working to
build a reasonable story.
Asuka stopped dead in her tracks.
"What?!"
"I believe he said that Kaji-san broke his relationship with Major
Katsuragi."
Asuka glared at Rei.
"I know what he said! I... I just can't believe it..."
"Believe it. They're not together anymore. And probably never will
be."
This wasn't completely the truth, but it wasn't completely a lie
either.
"But... but... they love each other! Why?" asked Asuka.
"Seems he didn't love her as much as we thought. The instant he got
what he wanted... he just threw her away."
Shock registered on both girls faces as they heard those words. I
felt bad saying such things about Kaji. But it was for Asuka's own good.
It's weird. It's so easy to lie when the lie causes less pain than the
truth.
"He got... what he wanted...?"
Apparently, my lie wasn't very convincing after all. Asuka had
trouble accepting it.
"I believe he meant that Kaji-san did not feel anything anymore for
Major Katsuragi once he had sex with her," Rei conveniently explained.
Surely Asuka had understood what I had meant. After all, she was
supposed to be more intelligent than me. However, understanding
something and accepting it are two very different things. Luckily, Rei's
words usually had a lot of impact, which made this "fact" easier for
Asuka to accept.
"That can't be..."
Anyone who knows Asuka knows that her emotions are very intense. So,
it was no surprise to see her facial expression to change from shock and
disbelief to boiling anger in barely a second.
"That bastard! When I see him, I'll... I'll... I'll tear him apart!
To think I thought he was so great...!"
"You won't see him again."
"Uh?"
Rei looked at me, a suspicious look on her face. I guess I had let
too much out with those words. She could now see through the lies. But
Asuka didn't seem to understand. It was all that mattered.
"He left for Germany," I lied again.
"That coward! Humpf!"
This said, Asuka stomped toward school. I guess she needed to work
out some anger.
"Don't tell her," I simply said to Rei.
She silently nodded in understanding.
The truth is something precious. But it can also hurt. Sometimes,
it's better to feel anger then pain. Not always, but sometimes, it is. A
few days later, I realized it had been a wise decision to keep this
secret from her...
* * *
As I let myself fall on my bed, I sighed in relief. What a day...
School had been okay, and there hadn't been any tests at NERV today, but
still, I was dead tired. I had been worried when Misato skipped dinner,
but I felt a bit better when she called, to say that she would be
working late. She was probably trying to keep herself occupied. I
couldn't blame her. I had not known Kaji as well as her and the pain was
still there. I had found myself unconsciously crying a few times today.
Misato... She was my superior officer, my guardian. But she was also
always there when I needed her. I thought about all the times she had
given me advice. All the times she had tried to help me, even if I
didn't want anybody around. She was like... a mother.
Then I thought back at the night before. How vulnerable she had
been. How it had felt to hold her in my arms, so close. How she had
seemed lost, grabbing my wrist, begging not to leave her alone in her
room.
A lot of guys would probably have been envious. She was very pretty
after all. Even if she was lazy around the house.
Not only was she my superior, and the closest thing I had to a
mother now, but she was also a woman, I realized.
I thought back at the moment when we had both fallen onto her bed.
How she had drawn us together. How our lips had touched and the way it
felt, as I melted into that kiss...
I closed my eyes and tried to chase those kind of thoughts out of my
head. Dammit! I already loved Rei and Asuka! I couldn't think about
Misato this way!
It was only a simple kiss, dammit!!!
I tried to concentrate on the mother figure that Misato was to me.
This was all I wanted, what I longed for. Someone who would care for
me... but not in the same way as Rei or Asuka.
Keeping this image in mind, I slowly drifted to sleep, wearing a
contented smile.
- - -
Kaji Ryouji groaned as he struggled to get up. The pain in his chest
was almost unbearable. Almost. He inserted a finger into the hole in his
shirt and could feel a bullet imbedded in the metal plate that he had
bound there. It had stopped the bullet, but the impact had likely broken
a few of his ribs. At least, he was grateful that the bullet had been
meant for his heart and not his head. Still, he regretted not having
used something more sophisticated like a light bullet proof vest.
Painfully, he stood. He wasn't sure how long he had been
unconscious, so he had to act fast before the cleaning crew would come.
Out of its nearby hiding place, Kaji pulled out a half filled
garbage bag as well as the corpse of a NERV security agent who had
previously tried to shoot him. The man was also an infiltrated agent of
SEELE. It was ironic that even "dead" he would still do some work in
Ikari's favor.
Carefully, Kaji took the man's wallet and replaced it with his own.
He also removed the black vest and sunglasses the man wore. The man had
similar build and hair color to him. But one problem remained. From the
garbage bag, Kaji pulled a gun equipped with a silencer. Emptying an
entire clip into the corpse's head was enough to make its face
unidentifiable. The mess it had made would also prompt the cleanup crew
to get rid of the corpse as soon as possible. He almost laughed,
thinking about all the time people had wished to wipe the smile off Kaji
Ryouji's face. He thought they would have approved.
From his bag, Kaji removed a black vest, similar the the one the man
had worn. He put it on, as well as the man's sunglasses. He put the
blood stained vest of the man into the bag, to be disposed off into the
nearest garbage can. Smiling, the man formerly known as Kaji Ryouji
walked away from the corpse, knowing that now he would be able to easily
leave NERV Headquarters. However, the smile on his face was fake.
"I'm sorry to impose this on you Katsuragi," he thought, "but it's
the only way I can protect you..."
There was still much to do. Now that he was dead, he could attempt
to track down SEELE. Only a shadow had hopes of exposing an organization
that ruled from the shadows. If he could find a way to eliminate SEELE,
then Katsuragi and the Children would be safer.
"Take care, Katsuragi. Protect this city and the Children as best
you can. If I'm successful, maybe we will meet again..."
[To be continued...]
Next time:
Chapter 9 - Shattered mind / I'm here for you
Omake:
"You're a little late, aren't you?" Kaji asked as he smirked. Misato
hated that smirk. So she shot him in the chest and walked away.
"That was for using me." She said grimly.
After she had left, Kaji stood up and took off the kevlar vest he
was wearing. He took care of business, (i.e. - replacing his body with
one of a dead agent, plus he had to use the bathroom; Misato could be
really scary) and walked towards the nearest door to leave.
"Oh, hey Hyuuga." Kaji smiled.
"You'll never hurt the Major again!" Hyuuga screamed.
*BLAM!*
Kaji fell to the ground. Satisfied with his work, Hyuuga went back
to NERV Command. After he left, Kaji got up, took off his kevlar stomach
protector, and walked out the door.
As he boarded the elevator, he ran into Asuka.
"Asuka-chan! How are you?"
"This is for leading me on!!!"
*BLAM!*
Kaji slumped over before falling to the ground. Satisfied with her
work, Asuka stepped off the elevator and made her way home to Shin-
chan's cooking. Seeing she had left, Kaji stood up and removed his
kevlar jock strap. He doubted he would ever have kids, though.
After sneaking out of the Geofront, Kaji decided a quick drink would
be a fine idea. So he went to the nearest bar.
He made himself comfy and ordered a beer. Then he noticed his
companion next to him.
"Pen-Pen?"
"Wark!"
*BLAM!*
Kaji fell to the ground yet again. Satisfied, Pen-Pen finished off
his beer, then Kaji's, and left. After he left, Kaji stood up and
removed his kevlar thigh socks. By now, Kaji was not happy. So he
quickly made his way to the airport, stopping only at 7-11 for a ho-ho
and a porno mag.
"Kaji-san!" Shinji exclaimed.
*BLAM!*
Shinji slumped to the floor. Better to be safe than sorry, Kaji
thought as he walked to the airport.
(my thanks again to Godsend777 for that little piece)
Author's notes:
I scared a few of you, didn't I? I'm sure some of you did wonder if
Shinji and Misato... perverts! ^_^
Now, the big question, who shot Kaji? Having Misato do the job would
have brought more drama to this chapter, and could very well explain her
reaction when she heard the message (without Shinji, she would have
probably stayed on the kitchen floor until morning). But... as hard as I
tried to explore this possibility... I had trouble finding proper
justification for her shooting him. So, like in the series, I left the
question open. Of course, some of you may still wonder what Misato
exactly meant by "Shinji. He's dead. I know."... (am I evil or what?)
About Kaji's fate... Well, I'll admit it, I picked up the idea from a
fanfic series I really love and admire. I won't name it, not to spoil
some people. I thought it was a great idea and the irony of the
situation was just fitting. Also, it gives me some possibilities to
exploit in case I encounter some problems toward the End.
Alain Gravel
rakna@globetrotter.qc.ca
September 16th 1999
Started on February 20th 1999
First pre-reader draft finished on September 7th 1999
Second pre-reader draft finished on September 16th 1999
Final draft finished on October 10th 1999
Final revisions on March 14th 2000