Neon Genesis Evangelion Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction ❯ The Adventures of Jusenkyo Man: All About Eva ❯ Legs Eleven ( Chapter 11 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

The Adventures of Jusenkyo Man:

All About Eva.

By Lord Raa

Legs Eleven.

~>>>~

Disclaim-me-do: Konnten Sie mir ein progressives Messer geben, bitte?

~>>>~

The “story” thus far (for those that care or aren't too familiar with the whole Jusenkyo Man idea): After having his curse unlocked following the defeat of Herb, Ranma Saotome started to develop new powers that related to his Jusenkyo curse (this happened in “Unexpected Effect”). It seemed that life was finally looking up for him, what with the fiancée situation seemingly being sorted. However, it was not to be.

Disaster struck, and everybody on Earth was killed when the biosphere was destroyed in a meteor shower. Almost everybody, for a powerful ship had quickly gotten Ranma off-world for an important mission - ensuring the survival of the human race.

The first stop on his travels throughout the multiverse was to a Silver Millennium timeline where the Senshi were about to be annihilated by an unstoppable foe. It was here that Setsuna Meiou, Sailor Pluto, decided to accompany the pigtailed voyager.

Over the years, Ranma picked up many fighting techniques, including Hiten Mitsurugi, and used them against his nemesis: the Flid and their agents.

And now, he is trying to prevent the Third Impact…

~>>>~

Because Misato was using the facilities in her apartment, it was up to one of the two training pilots to answer the door. Asuka used her “natural leadership” to nominate Rei for this task.

“Can I help you?” the blue haired pilot asked the trio of visitors.

“We were looking for Ikari-kun,” Hikari answered, a light blush colouring her cheeks. “We haven't seen him at school for a few days, and as his friends, we didn't want him to fall behind with his schoolwork.”

“Shinji-kun is not here at the moment. He is currently in hospital recovering from an injury.”

“Was he hurt in the Attack?” Kensuke asked. If Shinji was being hospitalised on a regular basis, then he might have to reconsider begging the NERV Captain for a chance to pilot the Evas.

Misato exited the toilet and saw that Rei was speaking with someone. “Who're you talking to, Rei?”

“It is some of Shinji-kun's classmates. I was about to ask them to leave, as they are interrupting our training.”

“Training?” Hikari asked.

“Yes,” Misato said as she walked up to the teenagers. “This Angel requires two pilots working in complete coordination-”

The ringing of the house phone interrupted the purple haired woman.

“Hello?”

>Misato, it's Ritsuko here. There's been an emergency here at NERV. The Commander has collapsed.>

“Is he ok?”

>He's in a stable condition at the moment. Fuyutsuki wanted you to continue training the pilots.>

“What about Shinji?”

>He's the one that called the doctor. Though he shouldn't have been out of his bed.>

“Ok. I'll let Rei and Asuka know. See you later,” Misato hung up.

Asuka insisted the captain tell her what was going on.

“Commander Ikari has been rushed to the medical facility.”

“Commander Ikari?” Touji asked. “Does that mean he's related to Shinji?”

“The Commander of NERV is Shinji-kun's father,” Rei confirmed.

The quiet pilot turned away from the door and headed towards her room.

“Where do you think you're going?” Asuka demanded.

“I am going to visit the Commander and to comfort Shinji-kun as best I can,” Rei replied. She didn't even bother turning her head to speak to the girl with the unpleasant attitude.

“I'm sorry, Rei, but the Sub-Commander wants you two to continue training. I'll go in and see if there's any news.” The captain turned to face the Third Child's classmates. “Sorry this has been a wasted trip for you. I'll let Shinji know you stopped by.”

Misato grabbed her jacket, purse and car keys before ushering out the Third Child's callers.

~>>>~

Walking to the room where Gendo Ikari was under observation, Misato readied the dressing down she was going to give the Third Child for not being in his room. When she saw the pilot hobble way to the toilet, she completely forgot what she was going to say.

Yet again, the tactical officer of NERV was distracted by Shinji's bare behind being displayed.

“Misato-chan!” a familiar, yet unwelcome male voice called out to her.

This was enough to wake Ms. Katsuragi from her fantasy.

“What is it, Kaji?” Katsuragi asked, venom dripping from her voice.

“I wanted to ask you out for this evening,” Kaji said in his most suave voice.

“I see you've tarted yourself up. Oh, you stepped closer to the razor this time,” Misato mocked her old boyfriend.

“That hurts, Misato.” Kaji clutched at his heart. “I made this effort just for you.”

“Thanks, I am so flattered,” Misato deadpanned. “Now, if you're finished your failed attempt at fraternising with your co-worker, I'm here to see the Commander.”

“And Shinji.”

“Fuck you, Kaji. I'm a professional,” Misato shot back angrily.

Now it was Kaji's turn to counter. “Try your lies elsewhere, Misato. I saw you gawp at Shinji's ass!”

Ritsuko wordlessly walked up to the arguing pair.

“As entertaining as watching this is, I'm going to have to ask the pair of you to SHUT THE FUCK UP!” the blonde shouted at the “adults”. “This is a hospital, can you keep it down?”

Misato took a breath to calm herself. “I'm sorry, Ritsuko; this fuckwit keeps hassling me for a date.”

Kaji twitched at the cruel dismissal from his former lover.

Ritsuko would normally have tried to set the two back up, as it would have made for one less competitor for Shinji, but she couldn't spend the time to get the overgrown teenagers to speak to each other on civil terms. Especially when there was a regenerating Angel not far from the base.

“Well, now that that's settled, Misato, I take it you're here for an update on the Commander?” Ritsuko asked, leading the Captain away from the man that had tried the same thing with her earlier.

“Yes, how's he doing?” Misato asked, glaring daggers at the lecherous man before walking off with Ritsuko.

Shinji had finished using the toilets and exited started on his way back to his father's room.

Kaji, still upset with his encounter with Misato, was standing in the corridor. He thought about why he was so bothered about Shinji's popularity with the ladies of Tokyo-3. He was so wrapped up in thought trying to find an excuse that wasn't simple jealousy that he didn't notice that he was blocking the hallway.

“Excuse me, Kaji-san,” a tired voice requested. “You're in the way.”

“What?” He turned around to see Shinji standing on a pair of crutches. “Oh, sorry.”

Shinji smiled as he thanked the man, not knowing that there had been an incident with Misato.

Kaji took this the wrong way and silently vowed revenge, before slipping away to sulk.

~>>>~

In Gendo Ikari's room, Ritsuko was just explaining what the shorthand on Gendo's chart meant.

“This means that he should be given glucose in his IV. Misato, will you pay attention!”

“Sorry,” Misato sheepishly replied. “I was thinking about Kaji.”

“Oh?” Ritsuko thought that this was promising. `Perhaps I can still get those two together and I can have Shinji.'

“Yeah. Doesn't he seem desperate to you?” Misato asked. “I mean, he's trying everything to get someone in the sack. Don't think that I've not noticed him chasing after others when I turned him down.”

“I know what you mean,” Ritsuko replied. “He's tried it on with me, but I've always told him I'm too busy.”

“Told who you're too busy?” a sleepy voice asked.

“Kaji. Weren't you listening?” Ritsuko asked. Then identity of who it was that asked the question sank in. “Commander?”

“Yes,” the fatigued voice replied. “What happened?”

“You collapsed in the men's room and Shinji phoned for Doctor Murata. That was earlier this afternoon. How are you feeling?” Ritsuko asked, already alerting the medical staff.

“Father, you're awake!” Shinji stated the obvious, having just entered the room with Dr. Murata sipping on a cup of coffee.

“Yes.” Gendo blinked, his eyes not yet ready for the light in his room. “So then, Ritsuko, where's Dr. Murata?”

“I'm here, Commander. I can't say that I approve of you having so many visitors at the moment,” the grey haired man commented. “Well, it's a good thing that you're awake.”

“Yes, I suppose so. What's the prognosis?”

“As far as I can tell, you should be ok, if you get plenty of rest,” Murata answered. “One thing did puzzle me though; when we did a blood test, we saw what something odd in your results.”

“What was it?” Shinji asked, concerned for his father's wellbeing.

“I noticed what looked like metal particulates in the sample. You haven't been in a workshop have you?”

“Not recently,” Gendo replied after a moment's thought. “And I certainly don't spend enough time in one to have a build up in my body.”

The doctor frowned, he didn't like medical puzzles like this.

Fuyutsuki rushed to the room, looking for Gendo.

“Ikari, I've got some bad news,” he said, breathing hard from exertion.

“What?” Gendo asked as he scratched his beard with his right hand.

“There's been a series of incidents concerning SEELE that we need to discuss,” Fuyutsuki explained as he took a seat. “I think we should do so in private.”

“Agreed. Everybody else, wait outside,” Gendo ordered.

As Shinji and the others left the room, an eavesdropping Kaji found himself unable to resist this opportunity to get a small measure of revenge. Though the normally unshaven man realised that he was behaving in an extremely petty fashion, it made him feel better to see Shinji suffer some misfortune.

Sticking his foot out, Kaji tripped Shinji up, causing the inured boy to stumble into Ritsuko. The resultant domino effect knocked the faux blonde to the ground, she landing on her backside with a stunned Shinji landing on top.

What bothered Misato the most was not that the Third Child had fallen to the floor, but the fact that her “old friend” had been fortunate enough to be in the right place to steal a kiss from “her beloved Shin-chan”.

As Ritsuko was in better health than Shinji, she recovered before him and slipped him some tongue, causing the bewildered boy's eyes to spring open.

In his struggle to get up, Shinji placed his hands somewhere that would be considered highly inappropriate for most co-workers. Though it must be noted that Ritsuko did not seem too disinclined to have a semi-naked Shinji lie on top of her with his hands on her breasts.

The evidence of this conclusion for the casual observer? The fact that the scientist's shapely legs were wrapped around Shinji's waist.

Misato, livid at the brazen actions of the doctor, grabbed the squirming pilot and wrenched him from Ritsuko's vice-like grip. Holding Shinji like the he was a stereotypical damsel in distress and she was the knight in shining armour, the purple haired captain whisked Shinji off to the safety of his hospital room.

So incensed by the overt sexual advances her friend saw fit to display, Misato's hands failed to take similar advantage of a scantily clad Shinji.

Slamming the door shut behind them, Misato gently placed the panicky pilot on the bed and smiled to reassure him.

“W-what just happened Misato?” Shinji asked as he wrapped himself in the bed sheets.

“Ritsuko tried to take advantage of you, Shin-chan,” Misato said as she paced by the window. “Again.”

“W-why?” Shinji looked at his guardian, his eyes watery with tears. “Why would she do that?”

Misato sighed. It was part of Shinji's charm that he was innocent and naïve, but it was becoming increasingly frustrating for her.

“Shinji, you have to understand what it's like for us women,” Misato replied as she sat in the visitor's chair. “Birth rates are down considerably on the 20th century's, mainly because of infertility rates but also because good men are in short supply. You know that the Second Impact killed half the world's population.”

“But what does that have to do with me?” Shinji asked puzzled.

“There are two reasons for sex Shin-chan: procreation and recreation. Sometimes we women feel the need to have a baby. And in order for the human race to survive, we need these babies to make future generations. Are you with me so far?”

“Yes,” Shinji nodded. He sniffed as he wiped his nose on the tissue Misato handed him. “But why me?”

Misato blushed as she answered. “Shinji, remember what I said about good men?”

Shinji nodded.

“Well, you're the best marriage prospect around. You're smart, handsome, domesticated, brave…” Misato started to reel off Shinji's good points,

“I'm not brave,” Shinji interrupted in a small voice. He curled up into a ball, as if to prove his point.

“I think you are, Shinji. You pilot the Eva knowing that you could get hurt.”

Shinji uncurled from his foetal position slightly at Misato's reasoning.

The tactical officer smiled at the progress she made. “You're important Shinji, especially to me. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.”

Shinji nodded before falling asleep.

Misato gave Shinji a kiss on the forehead before leaving to deal with Akagi.

~>>>~

“So then Sensei, what's happened with SEELE?” Gendo asked.

“Gendo, the news is not good. Several committee members have failed to attend the last meeting,” Fuyutsuki reported.

“Was any reason given for these absences?” Gendo asked.

“No, I think they're concerned about security.”

“I wasn't aware that the report into Lorenz's death was even past the preliminary stage. Anything else?”

“I'm trying to confirm reports that some of them are now dead.”

“So soon after Lorenz's death? The chances of that being a coincidence are astronomical. You know that I don't like leaving things to chance,” Gendo said as he scratched his beard. “Worst case scenario?”

“Someone wants to stop Instrumentality at all costs and is eliminating all involved,” Fuyutsuki extrapolated from the known facts.

“Shit. Sensei, there's something else that you should know,” Gendo admitted.

Fuyutsuki silently gestured for Gendo to continue.

“I've had some disturbing dreams lately.”

“How disturbing?”

“They make me doubt my chosen course of action,” Gendo replied.

Fuyutsuki sighed; this was not a good time for this to be happening.

“Assuming that we just write off countless man hours of work and untold sums of money by abandoning the HIP, will the Angels stop?”

“I don't know, Sensei,” Gendo replied. “Are the Dead Sea Scrolls a self fulfilling prophecy? You know the old saying about things being too good to be true.”

“What's happened, Gendo? You were always so sure that of your decision, I never would have thought that you'd second guess yourself like this.”

“I don't know what it is either, Sensei. Put all the Instrumentality related work on hold until we can guarantee the resources necessary for their success. It's all we can do at the moment. And what is all that commotion outside?”

“It sounds like Dr. Akagi tried something with the Third Child that Captain Katsuragi took offence with.”

“I see. Send in Katsuragi, I want to talk to her.”

“Ok.”

~>>>~

Striding forcefully down the corridor, Misato made eye contact with Ritsuko. She grabbed the doctor by the lapel and slammed her up against the wall.

“Care to explain what you were doing to Shinji?”

“I didn't trip him!” Ritsuko protested. “I'm just a victim of circumstances!”

“Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk,” Misato mocked as she continued to glare daggers at Ritsuko, making the blonde think that real blades would be coming out soon if she didn't deflect the blame for this most grievous of gaffes.

“Captain Katsuragi,” a male voice interrupted the interrogation.

“What?”

“I believe that Shinji was tripped up by someone else,” Dr. Murata answered.

“And who was that?” Misato asked, she turned to face the M.D., but still kept hold of Ritsuko.

“It was a man with long hair. I recall that he was trying to seduce some of the nurses a few days ago, but I can't remember his name. What was it Kaki? Kanji? Something like that,” Murata replied scratching his head.

Misato dropped Ritsuko and turned around, her eyes scanning for the bane of her existence.

“I'll kill him. I will kill Kaji dead,” Misato said in a scarily calm tone. “I'll kill him slowly. With a belt sander. And his cheap aftershave.”

Before the enraged woman could give more gruesome details about Kaji's imminent demise, Fuyutsuki emerged from his visit with Gendo.

“Captain Katsuragi,” he started. He repeated himself when Misato failed to respond.

“Yes?”

“The Commander wants to see you. He said it's about his son.”

This stopped any argument from the purple haired woman.

“Sir,” she saluted.

~>>>~

Misato entered Gendo's room, hoping that this was good news and not something bad. Bad would be something like “I'm sending Shinji away to train as a priest. When he is finished, he will take a vow of celibacy.”

“Captain Katsuragi, I know that you care for my son. Perhaps a bit too much for someone who is supposed to be his legal guardian,” the commander addressed the captain.

Misato, her mind still focused on Dr. Akagi's recent actions, only blushed lightly at the commander's opinion.

“There has been a change in plans.”

“Sir?” Misato looked up.

“It seems that Shinji is no longer safe here. Even in the hospital. As you are combat trained, I want Shinji to stay with you until I get out of here.”

“Yes Sir!” Misato stood to attention as she saluted. This was what she considered good news.

“I have one condition, Captain,” Gendo said as he shifted slightly in his bed.

“What is it, Sir?”

“That all females in his company are supervised. That includes Rei and yourself.”

“What? Me as well?” Misato asked. “I'm the one trying to save Shinji from harm.”

The captain's façade of innocence started to crumble under Gendo's glare

“Captain, leaving you alone with my son would be like using a cat to make sure a plate of sashimi isn't eaten,” Gendo dryly commented.

Misato suddenly found her shoes very interesting.

“I'm glad that we're in agreement about you behaviour. How is the other pilot's training going on?”

“It's not so good, sir. Rei and Asuka don't like each other.”

“I see. Tomorrow morning, take Shinji to the session,” Gendo ordered. “He should have a positive effect on them. Then have Asuka take a synchronisation test with Unit-01. If it works, she is to use Unit-01 to eliminate the Angel before it regenerates. If it goes well, then we could be done by the end of the day,”

“Yes sir.”

“Bring Shinji here before you leave tomorrow. I want to have a word with him.”

“Sir.”

After Misato left the room, it occurred to Gendo that the tactical officer might just neglect to mention that she also needed to be chaperoned when in Shinji's company and called Rei's mobile phone.

>Yes, Commander?>

“Rei, Shinji will be visiting tomorrow. He is not to be left alone with ANY female, this includes you. Do you understand?”

>Why am I included in this decision?>

“I need to have the same rule for all of those around Shinji or there will be protests from Katsuragi and the others. Shinji may trust the Captain, but I don't when it comes to his chastity,” Gendo explained.

>I understand. Shinji-kun will not be left alone with any women.>

~>>>~

The next morning, Shinji was woken up by the sounds of Misato knocking on the door to his room.

“Are you awake, Shinji?”

“Yes,” the pilot answered groggily.

The door opened to reveal Misato and a male Section 2 agent standing there.

“Good, you're coming with me to sit in on Rei and Asuka's training. It's your father's orders,” Misato explained as she tossed some clothes on to the bed.

“I see. How's that going?”

“You know how the commander wanted us to have a feasible back up plan?”

Shinji nodded as he pulled on a t-shirt, inadvertently giving Misato a glimpse of bare torso flesh.

“Well, the main plan is not looking so good right now. The Commander suggested that Asuka fights the Angel in Unit-01 rather then wait for her and Rei to get sufficiently in sync to beat it. You don't have a problem with someone else piloting your Eva, do you?”

“It's not my Eva, Misato-san, I just pilot it when I'm told,” Shinji replied as he unfolded the underwear he'd just received. He looked at the purple haired woman that was blushing slightly as he held the tight looking garment up to the light.

“If you think they'd be uncomfortable, then you can always go without, Shinji. Sometimes I do,” Misato stated matter-of-factly.

It was now Shinji's turn to blush and most of his blood rushed to his cheeks.

“Captain Katsuragi,” the man in black spoke up, “This is what the Commander was talking about when he said that women around Shinji needed to be supervised.”

“I wasn't going to stay here while Shinji got dressed,” Misato protested.

“I was referring to your attempts to get the Commander's son to go commando. Shinji, we'll wait outside for five minutes, please be ready by then.”

~>>>~

In Gendo's hospital room, the bearded man sat up in his bed, waiting for his son to arrive. He decided that this would be the time to tell him about his plans.

“I only hope that you can forgive me when you learn the truth, Shinji.”

A knock on the door roused Gendo from his thoughts.

“Enter.”

“Father, how are you feeling today?” Shinji asked as he manoeuvred into a visitor's chair.

“I'm better, son. I have some news about your immediate future,” Gendo replied with what he thought passed for a friendly smile.

Had it been Misato, Shinji would have been better convinced, but Gendo was not known for his amiable nature.

“What do you mean, Father?”

“I realise that I'm not the nicest person on the planet, Shinji, but I want to make amends for not treating you as well as I could. I want you to move in with me so we can start being a family again,” Gendo said honestly. “It's what your mother would have wanted.”

Shinji wasn't sure how to take this. He thought that his father wanted to be part of a family again, just that he thought that Ritsuko was a lonely person. Well, he was discovering what thought can do you the hard way following Dr. Akagi's mishap the night before.

But still, there was something about Gendo's words that the Third Child wanted to believe.

“Shinji, you've got a difficult job in battling the Angels, but I'll do what I can to make it easier for you. Please, let me do this.”

Shinji was having problems connecting the image of his father in the bed in front of him and the one of his father that ordered him into the cockpit of Unit-01.

“Why now?” Shinji asked in a quiet voice. “I mean you've had three years to ask me to live with you.”

`Because I've had my carefully laid plans turned upside down. Plans that were decades in the making made worthless because of some old fools cowering under their desks and a horde of women that are willing to kill to get in your bed,' Gendo thought angrily before wincing in pain.

“Are you alright Father?”

“I will be, Shinji,” Gendo reassured his son. “Do you know what the plan for today is?”

“Yes, father.”

“Good. Go with the Captain. I'll speak with you later,” Gendo smiled at his son.

~>>>~

Shinji walked up to the door to Misato's apartment under the watchful eye of the Section 2 agent assigned to him.

Misato was happy that Shinji was finally coming home to her, though she really wanted to spend some time alone with him. `Perhaps I can get him to make me dinner,' she mused.

She was so wrapped up in the idea of a romantic evening at home with the Commander's son that she failed to notice a discarded can and stumbled into Shinji, trapping the Third Child against the wall.

“Captain, please, the Third Child requires air,” the Man in Black pointed out after tapping her on the shoulder.

It took a moment to sink in, but Misato became aware that she was pinning Shinji to the wall, her breasts pressed against his face.

“Oh shit, sorry about that, Shinji.”

Shinji was unable to respond verbally, but one could clearly see the glazed eyes on his face and the blush that was threatening to make his cheeks burst.

Misato threw her door keys to the Section 2 Agent before sweeping Shinji up in her arms in a bizarre rendition of a western romantic gesture.

“Shin-chan, did you know that it's traditional for the husband to carry his wife over the threshold of their marital home?” Misato asked, savouring the moment.

“Misato-san, you're embarrassing me!” Shinji complained.

“I'll get the door then, shall I?”

“Yeah, you do that,” Misato said as she looked into Shinji's eyes. `Such a beautiful shade of blue, yet so sad.'

“Welcome home, Shinji.”

“T-thank you, Misato-san.” Shinji's blush failed to leave his face, as the Captain carried him inside.

“You can go now, Shinji's going to be alright here,” Misato said to the man who still held her keys.

“Captain Katsuragi has returned with Shinji-kun!” a voice called out from the kitchen.

“I see. Your keys are on the table here.”

“Hey Misato, why're you carrying him like that?” Asuka asked, coming from her room.

“Shinji tripped on the way up here,” Misato answered as she placed the blushing pilot on the sofa. “So then, are you two going to show me how much you've improved?”

“Come on, Wondergirl, let's show them what we can do,” Asuka snorted unhappily, she knew that the purple haired woman's plan was.

“Agreed,” Rei replied as she took her place on the pad.

When the music started up, Rei and Asuka started to hit the right sequence for a good half minute longer than they had before. But still their total was a measly one minute fourteen seconds before the pilots fell out of sync.

“You've been doing this for a while now, but if you can't get anywhere close to three minutes, then we're finished,” Misato said, shaking her head. “You girls have no rhythm. Here let me show you how it's done.”

Misato got up and restarted the music. She stepped towards Shinji, shaking her hips in time to the beat.

Asuka could not see how this demonstration was going to help her if the Captain didn't use the pads like her and Rei.

The blue haired pilot could see that the Commander's concern for Shinji was proven to be well founded when Misato started to grind her hips against Shinji's lap.

“Captain Katsuragi, you are demonstrating the adult version of the game called `Lap Dance Like You Want a Promotion', and I fail to see how it will improve our performance,” Rei admonished.

“You're just jealous that I thought of it first,” Misato shot back as she rubbed her breasts in Shinji's face.

Before she could get to the next stage, opening Shinji's fly with her teeth (and thus allowing her access to the most sought after Trouser Treasure in NERV), Rei grabbed the lust-crazed woman, inadvertently causing Shinji's crotch to be head-butted.

All Asuka could do was snigger at Shinji's misfortune. The boy in question just whimpered in pain, tears streaming down his face.

Misato and Rei stopped struggling with each other and rushed to Shinji's aid.

“Shinji-kun is there anything I can get you to ease your discomfort/Shin-chan do you want me to kiss it all better?” they asked at the same time.

“You are truly as shameless as your file suggests, Captain Katsuragi,” Rei stated angrily upon hearing what Misato said.

Misato glared daggers at the Commander's favourite pilot. “And just what did you have in mind?”

“Whatever it takes to make Shinji-kun feel better.”

“I'll be alright in a bit, just please stop fighting,” Shinji interrupted in a quiet, high pitched voice.

“Ok, Shinji,” Misato acquiesced to her friend's request. “But for you two, I have some important news.”

“What's that? Am I moving in with Kaji?” Asuka asked, wanting to get out of the cramped hell-hole that was supposed to house three people.

“Nope. You're off to NERV for an activation test with Unit-01.”

“Why?” Asuka demanded. “I've got to train this animated turnip so we can beat this Angel.”

“There's been a change of plans: the Commander is not happy with your lack of progress and has decided to go with the back-up plan. Asuka, you're going to see if you can activate Unit-01 and if you can, you're to eliminate the Angel. If all goes to plan, we can be done by dinnertime this evening.”

“Would you like me to cook this evening, Misato-san?” Shinji asked, anxious to do something to help.

“Would you, please?” Asuka asked nicely. “The last time I ate something Misato cooked, I was shitting through the eye of a needle!”

“You could always cook yourself, you lazy bint!” Misato retorted angrily, unable to defend her poor cooking.

“Hey! I pilot my Eva. That's what I'm trained to do, I've spent years training for that. When would I have a chance to learn how to cook?” Asuka raged at her guardian. “Besides, why aren't you a better cook? You're TWICE as OLD as me, you should've had plenty of practice over the years.”

Misato very nearly smacked the redhead, but was restrained by Shinji's hand on her arm. When she turned to the boy, she saw the look in his eyes.

`God, he looks like a whipped puppy,' she thought. Shaking her head to clear away the notion that someone would want to physically abuse Shinji, she agreed to his request to stop fighting.

“You two get changed so we can be off to Headquarters.”

~>>>~

At NERV headquarters, Ritsuko was preparing for Asuka's test, she felt that the guards watching her were unnecessary, but the Commander ordered them to keep her under observation, especially since previous day's incident.

Upon completing all she could without the pilot actually being there, she decided to take a coffee break with Maya.

Maya felt a little uncomfortable around the doctor. Normally, she would have chalked it up to the crush she had on her, but this time it was something else.

`Sempai was naughty yesterday,' she mused. `Perhaps I should punish her?'

That thought brought a blush and a smile to the face of the bridge bunny. But before she could give it more thought, Captain Katsuragi entered the room with Rei and Shinji.

`Ooh, Shinji-kun is looking very cute today,' the quiet young woman noted.

“Hello Maya-san,” Shinji said as he waved.

“Hello Shinji-kun. How's your foot?”

“It's better, thanks. Though I'll be glad to get the cast off.”

Misato walked up to the chatting pair and handed Shinji a mug of coffee.

“Here you go, Shin-chan. Milk, one sugar.”

“Thanks Misato-san,” Shinji said as he accepted the hot beverage.

They all turned to the main monitor to see how Asuka was doing.

~>>>~

Inside Unit-01's entry plug, Asuka Langley Sohryu was fidgeting in her seat.

>Is something wrong, Asuka?> Ritsuko asked over the intercom. >You seem agitated.>

“It's not very comfortable in here, you know. The seat's padding is all wrong,” Asuka griped. “Plus there's this weird smell. What have you been doing in here, you pervert?”

>Nothing!> Shinji protested his innocence. >I always go before a mission.>

`That's gross,' Asuka shuddered at the thought of someone pissing in the entry plug.

>Now Asuka, we need you to show us just how good you are by synchronising with the Eva,> Ritsuko tried to massage Asuka's ego.

“Ok, let's see what his thing can do.”

~>>>~

In the control room, Shinji sat in a chair watching all the lights flash on in front of him. He didn't even pretend to understand how any it worked, he just watched the proceedings with Rei.

“Bringing the system online now. Sync Ratio at 20% and rising,” Maya said as she tapped away at the keyboard. “26%. 30%. 33%. It's levelling off at 38%.”

“That's good,” Ritsuko commented as she checked the neural connections. “Asuka, your Sync Ratio is 38%. That means we are a go for the operation. We're pulling you out of there in order to prepare.”

>Ok.>

~>>>~

It wasn't until after lunch that Shinji got the chance to pay his father a visit. He also wanted to give him the good news about Asuka's activation test. Not that Shinji needed to tell him; even in his hospital bed, Gendo had remained informed of all Eva related events.

He knocked on the door, and was promptly told to enter.

“Hello Father,” Shinji said, still intimidated by his parent.

“Hello son. How're you doing today?”

“I'm doing well. I've got good news about your back-up plan.”

“I take it that Asuka managed to activate Unit-01,” Gendo said as he sat up in the bed. “What was the Sync Ratio?”

“38%.”

“That's about what I'd expect with her training and being in an unfamiliar Eva.”

Before Gendo could turn the conversation to less work orientation topics, Misato came into the room.

“Commander, we are ready to begin the second phase of the operation.”

“Good. I want Pilot Sohryu to use the progressive knife on the Angels, she should aim for the cores,” Gendo ordered. “It will be good practice for her.”

“Yes sir,” Misato saluted. “Shinji, do you want to watch from the control room?”

“Shinji,” Gendo called out before his son could answer.

“Yes Father?”

“Go and get me a wheelchair. I'll watch the operation with you.” Gendo prepared to be move himself out of bed.

“Is that ok?” Shinji asked, concerned for his father's wellbeing. “I mean, should you be out of bed?”

As if to answer him, Dr. Murata entered the room with a wheelchair.

“I'd rather you weren't out of bed just yet, Commander. But at least you're not going to be standing,” the balding man said as he wheeled the chair up to the bed. “You are going dressed, aren't you?”

“Of course I am, what kind of freak do you take me for?” he demanded from the others in the room. “Now get me my clothes.”

~>>>~

An agitated Asuka sat in Unit-01's entry plug, waiting for the operation to begin. She really wanted to get the Angel out of the way so she could get something decent to eat. Yes, the NERV cafeteria food that she ate for lunch was better than Misato's slop, but the way the purple-haired floozy droned on and on about the Third Child's cooking had made her curious about it. Rei hadn't helped dining matters at the Katsuragi Hovel because of her vegetarianism.

Though the German pilot's suspicions that the quiet girl considered Shinji to be prime beefcake made it all seem a bit surreal.

She hadn't mentioned the strange smell that she complained about earlier, mainly because she reasoned that it wouldn't have been heeded as she wasn't going to pilot this Eva.

“Are we ready to get this show on the road?” she asked the control room. “I've got better things to do tonight than sit around in this thing.”

>You're not the only one, Asuka,> Misato said. It seemed as if she was going add more, but she'd been reprimanded by someone. >Brace yourself, we're ready to launch.>

“Roger,” Asuka replied as she settled into the seating.

The Eva was buffeted around by the transport system like an overpriced rollercoaster. It was enough to give most people motion sickness, but Asuka Langley Sohryu was not most people. Years of training had conditioned her to expect the forces she was currently being subjected to.

When the Eva reached its exit point it stopped suddenly, making the pilot wish she had a seatbelt of some description in the cockpit and grateful that she hadn't eaten the Captain's cooking for lunch.

“Unit-01 is ready to take out the Angel out. Advancing now,” Asuka informed the command staff.

>Acknowledged. Proceed with caution, Asuka.>

Asuka drew the progressive knife as she slowly moved towards the regenerating monster. The purple Eva was still connected to the umbilical cord as per the mission brief.

When Unit-01 reached its target, Asuka quickly dispatched the Angel by slicing the core roughly.

“Mission completed, Misato,” she radioed in happily.

There was no response.

“Are you there, Misato?” Asuka asked, her concern growing when the silence continued. “Is anybody there?”

>Return to base, Pilot Sohryu,> Gendo answered her.

“Commander? Is that you?”

>Yes.>

Asuka turned back to the Eva transit system, slightly confused as to why the senior Ikari was answering the comm. system. “Is everything ok there?”

>Everything is fine, return at once,> Gendo ordered.

~>>>~

Inside the control room, Gendo was not a happy person.

“You do realise that because of this, I'm actually quite livid right now?” he asked the people around him.

“We're sorry sir,” Maya apologised.

“Can someone please explain why a member of the janitorial staff was in here observing our operations?” Gendo asked his audience.

“You can't, can you? Why? Because he's a SEELE agent, that's why,” Gendo spat at the hogtied man in the centre of the floor. “And because of your incompetence, my son was hurt trying to protect me.”

Shinji sat on the floor by his father, still winded from the punch to the stomach. He was taken back by the pat on the head he received from the normally callous man.

“F-father?”

“Shinji, thank you,” Gendo smiled at the Third Child. “I mean it, son.”

~>>>~

When Asuka had returned to the Eva hanger, her opinion of the smell in the entry plug had changed significantly. It had gone from weird to infuriating, but only because of the fact that she couldn't place it.

“I know I've smelt it before, but where?” she asked as she scratched her head.

Shaking her head in annoyance, she decided that she needed to get in the shower before the LCL caked into her hair.

~>>>~

After her shower, Asuka met up with her roommates and Shinji for dinner.

“What happened in the control room?” she asked the purple haired woman.

Misato stopped making goo-goo eyes at Shinji long enough to answer.

“Some bastard hurt Shinji by accident.”

“Why?” the redhead asked. Sure, Shinji didn't seem _that_ cool, but why would anyone want to hurt the quiet boy?

“SEELE wanted to remove Commander Ikari,” Rei answered. “Shinji-kun, you may put your weight on me, I will assist you in walking to the car park.”

Shinji tried to explain that it wasn't necessary, but the blue haired girl wrapped an arm around his waist.

“I insist.”

`I'll get my time with Shinji soon enough,' Misato thought as she ground her teeth. “Shinji, you've got shotgun.”

~>>>~

At Misato's apartment, Shinji prepared the meal that the other pilots had been promised. Cooking for others didn't bother him like it did some people, in fact he found it relaxing.

He was surprised when Asuka entered the kitchen and started sniffing the air.

“Is something wrong, Asuka-san?”

“No,” Asuka replied. She continued to sniff the air in the apartment and started getting in Shinji's way, causing the boy to sigh in frustration.

“Asuka-san, I don't mind cooking for you all, but you'll have to keep out of my way. Are you sure there's nothing wrong?”

“Well, yes, actually there is.”

“Is it anything I can help you with?” Shinji asked as he turned down the heat on the vegetable stew he was stirring.

“Maybe. I don't know,” Asuka gave him a non-answer. “There's a weird smell in this place.”

Shinji looked around to see what could of the apartment. It was a mess to be sure, but it was nowhere near as bad as when he last left Tokyo-3. “What kind of smell?”

“I don't know, it's just really weird,” Asuka continued her vague complaint.

“I don't smell anything weird,” Shinji replied with a shrug, “but I've been cooking with spices.”

Asuka moved over to the pot and inhaled deeply. “What's in this?”

“Potatoes, leeks, onions, miso and peppers,” Shinji replied as he cleaned up some of the kitchen.

Asuka looked impressed. “What's it taste like?”

“Vegetable stew,” Misato answered for the cook.

“Really?” Asuka asked sarcastically. “I hadn't considered that, what with me being a college graduate and everything. I meant is it going to be spicy or not?”

“It's not very spicy,” Shinji admitted, “but I can make it spicier for you if you want.”

“No, mild is good. My stomach could do with a change from Misato's bowel cleaning curry,” Asuka said with a smirk.

Shinji sniggered at the redhead's comment.

“Yeah, mild's ok,” Asuka repeated with a smile. “Just as long as there IS flavour, Rei's stuff tasted like cardboard.”

“You should not complain; you did not cook any meals, Pilot Sohryu,” Rei said as she entered the kitchen.

Asuka's smile disappeared. `Bitch.'

“She has a point, Asuka,” Misato backed up the blue haired girl. “Is it ready yet, Shin-chan?”

“Let me check,” Shinji answered as he turned to the drawer where the spoons were kept.

“Hmm, nearly done,” he said after tasting the stew. “Here, try some.”

The three ladies each took a spoon and sampled the dish.

“This is good, Shin-chan,” Misato said as she hugged the chef.

Rei nodded in agreement. “It is most delicious, Shinji-kun.”

Asuka “hmmed” in appreciation. She instinctively sniffed while she stood next to Shinji. “You!”

“Pardon?” Shinji asked in surprise.

“You! You're the source of that smell!” Asuka shouted at the lightly bewildered cook.

“What smell are you referring to, Pilot Sohryu?” Rei asked as she tried to increase the distance between two other pilots.

“That weird smell in Unit-01! It's Shinji!” Asuka explained, jumping up and down.

“I'll take your word for it, Asuka.” Misato's stomach rumbled. “Now can we eat?”

Everybody there enjoyed the Third Child's cooking too much to interrupt the meal with inane small talk. After everyone finished up, Shinji started to clear the table.

“Shinji-kun, would you like some help with the dishes?” Rei asked.

“It's no trouble, Rei,” Shinji replied before taking out the empties.

“Why do you want to do the dishes?” Asuka asked her fellow pilot. “Washing up sucks.”

Misato knew the answer to that one: “Any excuse to be near Shinji.”

“I don't feel like cleaning up tonight, Rei,” the purple haired captain mentioned in an off hand manner.

Rei looked at the stretching woman. “I see.”

Asuka rolled her eyes. “Whatever. What's for dessert?”

Shinji heard that question as he re-entered the dining area. “I didn't prepare anything, sorry. All we've got in the fridge is whipped cream and some strawberries.”

“Whipped cream?” Misato asked. She started to stroke her belly as a naughty thought occurred to her. “I know what I want.”

~>>>~

To be continued…

This chapter was pre-read by Chi Vayne.

I decided that I'd spent enough time dealing with this Angel, that's why it's a long chapter (for me anyway).

Are there any questions/complaints/praise/death threats/offers of many a sordid thing? (Delete as applicable)

If so, you know what to do.

Laterer