THE STORY OF ISAMU FUYUTSUKI

Part 1 - The Arrival

 

Author’s Note:

  Hi. Wow, finally I managed to start writing this fan-fic. As you can see, this is part 1 in Isamu’s story. This is fan-fic has been rather difficult because unlike most I haven’t just used the already constructed characters in the series (e.g. Shinji, Rei, Auska, etc.), but added an entirely new character. Therefore I had to watch all the episodes of NGE again to get all the dialogue and everything, then re-write it with Isamu. I’m not sure how this will all end, Isamu’s story is as diverse as my imagination. I have a basic idea what will happen but that may change.

  To make this work, you will have to allow for some minor corrections to the storyline of NGE. Ryohji Kaji retains his name and surname, but is Cmdr. Fuyutsuki’s son. Shigeru Aoba (the guitarist with the long hair) has his surname changed to Fuyutsuki and is also Cmdr. Fuyutsuki’s son. This of course means the Cmdr. had to have a wife, so I gave him one - her name is Myung Kaji (where Ryohji’s surname comes from). She dies early on in the story (that will be further explained as the story develops). Also, Cmdr. Fuyutsuki’s age as of the first episode is 53.

  If you have any questions or comments please then e-mail me at “madbadgav@one.net.au” or my ICQ number is “65514266”.

  So without further due, here it is - Isamu’s Story

  Enjoy!

 

-Adin Knight 15/4/00.

 

8/10/00 - New e-mail is just4kix@ihug.com.au though my ICQ number is still the same.

 

 

Part 1 - The Arrival.

This is set between episodes 8 and 9 sometime.

 

As Isamu Fuyutsuki sat on the train heading to Tokyo-3 the full force of the situation really hit him. His eyes lit up even more than they already were, almost illuminating the compartment he was riding in.

  I can’t believe this! I’m really going to see an EVA!

  He had first learnt of the EVA series a couple of months ago, when he read a news article about the battles in Tokyo-3. From there he had ‘acquired’ more data and eventually learned of the existence of EVA’s.

  And how he had dreamt of them, an actual dream come to life! How he had wanted to be a pilot! Just to see and touch one - to touch his dream  - would be so fantastic it would blow his mind. His excitement was almost a visible substance  - an aura - around him.

  At first he was upset. He got the letter he had been dreading for 2 years:

  ..........you are required to relocate........

  That single sentence was almost enough to kill him - it was his father once again moving him to another place.

  And away from his friends - again.

  Why? Why did his father have to do it - destroy all that Isamu had created? He lost all his friends, which he treated like family since he hadn’t seen his real family for....... how long ? He couldn’t remember. There were so many spaces in his memory.

  But, when he had recovered and read on, what he read had changed his mood as dramatically as the first announcement.

  ..........you’ll be coming to Tokyo-3, and living at home with me.

  He was going home.

  Home! Back home! To Father!

  At first he couldn’t believe it - he re-read the letter time and time again. He really was going home.

  I’ll see them all again! Father, Kaji and Shigeru.

  He’d missed his family so much. He’d been away for so long.

  Maybe............nah, she’ll have grown up and gone somewhere else. Probably still in Germany.........

  He still didn’t know why his father moved him. But no matter what pain it caused him, Isamu never could be angry at his father. He just couldn’t. His father always kept in touch, always asking how Isamu was and if he had any friends.

  He was always interested in knowing how all Isamu’s relationships were, and Isamu never understood why. He had asked Ryohji and Shigeru but they didn’t know either.

  ............maybe you’ll be able to come to NERV and see the EVA’s.

  Those few words almost caused him to explode. He’d get to SEE AN EVA! He might even get to meet the infamous pilots he learnt so much about - especially Shinji Ikari. How he’d idolised Shinji.........

 

  He shifted on his seat as he dazedly watched the landscape fly past . So many thoughts and emotions flooded through his mind.

  “Next city - Tokyo-3. Stopping at all stations.”

  The train speaker made him jump as he woke from his daze.

  He was almost there.......

 

“The 4th child arrives today” Misato Katsuragi casually remarked to Ritsuko Akagi as they lounged about in the cafeteria they frequented between shifts.

  “Hmmmmmm” Ritsuko replied into her coffee, “Wonder what he or she will be like.”

  “Hopefully not like Asuka” Misato sniggered just loud enough for her Ritsuko to hear and affirm with a chuckle. “Anyway, EVA-3 will be arriving in a week, so you might want to prepare.”

  “He’ll.....”

 

“......be here soon.”

  Commander Fuyutsuki replaced the phone’s handset and looked up at his superior whom had taken his familiar pose at his desk.

  “Good.”

 

“Last stop Tokyo-3 Central Station.”

   As Isamu got off the train he suddenly realised he absolutely no idea what to do. His father had said nothing about being directed at the station in the letter, so Isamu assumed that he would be there to collect him. But, looking around, Isamu could not see him.

  Maybe he’s had plastic surgery and looks like a 20 year old. Or a woman! What about a 20 year old woman?!

  He smiled at the thought.

  “Oh hi Dad.....uh....I mean Mum, or uh........”

  “Heh heh heh.”

  Isamu was so busy in thought and chuckling he failed to notice the tall man in dark glasses and a dark suit approach him.

  “Are you Isamu Fuyutsuki?”. Isamu literally jumped.

  “Uh.....yeah” he stammered.

  “Come with us” he ordered in a very intimidating way, motioning towards the station entrances and the similarly clad mean nearby.

 

  Later in the NERV briefing room the children were assembled along with Misato, Kaji (whom Misato was keeping her distance from) and Maya Ibuki  whom was busy off to the side at a terminal.

  “What are we here for anyway?!” Asuka whined, a sound which had really started to become the bane of Shinji’s existence.

  “I think they’re bringing the new pilot in” Shinji replied in a soothing way.

  “Well they better hurry, I’ve got better things to do than stand around here!”

  Shinji and Misato sighed simultaneously, and exchanged a rather shocked glance ending with Misato smiling and winking and Shinji blushing.

  Maybe we do think alike...... Shinji reflected, but his thoughts were interrupted by Commander Fuyutsuki’s entrance into the room.

  “I’d like to introduce the 4th child,” he began, getting straight to the point.

  So the 4th child is here........ Shinji exclaimed inwardly.

  “Isamu.....”

  At the moment the Commander began to announce his name, a boy about Shinji’s height walked, rather dejectedly (like he’d just received some devastating information) through the doorway the Commander had entered through. The first thing Shinji noticed was the most predominant thing about him - his hair. It was bright red, with a fringe covering the right half of his face and the rest of his hair (which must have been quite long) pulled back into a pony-tail which sat very high on the back of his head.

  Shinji also noted he was rather slender, which combined with the boy’s hair reminded him of a fox.

  As he entered the doorway and the Commander pronounced his name, he raised his head to reveal a face with striking blue eyes, which gave the impression that at the moment he was in shock or his mind was on holidays. But the first thing he saw made his expressions change so dramatically it was like another person had taken his place.

  “Misato?!”

  “Isamu?!”

  At this both  Isamu and Misato leapt forward and collided in a huge embrace. Tears were streaming down both faces (Isamu had to jump up to make it a proper embrace since he was abit shorter than Misato).

  “I thought I’d never see you again.”

  “So did I.”

This continued for about 2 minutes until the Commander gave a polite cough, which caused both Misato and Isamu to regain some dignity and let go of each other. But as soon as Isamu hit the floor the next person he saw caused him to lose it again.

  “Ryohji!”

  “Hello Isamu.”

  Once again Isamu launched himself, this time almost knocking Ryohji Kaji back into the wall.

  “Uh, sorry,” Isamu apologised, letting go. “Still hanging around with this loser, Misato?” he directed to Misato while still looking slyly at Kaji. “Heh heh.”

  “Hmmm.........” was all Misato could muster, shifting her gaze to Kaji who returned it by mimicking a kiss. She gave him a forlorn look then turned back to Isamu. “It’s been awhile.”

  “Too long.” With this Isamu turned to Commander Fuyutsuki and gave a small bow accompanied by a courteous “sir”.

  “Welcome, Isamu.”

  Misato now called his attention, “And these are your fellow pilots....”. She motioned towards the 3 pilots who now stood stupefied due to the recent happenings but snapped back to reality when Misato called attention to them. So many questions were going through Shinji’s mind, but he shut them away for later.

  Misato began to introduce them. “This is......”

  “Asuka Langley Soryu!” Asuka said, leaping forward and grabbing Isamu’s hand, shaking it vigorously.

  She’s making her intentions pretty obvious, thought Shinji in quiet disgust.

  “Ah, Asuka - yes, I’ve heard of you,” Isamu began.

  Oh no.......

  “Oh well, when you’re a great as me, it happens that people talk about you,” Asuka cut him off, looking very superior.

  “Hmmmm.........A woman who’s beauty is only matched by the size of her ego,” and with this said, moved on, leaving Auska stunned.

  Misato took control again, “And this is the First Child......”

  As she said this, Isamu’s eyes met Rei’s and he froze.

  “.........Rei Ayanami.”

  They just stood there eye to eye.

  It looks as if he’s seen a ghost, thought Shinji, noting Isamu’s expression. After a couple of minutes, Isamu seemed to tear himself away.

  “And this is........” Misato continued as Isamu moved to the last pilot.

  “Shinji Ikari,” concluded Isamu as they met face to face, a face Shinji felt he’d seen before. This was followed by silence, one which frightened Shinji since Isamu’s face was now one of.......of........It looked like sincere hate, and evil. It scared him.

  “I have something to ask you, Shinji,” Isamu said as he reached behind his back.

  His eyes......

  Shinji expected him to take out a gun and point it at Shinji.

  They’re so bright, so........familiar.

  When Isamu swung around with the pen and book, Shinji almost ducked for cover. “Can I have your autograph?”

  “W - what?!” Shinji stuttered in disbelieve.

  “Can I have your autograph?” Isamu repeated.

  “S - sure,” Shinji forced out and signed the book.

  “Oh, thankyou so much. You don’t know how much this means to me.” At this Isamu grabbed Shinji’s hand and began to shake it so hard Shinji almost lost his balance. “Thankyou sooooo much. You’re the best Shinji! I wanna be just like you. I wish I was an EVA pilot! Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.....”

  “You are an EVA pilot,” said his father rather impatiently.

  “No, I’m not. You’re just being nice,” Isamu retorted in a semi-hopeful way.

  “No, you really are and EVA pilot, Isamu!” Misato  included.

  “But - I can’t be! I’m not like these guys. They’re better than me!”

  This, of course, pleased Asuka. “Yeah, we’re - or I’m - much better than him. He’s a nothing.”

  “Shut up Auska!” bellowed Misato, after which Asuka began to sulk again.

  “We’re just like you, Isamu,” Shinji said, moving forward. “We go to school, we have homes, we have families.” Shinji quickly re-considered the last point and added a “sort of.”

  “Really? You mean it.”

  “Yes.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.” Shinji was starting to become impatient.

  “Wow.......I think I’m going to be sick.”

  “Why?”

  “Becasue I’ve never been SO EXCITED IN MY LIFE!!” Isamu yelled the newest pilot and began to run and jump around the room, to the amazement of everyone except his father.

  “Isamu! Keep your composure!” He bellowed.

  “Oh - sorry.”

 

Later as Misato was driving Misato was driving Shinji and Asuka home, she asked them what they thought of the 4th child.

  “He was a jerk!” screeched Asuka, and continued to sulk.

  “Oh, I don’t know - you seemed pretty interested in him Asuka, I saw you checking him out,” Misato teased.

  “Hmph!” was all she got in reply.

  “Shinji?” Misato continued turning to look at him for a moment, then turning back to the road.

  “He was........neat. He seemed nice.”

  “He is,” Misato seemed to say to no one in particular, in a somewhat dreamy state.

  “You two know each other from before, don’t you?” Shinji queried her. Misato gave a chuckle, then began her story.

  “I met him when I was in university. He was only 5 when I met him. His mother died when he was 3. He was quiet at first - didn’t trust me. But after along after a long while we became best friends. We told each other everything. I took care of him alot since his father was at work a lot. We were very close.”

  “But when he was 8 his father moved him to Germany. It was one of the saddest days of my life. I lost one of my best friends that day. We tried to keep in touch but NERV got in the way and eventually I got moved away. I never saw him again.” Shinji noticed she was almost crying. This made him feel like crying, and he could hear Asuka sniffling behind him.

  “Until now........” Misato broke into smile again, exclaiming “I’m so happy to see him again!” Then in a more subdued manner said to Shinji “He really seems to like you.”

  Shinji seemed to be deep in concentration and mumbled “Yeah......”

  There was another question I had to ask! What was it? I can’t remember. Ah - I’ll remember later.

 

  Meanwhile back at NERV, Isamu was having difficulty expressing his feelings.

  “It is very good to see you again Father,” he finally managed to force out.

  “It is good to see you too, my son.”

  Somehow I doubt that, Isamu thought irritably. You always tried to push me away. Why? Am I only here because you have a use for me now?

  “Where are we going now?” Isamu asked, trying to hide his feelings. They had been taking a tour of the facility for the last 2 hours.

  “Central Command,” came the reply. They had barely spoken during the tour.

  “Is that where the MAGI are?” he asked, flaunting his knowledge of something he knew he wasn’t supposed to know about.  It caused the Commander to startle. He looked at Isamu, stunned.

  “H - how do you know about the MA.......” Isamu gave him a look that explained it and he desisted. He retook his earlier stance. A sombre look came over his face. “Just like your mother - ‘fanatically inquisitive’ I used to call her - she just had to know everything, it was impossible to keep a secret from her.” His face was one of happy reminiscence. Isamu stared at him - he’d hardly ever heard speak of his mother. He himself had only brief memories from his early childhood. Though he knew one thing - his Father had loved her.

  Just then the portal their escalator had been approaching opened with a ‘fwoosh’ knocking Isamu from his thoughts. It discharged them into a corridor with a single elevator. The Commander pressed the button to summon the car, then they stood and waited for what seemed to Isamu like an uncomfortable eternity.

 

  As they entered Central Command one thing - or rather one person - caught Isamu’s immediate attention. It wasn’t the super-intelligent MAGI he’d dreamed of seeing, the massive view screen, or the attractive woman operating one of the terminals - it was the man playing an air guitar in front of the coffee machine.

  “Shigeru!”

  The man looked up and a huge smile appeared on his face. “Isamu!”

  They ran together and collided in a huge embrace. To Isamu it was almost too much - he felt so many emotions at once - he didn’t know whether to laugh of cry. Shigeru put him down and they stared at each other. Shigeru ruffled his younger brother’s hair in a familiar way. “You certainly have grown haven’t you, little brother?” After a pause he added “We’ve all really missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you all too.” Isamu replied and hugged Shigeru around the waist. Shigeru patted him on the head.

  The Commander gave another one of those polite coughs.

  “Talk later,” Shigeru said, turning to go back to work.

  “Ok. See you later,” Isamu replied. He watched his older brother go, then turned back to his father. “Sorry Father.”

  Commander Fuyutsuki actually laughed at this. “It’s ok Isamu. It’s been along time.” With this an uncomfortable silence settled over them. The Commander knew what Isamu was thinking - it was his fault he hadn’t seen them for a long time. He decided to ignore it - he had done  what was required, he wasn’t going to have this argument with himself again. “Now this is Central Command,” he continued, sweeping his arm in a circular motion towards the view screen, “Here all aspects of the battle are monitored.”

  Isamu knew what he was trying to do, but le it go. “Wow........” he drawled, trying to sound more impressed than he really was. “What’s this bum doing in an important place like this?” he teased walking over to where Shigeru had returned to. “He should be cleaning toilets!”

  Makoto chuckled, and Shigeru raised his fist and gave Isamu the finger, making Isamu laugh. “Heh heh.....and who’s this?” he enquired, shifting his attention to Maya who was busy at her post. He sauntered up to her in a way very reminiscent of Kaji. “Hey baby.....”

  Maya gazed up at him, dumbfounded, but before she could reply or Isamu make another move, a familiar voice rang out from above.

  “You haven’t change abit, have you?”

  “Heh heh, not a bit Ritsu.” He looked up and gave her a naughty smile, “I see you are as beautiful as ever.”

  “Haven’t changed a damn bit.....” she sighed, smiling, and walked away from the edge of the command balcony.

  “Mmm-mmmmmm.......she is so fine!” squealed Isamu, hopping about.

  “Oh brother........” sighed Shigeru in an exasperated way - to which Isamu promptly replied “Yes?” in a clipped smartass way. This resulted is Shigeru grabbing him in a headlock and ‘noogying’ his younger brother, whom obviously didn’t enjoy it.

  “Ah! You bastard! I’ll get you for this!” he squeaked, struggling to get away. Both Maya and Makoto were having hysterics, as were some other personnel watching the display. The Commander didn’t look too impressed though.

  “Are you two quite finished?!” he bellowed. Isamu and Shigeru both stood to attention, simultaneously barking “Sorry, sir!”

  “You - back to your post,” he ordered, looking at Shigeru. Shigeru saluted and darted back to his chair. “And you - follow me. You’re getting out of here before you cause any more trouble,” he finished, glaring at Isamu. Isamu gulped nervously - it felt weird being yelled after all these years.

  The Commander turned to leave and Isamu followed him. He turned back to look at Shigeru. “See you later, Brother!”

  “Later,” replied Shigeru, watching him go. He sat back down and looked down to his terminal, thinking. “So we’re all back together again,” he said to himself, then went back to work.

 

  As they approached the waiting car Isamu noticed that someone was in the driver’s seat. He turned to his side where his father had been to find no one. Upon turning all the way to look behind him he found his father had stopped about 2 metres behind him. The Commander could obviously tell what Isamu was thinking from his son’s expression.

  “Ryohji will take you home. I have work to do. I will see you later.”

  Isamu visibly sank in mood.

  “I should have suspected. You never change.” he said, looking at his feet, then walked over to the car and climbed in.

  “Don’t look so happy to see me,” Kaji offered in a light-hearted way.

  “I’m sorry......” Isamu began, but Kaji cut him off by placing his hand on Isamu’s shoulder and saying “It’s ok.” He reversed the car out of the park and headed for the rail-car to the surface.

  The Commander watched them go, sighed, and headed back to the elevator.

 

  “You know - you shouldn’t think too harshly of Father. He has a very important job to do,” Kaji said after they’d been in the rail car for awhile in silence.

  Isamu sighed “I know” in a depressed way, shifting his gaze from his feet to the out side the window. His face lit up in wonder. “Jee-zus this place is big!” he exclaimed, then realised he was trying to avoid the subject. He sank back down in his seat. “I just feel he doesn’t care about me. I’m just a weight left over from a family that’s now non-existent from a long time ago.”

  Kaji put his arm around his brother’s shoulders and lowered his face to look into Isamu’s. “Hey - I know it’s been hard for you, but he does care for you. You know what he’s like - he’s not a very open person. Ever since Mother died he’s been very insular. It’s like she was the bridge that allowed him to talk to us.” This it was the elder brother who looked at the window, reminiscing out a time he thought he’d forgotten. “Just remember - he does care for you.”

  “Ha! You’re the last person I’d expect to say that considering how well you get along with him,” Isamu quipped, then looked at Kaji who wasn’t smiling anymore. “Sorry.”

  “It’s ok, though, no matter how badly we get along, he is still my father and I love him, and I know he loves  us both as his sons.” Kaji tried to smile again after this to make it more reassuring, but he found it difficult.

  “Yeah.........but I do know one thing. I’m only here because he has a use for me now.” Isamu replied soberly.

  Kaji sighed, giving up. It was because he knew that what Isamu said was true. But he knew more about the situation than his brother did.

  He cares more about you then you could understand.

 

  When Isamu first opened the door to his father’s home, he was totally shocked - by how much it was how he had expected, and remembered. The long bookshelves overflowing with books, the paintings lining the walls and the plants everywhere. And, of course, everything was meticulously neat and tidy - just as he remembered.

  He had a strange feeling about this memory -  as if he had seen this house at another time, through someone else’s eyes, like in a dream.

  He dismissed these thoughts and wandered down the corridor to his old room. It was just as he had left it years ago, waiting for him to come home and fulfil the purpose for which he was born to do. He laughed at this thought. Maybe I am being too harsh on Father.

  He dropped his two items of baggage on the floor, a suitcase and a longer case, thin at one end and wide at the other. He lay down on his old bed, then realised it wasn’t his old bed. That bed would have been far too small for him now, and it had been replaced by one the right size. He lay on it with his hands behind his head, and sighed loudly. The flood of emotions he had expected did not come  - puzzling him. He felt at home, like he was meant to be here. He had expected to feel alienated from this place, he didn’t even really consider it home. All the years of moving had taught him that home was where your head rested in the present. He had lost all pretence of a place you belonged to, but being here he felt it again. A part of him was confused, part of him was happy.

  He tried to take his mind off the situation. “Better unpack. Hope he bought the stuff I asked for,” he murmured to himself and sat up, stretched and got to his feet. “If those damn baggage handlers damage any of this stuff, heads’ll roll,” he said to no one in particular as he picked up the suitcase and began unzipping it.

  “Ah, my dear friend,” he said as he extracted a rather battered, dirty computer. Over the years it had accumulated a lot of stickers, notes and other such things. Amazingly it activated when Isamu turned it on. He smiled mischievously . “Yes!”

  After a few minutes checking it, he deactivated the notebook and placed it on a shelf next to his bed. He reached back into the suitcase and pulled out a multitude of audio disks. “Ah, music - my other retreat from a sometimes harsh reality,” he almost seemed to mock himself.

  After placing these next to the notebook, he knelt down to pick up the other case. He carried it back to his bed and placed it on it. He unzipped the zipper running the length of it cautiously. When it was fully open he reached inside and slowly withdrew an electric guitar. Unlike his other treasured possessions it was in a beautiful state - clean and polished to perfection.

  He sat down and placed it in his lap, then realised he’d forgotten something. “Whoops, need a pick don’t I?” He lay the guitar back on it’s case and searched through the case, finally his hand emerging with a packet full of plectrums. He search through it with his fingers until he found the one he wanted, and again sat back down, reaching over to pick the guitar again. He strummed a few chords to check the tuning. “Beautiful as always,” he complimented.

  After a few minutes playing he placed it back in it’s cover, then sat back down in thought.

“Hmmmm........what to do........what to do........” he thought out loud. Then he smiled and snapped his fingers. “I know, I’ll ring Misato!” he exclaimed. He jumped up and ran down the corridor into the living room. He feverishly began to search for a telephone. “For the love of God, where is it? Does he even have one?” he yelled, knocking over a pot-plant. “Damn plants, why does he have so many anyway?!” he fumed, bending down to right it. He had never liked plants, yet part of him enjoyed their ‘company’........something he didn’t understand.

  “Ahha!” he announced triumphantly, holding up the phone like a trophy, “I have you now!” He sat himself down on the couch and retrieved a piece of paper Misato had slipped him. On it was written a phone number and Ring me! . He keyed in the number, raised the handset to his ear and waited.

 

  At Misato Katsuragi’s apartment, the ‘family’ was sitting down to dinner.

  “Gee, this is rare - all of us at dinner together,” Misato commented cheerfully. In fact, Shinji noted, she had been overly cheerful all afternoon.

  When she received no reply, Misato looked hurt. “Well don’t everyone chat in a happy, lively manner or anything!” she exclaimed, desperately trying to induce some sociality in the group.

  “Ok” quipped Asuka cheekily. She had been sulking all afternoon.

  Shinji choked on his food., he was expecting a fight. He looked at Misato to see her return the salvo with an outburst, but to his surprise she just smiled. She looked down at her dinner.

  “I should have expected such from you Asuka,” she retorted calmly and still smiling. “Just because you got shown up....”

  “THAT BASTARD DIDN’T SHOW ME UP!!!” Asuka screamed, jumping to her feet. Misato just gave her a look to say You just proved my point. Asuka regained her composure and sat back down. “I was just shocked by how rude he was - no manners.”

  This made Misato chuckle quietly.

  Asuka’s so proud, anyone who crosses her is likely to end up dead! I’m sure Isamu will be fine though, he’s always been very resilient. It’s so good to see him again....

  Just then the phone rang, making Misato rouse from her dozing state. Asuka regained her usual character as she jumped up to answer it. “It’ll probably be for me,” she sang, smiling. “It’s probably Kaji wondering if I’ll go out with him!”

  You wish Shinji thought, but dared not say it out loud. He’d been verbally dissected by Asuka before.

  She reached the phone and raised the handset to her ear, greeting the caller with a “Heh-lo?” in her German accent. “Who is it?”

  Shinji watched on in shocked curiosity as Asuka’s smiling face morphed into a red face with clenched teeth. Suddenly she let fly with “You Bastard!! I swear the next time I see you I’m going to kill you!! How dare you call me egotistical!!” then slammed the phone back down. She just stood there fuming.

  Misato couldn’t help herself.

  “Who was that?”

  “Ugh!” screeched the 2nd child and stormed off to her room and slammed the door.

  Misato watched her go then turned to Shinji, who looked back at her with very wide eyes. Then he smiled and said something totally unexpected. “You just couldn’t help yourself, could you?” This totally took Misato by surprise, but she laughed in spite of herself. “Heeh heeh - I wasn’t expecting that from you, Shinji” giggled the hideously-immature adult. “Anyway, you can’t talk - you haven’t exactly been Mr. Conversation tonight.”

  “I was thinking about him, the 4th child.”

  “What about him?” Misato asked seriously.

  “Just what he’s like, if we’ll be friends and other stuff.” Shinji looked worried. Misato patted him on the back to reassure him.

  “It’ll be ok. He’s a really nice boy and so are you. He already seems to like you alot.” she told him. Shinji looked up at her and smiled weakly. She smiled back.

  And the phone rang again, spoiling the moment.

  “That’ll be him again,” Misato said, rising to answer it. Shinji looked at his plate - it was still quite full. He still hadn’t got used to Misato’s ‘cooking’. Thankfully she didn’t make dinner often. He didn’t want to offend her by saying he didn’t like it or that he was full since he thought she’d be able to tell her didn’t like it.

  While she was distracted he quickly took the plates to wash. He gave his to Pen-pen who took one look and ran away.

 

  “Hello?” Misato sung in the familiar fashion once she got hold of the telephone.

  “Hello, Miss Katsuragi? This is the Japanese Lottery Commission. We’d like to inform you that you have won tonight’s ¥10 million.” came a rather strange, muffled voice.

  “That’s rather surprising Isamu since I don’t buy  lottery tickets anymore,” Misato teased him.

  The voice suddenly unmuffled. “Ah -  You’re no fun!”

  “I see you’re still a cheeky boy.  You haven’t changed have you?” She was desperately wanting him to say no.

  “Nope,” he joked, then realised she was being serious. “Are you glad?”

  Misato remained quiet in thought for a moment, but then her mouth broke into a grin and she told “I’ll probably regret this later, but yeah.”

  “Aw, ain’t that sweet - ya still love after all these years!” Isamu drawled in a mock-caring way, but then his tone changed to serious but caring. “I never forgot you. Everywhere he sent me, I always remembered my first true friend. It’s been so long.” His sounds were starting to become all blubbery, like he was crying.

  “Isamu, are you crying?” Misato asked.

  “No,” A lie. Misato realised that tears were flowing down her cheeks too. She looked around to see if Shinji or Asuka were still about, but they were elsewhere.

  “I missed you too, Squirt,” she sobbed happily, “I missed you so much,” and collapsed on the couch, half laughing and half crying. They both continued until Isamu to re-establish some dignity in the pair.

  “Listen  to us - You, an adult, and me, a young adult bawling our eyes out.” This sent Misato into a laughing frenzy. “What?” Isamu queried her, feeling as if he’d said something wrong.

  “A - young adult?!” Misato crowed, rolling about, laughing rapturously.  “You’re an immature 14 year old!”

  “Well ex-cuse me!” Isamu retorted, trying to hide his hurt feelings. “I see you’re as kind, caring and considerate as you were before.”

  Misato began to pull herself back together, “I’m sorry. I bet you’re as mature as always.”

  “Oh gee, thanks! That really fixed things up!” Isamu whined.

  “Oh, shut up. So what have you been doing the last few years?”

  “Well,” he began, trying to make it sound extremely dramatic, “I spent the first 3 years in Germany....” but Misato cut him off.

  “I went to Germany 3 years after you left! I knew he sent you there! I looked for you everywhere, but you had already left. I wonder, did he move you because he knew I was coming to NERV 2nd Branch?

  “Why would he do that?”

  Misato paused in thought. “I don’t know,” was all she could offer.

  Isamu continued. “Well - anyway, I went to school there for the 2 ears in Munich. Then I got a letter from Father saying I had to move to Moscow. No reasons just an order.”

  “I had to learn a whole new language, make new friends, start afresh. It was terrible having to leave it all behind - again. But, I learnt Russian pretty quickly and made new friends so it got better. I stayed there for bit over a year, then he moved me to Los Angeles. So, again I started from scratch - met new people and learnt a new language.”

  “I stayed there for another year, the he sent me back to Munich again, where I lived until two days ago. Now I’m here in Tokyo-3, back in Japan.”

  “Wow,” Misato answered thoughtfully, after a short delay. “You really travelled.”

  “I sure did.” Isamu started to inflate his ego.

  “Isamu....” Misato finally managed to collect her thoughts.

  “Yes?”

  “Have you ever found out why he moved you?” This made Isamu’s ego crumble.

  “No.” This was followed by another pause. Isamu didn’t like this line of thought.

  “You said he sent you back to Munich about half a year ago?” Misato requested.

  “Yes”

  “That’s when I came back here to Tokyo-3.”

  This peaked Isamu’s curiosity. “Weird,” he murmured. “Probably just coincidence. Though.....”

  “Though what?”

  “Shigeru once told me thought Father moved me because he was afraid that I might be where the Angels attacked. Did you notice that all the cities I lived in have branches of NERV nearby? Of course, he just said that something bad might happen, but once I learnt of the existence of Angels I knew what he meant.”

  “Now I wonder how you learnt that,” Misato said, mimicking curiosity.

  “Oh, just a few snippets of information I gathered here and there,” Isamu replied mocking her and they both chuckled.  Misato could hear a ruckus in the living room.

  “It’s my turn to watch the telly!” she could hear Asuka yelling.

  “You’ve been watching it all afternoon! It’s my turn!” Shinji defended.

  Misato sighed. “I gotta go break those two up before they destroy the place and each other. Do you have my address?”

  “Yeah. I might drop round tomorrow, ok?”

  “Sure. Cya, short-stuff!”

  “Bye!” Isamu farewelled, and Misato hung up and went to sort out the other two. Pen-pen waddled after her looking for something to drink.

 

  Isamu hung up the phone and went into the kitchen to try and rustle up something edible. Leaving a minute later with enough food for a banquet, he headed for his room commenting “A small snack.....”

 

  The next morning Isamu awoke to find his father still home. As he walked in a semi-awake state into the lounge room, he found his father preparing to leave. Kohzoh looked at him blankly, and told him just as blankly “Ryohji is coming to pick you up at 12:30 to get you. Be ready.” Then he walked out the front door, leaving Isamu standing with a rather confused face, lost for words.

  “Well good morning to you too.”

 

  Later, Isamu stood outside a large apartment block looking at piece of paper. He looked up to the block, then back to the paper again. He hummed thoughtfully. 

  “53,” he murmured, looking back up at the apartment block, “This must be the place.” With that he proceeded towards the entrance. Inside, he entered the single elevator, pressed the button for the right floor and waited as the doors closed. He arrived at the desired floor and walked down to Misato’s apartment. There was a note on the door.

  Had to go to work, sorry. Love - Misato.

  “Bloody hell!” Isamu exclaimed once he’d read it, then stormed off back to the elevator.

 

  Misato squirmed in her seat as the car sped on towards where ever her and Kaji happened to be going.

  “Where are we going?” she hissed at him.

  “To the school,” came the reply.

  “Don’t be a smartass. The school is the other way. Where are we really going?”

  “To the school,” Kaji replied, turning to her with a huge grin. It  disappeared rather quickly when he saw her expression. “After we pick up someone.”

  Misato looked out the window. She expected something like that from Ryohji Kaji.  “No doubt some girl you picked at some night club, looking for a good time.” She had no idea why she had accepted a lift from him. “Why are you going to the school anyway?”

  “I have to drop someone off.”

  “Who?”

  “You’ll see.”

  “I hate that about you!” she yelled at him, then realised what she’d said. She quickly turned to look out the window again, hiding her red face, muttering “Can’t ever get a straight answer.”

  Ryohji smiled, happy to hear it. He turned a corner and began to decelerate, eventually coming to a halt outside a house with rather attractive gardens. He beeped the horn to let whoever was inside know he was there. Misato continued to stare out of the window. She heard a door close and hurried footsteps approach the car. Then a familiar voice welcomed Kaji. “Hey ugly - ooh........is this your woman? Gee, great knockers!” Kaji put his head in his hand, and Misato turned, gathering breath to scream at whoever it was, but the air flew out of her when she saw who it was.

  “So this is work is it?”

 

  “I’m sorry Isamu, but I had some really important things to do in town. I don’t get many days off,” Misato once again apologised to a sulking Isamu.

  “I said it’s ok,” he replied, though she could tell by the way he said it that it wasn’t.

  “This is all your fault!” she snarled at Ryohji, who looked shocked.

  “How?!” he exclaimed.

  “I don’t know, but everything is always somehow your fault.” This made Isamu begin to laugh hysterically.

  “And what’s so funny?” Misato queried angrily, turning her steely gaze to him.

  “It’s - just that - you two sound like a - a married couple!” he managed to blurt out.

  Misato turned to look at the driver, who smiled smugly. He put his arm around her shoulders. “Well ain’t that cute?”

  Misato threw his arm off her, growling “Don’t touch me,” then went back to looking out the window.

  Isamu continued to try and control himself in the back seat. He managed to clamp his mouth shut for a moment, then burst out laughing again. Misato groaned.

  “Oh shutup.”

 

  “Hey, it’s that babe!” someone yelled out. Toji dropped everything and leapt from his seat, accompanied by Kensuke, then every boy in class as they rushed to the windows. Every one was crammed with boys. They drooled at the sight of Misato emerging from the car. Shinji stood with Toji and Kensuke, unamused.

  Asuka gave them a disgusted look, shook her head then took a quick peek outside. She leapt up and screamed “And Kaji!” which sent  all the girls running for the few remaining spaces around the windows, which resulted in fights breaking out.

  Shinji looked to his side him at Rei. She just stared through her terminal.

  “Who’s that with them?” someone called as a shorter person clambered out of the car. It resolved itself into a child, a boy, with a most unusual hairstyle.

  “Oh no....” groaned Asuka.

  “It’s that Isamu guy,” Shinji thought out-loud.

  “Who?” asked Kensuke, hearing him.

  “Isamu - the 4th child.”

  “Not another one,” moaned Toji, “We already have enough of you freaks here.”

  Isamu looked up at the crowd. He spotted Shinji and waved. Shinji waved back shyly. As Isamu looked up, he showed the visible side of his face. At this sight all the women let out a simultaneous gasp.

  “What a hunk!”

  “What a babe!”

  “I saw him first!”

  “No, I did!” and with that multiple quarrels broke out among them, except Asuka who along with the men looked on in bewilderment.

  Shinji looked to where Rei’s seat was and was extremely surprised to find it empty. He was even more surprised to find her staring out the window at Isamu among the other children. This knocked him speechless.

  Hikari sat in her seat looking yearningly at Toji.

 

  As the bell rang, signalling the beginning of lunch-time, Shinji felt the usual relief of being released from his studies. As he walked from the classroom Kensuke and Toji ran to catch up with him.

  “Hey Shinji! Wait up!” Kensuke yelled, catching Shinji across the shoulders with his arm. Toji was trying desperately to prise his wallet from his bag. “Dammit!” It came loose suddenly and flung him back, landing on his behind with an “Umph!”

  “Are you quite finished clowning around?” Asuka demanded, who’s way he was blocking.

  “No, I have to get my other wallet out now,” he replied, grinning fiendishly at her.

  “Hmph!” She walked around him. Hikari followed her, looking apologetically at Toji. Toji watched her leave, feeling...... strange, then realised Shinji and Kensuke had left without him. He ran to catch them.

 

  As Shinji walked down the corridor - accompanied by Kensuke, who chatted away to Shinji though Shinji wasn’t listening - he caught sight of Rei ahead of him. He stared at her, unable to focus on anything else. She transfixed him. What was it about her that attracted him? He felt so strongly for her. He could stare for ever.......

  “Hey, you!”

  .......Until Asuka came along with her habit of always ruining the moment. Shinji sighed irritably and said “What do you want?”

  “Hey! Don’t take that tone with me! If you had given me my money before school like you were supposed to I wouldn’t be asking now!”

  “But you were asleep, and I would’ve been late,” he offered apologetically.

  “Then you should’ve woken me!”

  “But you would’ve yelled at me....”

  .....like you are now...... He realised it was a lose-lose situation so he just handed her the money hoping she’d let it be.

  “Now, don’t let it happen again!” she warned, snatching the money from him and striding off. Kensuke stood motionless watching the whole episode. Shinji was about to take his anger out on him for not helping when a familiar voice arose from behind him.

  “Shinji, Shinji - you’re revealing yourself to further and further from my expectations.”

  Shinji spun round to find Isamu looking at him, smiling. “How’s it going?”

  Shinji felt he should’ve been insulted, but he felt calm. It seemed to exist in an aura around Isamu. When he was near him he felt so relaxed.

  “Uh - hi Isamu,” he replied snapping back to reality. He walked towards the newest pilot, smiling.

  Isamu’s smile grew larger, more pleasant, as Shinji approached him, with a curious Kensuke in tow. Down the hall, Toji spotted them and ran towards them, wondering why they weren’t headed to the cafeteria.

  “So, you’re coming to school here?” Shinji asked Isamu.

  “Yeah, if it’s ok?” This question caught Shinji completely by surprise and his mind stumbled over it.

  “O - of course it is!” he forced out, giving Isamu a surprised look. Just then Toji arrived, panting loudly. He stood with his hands on his knees and his head raised, looking at the newcomer.

  “Who’s this?” he asked Shinji.

  Shinji realised he’d totally forgotten about the other two. “Oh, this is Toji Suzaharra......” he introduced, waving his hand towards the still recuperating Toji, who gave a “Hi,” and a small wave.

  “Hello,” replied Isamu, still smiling warmly.

  “......and this Kensuke Aida,” Shinji concluded, waving his hand to Kensuke who pushed his glasses up his nose, and waved.

  “Hiya!”

  “Nice to meet you,” Isamu replied, then turned to Shinji. “Are these your friends?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well a friend of yours is a friend of mine,” Isamu responded and  leapt forward and grabbed Toji’s hand and shaking it energetically, then doing the same to Kensuke. “I’m so excited!”

  “Hee hee.” All 4 of them turned at this combined giggle. They found it originated from a group of girls huddling down the corridor, watching them. When the boys spotted them they turned and fled.

  “Seems like you’ve already got a fan club,” Kensuke cynically remarked to Isamu, who blushed.

  “Huh - yeah,” he guffawed, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. They all shared a chuckle.

  Shinji looked at him and smiled.

  Maybe this’ll be fun after all.