THE STORY OF ISAMU FUYUTSUKI

Part 2 – EVA-03

 

Author’s note –

  Here is the second instalment in my fan-fic. I haven’t had anyone read the first part yet so I’m still waiting to see if anyone likes it, otherwise this may never be read anyway.

  Just something I wanted to point out – I put a strong influence in this part on Shinji’s shyness, since his habit of bottling up his emotions and not talking to people is very strange to Isamu since he is very social and has not trouble explaining how he feels. He enjoys talking things over with people, such as Misato, Shigeru, Ritsuko or Ryohji.

  Also, these first two parts give the impression that Isamu is the main character. It’s important to realise that he isn’t. Where as there are the three main characters (Shinji, Asuka and Rei), Isamu is more like Misato, a secondary character yet still important (you will see just how in later instalments).

  That was actually one of the reasons for this fan-fic – I felt that some of the characters are left out, and there isn’t much insight in them, such as Maya, Shigeru, and Makoto and to a lesser extent, Commander Fuyutsuki (who gets a bit more attention than the other three in The Birth of NERV)

   Another thing to keep in mind is that since Isamu has EVA-03 then all the other EVA’s after that in the series will have to have an extra one added to their number (so Tohji’s EVA-03 will become EVA-04 and the EVA-04 that get’s destroyed in America will be EVA-05, etc.)

  So, to rap up, any comments or suggestions or anything, please e-mail me at madbadgav@one.net.au or contact me on my ICQ number which is 65514266. I’m currently trying to draw Isamu too! It isn’t easy though as I don’t have those anime artist skills!

  Anyway, thanks

  Adin Knight, 13 - 7 – 2000

 

Oh, yeah – you may also find some references and quotes from some of my favourite anime. This is just me being sentimental. : )

 

8/10/00 – New e-mail address o f “ just4kix@ihug.com.au  though ICQ number still the same.

 

 

Part 2 – EVA-03

A week after Part 1.

“I’ve got a surprise for you,” Misato said smiling broadly to her to her young friend who stood before her.

  “What is it?” Isamu asked, cocking his head to one side in curiosity.  This made Misato grin even wider.

  “If I told you it wouldn’t be surprise, would it?” she informed him.

  He smiled back at her. “No, I guess it wouldn’t.”

  She walked towards the door, and then turned to look at him again. “Come on,” she instructed, tipping her head towards the doorway, then she headed out, the door opening with a “whoosh” before her. Isamu ran to catch up with her. He had only visited NERV twice in the week he’d been in Tokyo-3, so he wasn’t used to the layout yet.

  She led him down to the EVA cages. He was unusually quiet, Misato noted, obviously anxious.

  Isamu had seen the EVA cages on his first visit to NERV, and he knew what was kept there.

  Is it here? Oh boy, oh boy!

  His anxiety was giving way to excitement as they finally walked out of the dark corridor into the vast, brightly – lit EVA cages. Ritsuko was standing at the end of the corridor. She smiled at Isamu as they approached.

  “Congratulations, Isamu,” She said to him to him.

  Isamu continued to walk as he replied looking at her with a puzzled face. “What for?” he asked, but the next thing he saw when he rounded the corner answered his question.

  His knees collapsed from under hi, leaving him kneeling in front of his EVA-03. He made a few gasping noises, his mouth moving like a fishes, his mind doing somersaults.

  “Well?” Misato began in a very sultry way with her left eyebrow raised, “Waddya think?”

  “This finally knocked Isamu’s mind into gear. “Huh? Oh – yeah! It’s excellent!” he cried, jumping to his feet and running up to the restraint bridge across EVA-03’s chest. He stared at it for a second then began to jump about.

  Ritsuko walked up to stand beside Misato who was watching the performance. She laughed “I think we’ve created a monster.” Misato giggled, and turned to give her a reply when something latched onto her hand and began to drag her towards the new EVA.

  “Misato, lookit! Lookit!” Isamu squealed, finally releasing her when they arrived in front of it. Ritsuko laughed loudly. “Isn’t it wonderful?” Isamu beamed, his pride overflowing. Misato realised she hadn’t had a good look at EVA-03 yet. She turned her gaze from Isamu to it. It was almost entirely black, except for its fingers, parts of its legs and chest, and the tips of its shoulder extensions, which were yellow and red.

  “...Alphonse,” drifted into her mind from a sense she had disregarded for a moment.

  “Pardon Isamu?”

  “I said, I think I’ll call him Alphonse,” Isamu repeated jubilantly. Misato paused for a moment. Where did she know that name? It finally came back to her.

  “That’s not after...” she began, but Isamu finished it.

  “Yep – that teddy-bear you bought me for my 4th birthday. I still have it with me. I kept it with me so I’d always remember you.” His eyes were getting all misty. Misato realised hers were too. She bent down and hugged him. Ritsuko watched on, happy to see the two of them together again. She walked over to join them. Misato looked at her and whispered to Isamu just loud enough for Ritsuko to hear too. “Now how about one for Ritsu?”

  Isamu’s head shot up and he released Misato, bounded up to Ritsuko and hugged her around the waste. She simply stood there for a moment, unsure what to do. Then she smiled and lifted him up so he could hug her round the shoulders. After a moment she put him back down. He smiled at her, and then ran back over to Alphonse.

  “I wasn’t expecting that from you,” Misato told her when he had gone. Ritsuko smiled at her then looked at Isamu.

  “He’s the closest thing I ever had to a son,” she said reflectively. Misato looked at her surprised, but Ritsuko’s thoughts had turned back to a time years ago.

  If only you understood.....

  “I never realised you felt that way.”

  Ritsuko realised she said more than she should have and decided to try and rationalise her previous statement. “Oh, come now,” she replied sternly, “We were all he had for ages.”

  This time it was Misato who looked at Isamu. “Yeah....”

  “Besides, he’s so cute!” Ritsuko concluded, and Misato laughed.

  The sound of someone choking behind them caused them both to spin around. They found Asuka poking her finger down her throat to indicate her disagreement, and Shinji looking at them innocently.

  Misato ignored Asuka and smiled at Shinji. “Hello Shinji.”

  “Hello Misato. Hello Dr. Akagi.”

  Ritsuko nodded to Shinji. “Hello Shinji.”

  The scene was disturbed when a sudden outcry burst from behind Ritsuko and Misato.

  “Shinji!!” Isamu yelled upon noticing his friend’s appearance. Shinji looked at him as Isamu bounded up and grabbed his hands and began to dance Shinji around. “It’s here! It’s here!” Isamu repeated over and over while Shinji tried to keep up with him. Misato, Ritsuko and Asuka watched on in bemusement. A rather irritated voice exploded from behind them, startling all present.

  “ISAMU!”

  Commander Fuyutsuki was obviously not impressed with his son’s conduct, as was evident in his voice. Isamu knew who it was immediately and snapped to attention, releasing Shinji who went sprawling. Isamu winced in his direction as a means of apologising.

  The Commander grit his teeth. “Please try and remain dignified. Here’s your plug suit.” He threw Isamu the package with surprising force. Isamu caught it across his gut with an “Oomph!” The Commander glared at him for a moment and then walked away. Isamu watched him go, now with a frown on his face. Misato looked at him.

  “Not much fun, is he?” she said, sympathetically.

  “Nah. But he is my father, and I respect him,” Isamu replied, still watching his father until he disappeared from sight. Then he looked down at the bundle he cradled in his arms. His face lit up again and he looked up at Misato, his eyes full of hope. She could tell what he wanted. She didn’t want him to try it on since it needed to be clean for tomorrow.

  She sighed.

  “Ok, you can try it on.”

  “Yippee!” Isamu burst out and ran off to the change rooms. Ritsuko approached Misato again.

  Misato sighed again. “I’m sorry, I know you wanted it clean for tomorrow.” Ritsuko laughed and placed a reaffirming hand on Misato’s shoulder.

  “It’s ok, neither of us could ever say no to him.”

  “Oh listen to you two drooling over that little twerp!” Asuka screeched, desiring attention. She turned to look at EVA-03. “It’s nowhere near as nice as my EVA-02.”

  Misato decided she didn’t have the energy to argue, so she just agreed. “Yes, Asuka.” This infuriated Asuka who wanted a confrontation.

  “Well it is!”

  Ritsuko decided she’d had enough. “Asuka?”

  “What?!”

  “Shut up.” This knocked Asuka shell-shocked. She just gulped a few incomprehensible phrases – “Well I.....you.....I’ll.....Ugh!” and walked to the far end of the restraint and began to sulk. “Hmph!”

  Ritsuko looked at Misato and whispered “How do you put up with her at home?”

  “I really don’t know.....” Misato replied blankly, staring into nothing. Ritsuko looked at Shinji who had been standing silently next to them the whole time. She smiled a warm smile and ruffled his hair.

  “I guess it’s because you have Mr. Big Tough-guy  here.” Shinji smiled shyly back.

  Misato watched Ritsuko in amazement. She had never been like this before. Was she starting to regret not having children? She couldn’t, her work had always been the most important thing to her.....

  “Tada!” called Isamu from behind them, and all three turned to see him standing with his plug-suit on, presenting himself with arms outstretched. His suit was identical to his EVA. “Waddaya think?” he asked the group.

  Misato rubbed her chin and said thoughtfully “Not bad....not bad....”

  Shinji simply said “That’s nice Isamu.” Isamu grinned at him then turned to Ritsuko, his grin now a rather sly one.

  “Well Ritsu? What do you think of my hot body?” he said, striking a rather eloquent pose. Ritsuko put her hand to her forehead in an exasperated way and Misato laughed. Isamu flexed his ‘muscles’.

  “Heh heh, I’m dead sexy.”

  “Oh no” Ritsuko sighed while Misato rolled about laughing outrageously. Isamu gave her a funny look.

  “Ok Misato – it’s not that funny,” he tried to calm her but she went on laughing. After a while she calmed down enough to speak.

  “You’re still a funny guy, Isamu,” she complimented him, resting her arm on his shoulder to support herself like a drunk.

  “Thanks, Misato.”

  Ritsuko was about to make a comment when the loudspeakers overhead crackled to life announcing “Dr. Akagi, Dr. Akagi – Please report to MAGI maintenance centre immediately. Repeat – Dr. Akagi please report to MAGI maintenance.”

  “Gotta go,” Ritsuko confirmed to the party and turned to leave.

  “Bye Ritsu.”

  “Bye Dr. Akagi.”

  “Cya, beautiful.” This last one made her stop for a moment, but she couldn’t think of a clever retort so she continued off to the MAGI. When she had gone, Misato looked down to find Isamu was playing with his suit and Shinji had walked over to look at EVA-03. She left Isamu to his tinkering and approached Shinji.

  He must’ve heard her coming.

  “It doesn’t look very friendly,” he told her.

  “Another EVA would think it does,” she replied looking up into Alphonse’s face. It’s true, it does look a little evil. But how can you define evil?

  Asuka’s scream knocked her from such melancholy thoughts. “What the hell are you looking at?!”

  Misato span around to find her glaring at Isamu who had a smirk on his face. “At you,” he said plainly and honestly. The dress Asuka was wearing didn’t leave much to the imagination, so she yanked it down to try and cover as much as possible, while her face had gone bright red.

  “How dare you! You pervert!” she screamed. Isamu remained cool and calm.

  “What is wrong with looking at someone?” Isamu pointed out innocently. “When I talk to Misato, do I not look at her? Does she become offended?”

  “No,” Asuka snapped, “but you were looking at me differently.” Isamu looked down at the ground and placed his hands on his hips.

  “How can I look at you differently? I can not look at you with my eyes shut.” He raised his face to look at her, knowing he’d beaten her.

  Asuka growled loudly and raised her arms to pounce on him, but a familiar voice rang out from above, stopping her.

  “Temper, temper Asuka.  That’s not very ladylike,” Ryohji Kaji teased her from up on the catwalk. The group looked up at him. Asuka tried to rescue her pride.

  “K – Kaji? Oh, I was just trying to instil some responsibility and maturity into this boy, she explained to him, waving a hand towards Isamu, who smiled. Asuka tried to sound as mature and intellectual as she could, “But, alas, I can not. He is just a boy.”

  Kaji laughed out loud and, mimicking her, said “Isamu? Responsible? Mature? Surely you jest!”

  Isamu poked his tongue into his cheek. “Oh and this is coming from Mr. Mature himself, Ryohji?” Kaji poked his tongue out at him then turned his attention to Misato. He gave her a huge grin. She looked less than impressed and turned tot he children.

  “I’m going back to Central Command,” she told them flatly then turned to leave.

  “Bye Misato,” – Shinji.

  “Goodbye Misato,” Asuka teased her, feeling she’d won the fight and Kaji.

  “Goodbye lovely Misato,” Isamu finished. He always made her smile. Once she was gone, he looked back up to his brother. “What are you still doing here?”

  Ryohji just smiled and walked away. Asuka ran past Shinji and Isamu after him, yelling “No Kaji – come back!”

  Isamu watched her go and sighed. “Man, she’s pathetic.” Shinji didn’t reply. Isamu looked at him. “Got the hots for her have you?”

  Shinji swung around sharply. “N – no!”

  “Ooh! Shinji loves Asuka! Shinji loves Asuka!” Isamu teased him. Shinji faced away from him.

  “I do not! Why are you teasing me?!”

  “Heh heh, Misato was right – you get all worked up.” Shinji looked up into Isamu’s face in disbelief.

  “W – what?”

  Isamu rolled his eyebrows and walked away. “Nothing.” But Shinji had heard what he said. He walked over to stand beside Isamu who had stopped in front of EVA-03.

  “You’re very close to her, aren’t you?” he asked Isamu soberly.

  “So are you, when you want to be,” Isamu replied, “though she is more a big sister to me. To you she’s more of a surrogate mother.”

  Shinji’s mind digested this. Misato had become a sort of mother – he felt close to her. He looked up at Alphonse. “Do you remember your mother?”

  This made Isamu smile. “How did you know?”

  “Just a guess.”

  Isamu looked at Shinji, his eyes open wide. “You are very perceptive.”

  “No he isn’t,” Asuka scowled, appearing behind them, “All pilots don’t have mothers, it seems.” Isamu hummed thoughtfully then looked back up at his EVA.

  Shinji hadn’t moved at all.

  “What about your father? What is he like?” he asked Isamu, who span around in surprise.

  “Y – you don’t know who my father is?” he staggered out, not believing it. “You really don’t?”

  Shinji shook his head. Isamu gawked at him, then turned to Asuka. “Do you?”

  “Should I?” she reversed the question, haughtily.

  “Yes!” Isamu yelled incredulously, “Ok – ok, we’ll try it this way; what is my surname?” He looked between the two of them, waiting for a response. “Well?”

  “We don’t know!” Asuka snapped at Isamu’s persistence.

  “Well I’m just hurt!” he snapped back, “Really hurt.”

  “We’re sorry Isamu. It’s just that when the Commander went to say your name last week, you saw Misato and.....” Shinji explained soothingly.

  Isamu smiled and put his hand on Shinji’s shoulder. “It’s ok. My name is Isamu Fuyutsuki. Ring a bell?”

  Shinji shook his head. Isamu sighed loudly and threw his arms in the air, giving up. He walked away a short distance and stopped.

  I never give up.

  “What is the name of the computer operator in central command with long hair?” he asked, still with his back to them. When he received no reply he turned to look at them. “Well?”

  They both shrugged.

  “I don’t believe this!” cried Isamu in a mix of disbelief and irritation. “I’ve been here for a week and I already know more people than you two. His name is Shigeru Fuyutsuki.” He looked at Shinji and Asuka, awaiting a response. Shinji was the first to do so.

  “Is he your father?”

  “W – what?! He’s 25 years old! He would’ve been 11 when I was born! No – he is my brother.”

  Asuka and Shinji let out a simultaneous “Oh.”

  Isamu raised his hand with his index finger pointed towards the ceiling. “That’s not all – what is Kaji’s name? His full name?”

  Asuka jumped at this. “Ryohji Kaji!”

  “Correct,” Isamu confirmed, “Kaji was my mother’s maiden name.” He blew on his nails (which were actually covered by his plug suit), attempting to look posh and superior.

  Asuka rubbed her chin in thought, then snapped her fingers thinking she’d found the answer. “Is he your father?”

  Isamu looked at her in a very moronic way. “Did you get stupidity lessons or were you born this way?” He is 31! He would’ve been only 17 when I was born! And where would I have got my surname from?! No – he is also my brother.”

  Once again the announcement was met by a double “Oh.”

  Isamu walked back over to Shinji and bent over on his toes to place his face directly in front of Shinji’s. “Now Shinji, are you listening?” he enquired in the same way a teacher would to her pupil. “Who is the Vice-Commander here at NERV?”

  “Commander Fuyutsuki,” Shinji said, cowering back as if Isamu was about to strike him.

  He jumped when Isamu let out a loud “Cor-rect!”, then jumping about in a small circle.

  Asuka held her chin in her hand, deep in thought. Isamu appraised her. He mimicked his earlier teacher-pupil tone. “And what are you thinking about?”

  She looked up at him.

  “So is he your brother?”

  Isamu’s patience was just about finished.

  “You’re just doing this to annoy me, aren’t you?”

  Asuka looked into his face, not knowing what to say. She felt herself moving towards his face, she felt herself wanting to k.....

  “Moron,” Isamu commented, turning and walking away. Auska remained there, frozen in the action, witless. She shook herself back to reality. She felt like screaming at him, or grabbing him and finishing what they’d begun, but she didn’t know which. So she did what came by instinct to her – she sulked.

  Shinji, meanwhile, had been oblivious to the goings on. He stood staring at EVA-03. Somehow it seemed familiar. Not how it looked but something else.....

  Isamu returned to stand beside him. He had only known him a week, but already he felt comfortable with Isamu. He felt like he knew he could trust him when they first met a week ago. Something in his soul, something deep inside him, told him. He hadn’t many friends, apart from Kensuke and Tohji. He hadn’t gone to school before coming to Tokyo-3. But he felt immediately safe with Isamu.

  Isamu seemed to read his thoughts.

  “Do you like me Shinji?” he asked sombrely.

  Shinji was unsure how to answer so he just said “Yes.”

  “Do you think we will be friends?” Isamu continued, looking at into Alphonse’s face.

  “I hope so,” Shinji responded, trying to sound reassuring for his own benefit. He hadn’t talked ‘heart-to-heart’ with anyone before, and he had thought he didn’t want to. But he felt glad now.

  Isamu finally looked him in the face, and smiled a smile that made Shinji feel completely at calm.

  “I would like that,” Isamu concluded and offered his hand to Shinji. Shinji took it, and Isamu shook it then crossed their palms, holding Shinji’s thumb.

  In Munich, my friends and I used to do this. It was our special handshake.

  Shinji smiled back – a calm honest smile.

  “Well, well – if it isn’t Wonder Girl,” Asuka rejoiced false heartedly.

  Isamu and Shinji both turned in her direction, to find Asuka glowering at Rei whom had appeared at the same portal Misato had exited from. She seemed to be looking at EVA-03. Isamu, Shinji and Asuka all stared on in silence.

  After a moment she advanced towards the group, arriving in front of Isamu. She stared flatly into his eyes, like she was looking into his mind. Isamu simply remained motionless, not knowing what to say or do. She remained there for what seemed like hours to him, after which she pushed past Shinji to stand before Alphonse on the edge of the restraint arm. Asuka motioned to push her off but Shinji stopped her, and a fight erupted.

  Isamu ignored them, and approached what consumed his attention – Rei. His mind had erupted into a flurry of memories and emotions; all moving so fast he couldn’t isolate a sing one to study it – just as had happened when he first met her a week ago.

  Standing beside her, he had no idea how to continue. Should I talk to her? She seems quite unresponsive.....

  “Um – hi,” he opened an invitation for conversation.

  She remained still, not uttering a word. Isamu tried another tactic.

  “I guess he’s nowhere near as good as EVA-00, huh?” he joked attempting to appeal to her ego - if she possessed one. But the smile trickled off his face when he still received no response.

  God dammit! Where’s your charm, Isamu?! What the hell is wrong with you?!

  “Well, I...” he began afresh, but Rei turned to look at him and when her eyes caught his all thought dissolved inside him. All he could do was stare into those eyes.....

  “She’s missed you,” Rei said unemotionally. It jolted Isamu’s mind back into gear with a lurch.

  “Huh?”

  “She’s missed you,” she repeated, her words slicing through his brain like knives through hot butter, each one carving a maze, and filling them with things he thought he’d forgotten. Her eyes pierced his soul like spotlights through a mist of uncertainty, and one thing repeated in his head like ripples on a pond –

  Mother.....

  Rei left him frozen like a statue, his understanding resonating into a picture which shattered before he could consciously take hold of it – it’s pieces disappearing as quickly as they had formed – melting into an ocean that ebbed and flowed with the beating of a heart that was filled with blood that wasn’t hi own.

  Mother.....

  Someone he knew more than he relised about – someone whom had been cordoned off in his memory by guards of fear and pain.

  Mother.....

 

  Shinji looked at his new friend, who stood rigid.

  What’s wrong with him? What did she say?

  He had noticed Rei leaving after Asuka stormed off away leaving his head ringing from her abuse.

  What is it with those two? Are they in love? A touch of jealousy peaked at Shinji’s mind, but all his prior experiences with Rei made it seem impossible. But there was so much he didn’t know about either of them.

  Have they met before?

  He approached Isamu, who made no reaction. “What did you say to her?” he inquired casually.

  Isamu slowly came back to reality, dragging his consciousness kicking and screaming from the depths of his mentality.

  “I – I don’t know.”

 

  That evening, Shinji asked Misato something, that had been puzzling him all afternoon.

  “Misato?”

  “Yes, Shinji?” She responded, but continued tinkering with the car’s radio. It blurbled and fuzzed as she played with the dials on it, frustrating her. She thumped it and was pleased when it began to play. “Ah, that’s better. Now,” she turned to Shinji, “what’s on your mind?”

  “Has Isamu ever said anything about Rei before? Have they ever met before this week?” he asked her concernedly, looking out the window at the Geo-Front which rapidly sank from sight as the rail car rose to the surface.

  Misato engaged the rusted mechanism of her mind – which didn’t generally stray beyond what she was wearing, what she going to wear, sex and drinking beer – and processed the question.

  “No,” she announced after a considerable pause. “No, I don’t remember them meeting before or him mentioning Rei before. Why?”

  “Do you remember when we were all first introduced last week?”

  “Yes,” she said, grinning. It was a day she would never forget.

  “Do you remember how they reacted when they met?” This made her realise she had noted that, but not payed much attention since she had been watching Ryohji Kaji perving on Maya Ibuki’s ass. She hadn’t given it any thought.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “Maybe they’ve got the hots for each other,” she offered. Shinji gave her a look that said you know that’s not it. She gave him a reassuring grin. “I’m sure we’ll find out eventually. Don’t worry about it.”

  Shinji still felt troubled but relented for now. He didn’t want a fuss. He smiled weakly back to her.

  “Yeah, I guess.”

 

  “Yeah, that was damn funny,” Shigeru laughed.

  “It took us ages to get him clean,” Ryohji reminisced, standing with his brother in front of the coffee maker in NERV’s Control Centre.

  “That kid,” Shigeru continued, “he was always the mischievous one. Always getting on Dad’s nerves.....”

  Kaji smiled at the memories, but it quickly vanished when Kohzoh Fuyutsuki approached. Kaji turned away to look off at the main view-screen. Shigeru’s smile also dissipated when he noticed the Commander’s approach, but he snapped to attention unlike his brother.

  “Sir!” he saluted.

  “Lieutenant, have you finished the reports on EVA-01’s battery status?” the Commander inquired tonelessly.

  Never let family get in the way of work, Ryohji though bitterly.

  “Yes, sir,” Shigeru responded in a voice similar to his father’s.

  “May I have it?” the Commander requested, motioning with his hand. Shigeru felt a fool. Ryohji noticed how he had adopted the same attitude as their father.

  When at NERV, we are family only by name. Ha  - even outside NERV. I wish Mother was here......damn you Father!

  Shigeru handed the Commander a data-disk. The Commander accepted it with a “Thankyou, Lieutenant,” scowled at Kaji then walked away.

  Kaji relaxed but Shigeru tensed up.

  “What is with you?!” he exclaimed, commanding everyone’s attention. He realised his mistake and apologised. “Uh, sorry everyone.” Maya stared at him a moment longer and he tried to avoid her gaze.

  Ryohji Kaji had seized the chance to escape, but Shigeru spotted and confronted him before he could reach the doorway.

  “Well?” Shuigeru demanded.

  “Well what?” Kaji replied in the innocent way he always did, which highly irritated Shigeru.

  “Don’t give that bullshit!” he whispered as loudly as a whisper could be. He didn’t have the ability to tame his temper that Kaji possessed and it was showing. “What the hell is going on between you and Father? Ever since you got back you two have either been at each other’s throats or avoiding each other. What the frigging hell has happened?!”

  Kaji motioned to reply, but Shigeru cut him off by pointing his finger directly at Kaji’s face. “And don’t you dare tell me I’m imagining t. I’ve heard that enough over the years from both of you.”

  Ryohji looked at him sternly. He knew the seriousness of the situation and that Shigeru wouldn’t let him avoid it. “I’m sorry my brother, but I can’t tell you.”

  “Why the hell can’t you?! I’m your god-damn brother!” Shigeru’s whisper had grown to a yell again, so he lowered it’s volume. He rephrased. “Why can’t you tell me?”

  “I’m sorry but it is between Father and myself – I can’t tell you anything else. When the time is right you will understand,” Ryohji told him, then left, leaving Shigeru standing by himself.

  Maya approached him from behind and tapped him on the shoulder to get his attention. He turned to look into her innocent, caring eyes. “Shigeru, what’s wrong?” she asked, her petite voice full of worry.

  “I – I don’t know.”

 

  Isamu flopped down onto his bed and tried to process the thoughts that were spinning around in his head like a whirlpool. But all the thoughts shared one thing in common. They were all about one thing.

  Ayanami.

  Ever since he had met – no – been introduced to her a week ago, one thing had been on his mind, and seeing her again today had heightened the feeling.

   I know her

  He had seen it in her eyes, that solid recognition. How many times had he seen those eyes before? He knew the answers were locked away in the forbidden parts of his memory.

  His own mind – forbidden.

  Why?

  To hide something.

  Who?

  Father.

  And what of that which Rei had said earlier?

  “She’s missed you.”

  Who has missed me? Isamu screamed internally, hoping that it might unshackle some sort of lock in his brain, so he would see everything clearly.

  But it didn’t, and he was left as puzzled as ever with a headache.

  He reached up for his walkman. “I’ve gotta try and get this out of my mind,” he thought out loud. But music couldn’t help push it away – it crept back to plague him.

  Mother. Father. Rei. Friends. Brothers. EVA.

  EVA.

  The word stuck in his consciousness, finally bringing a sort of stability. But why? What was so important about it? Sure, he was supposed to save the world in it (according to everyone at NERV) but he hadn’t even piloted it.

  She’s missed you.

  “No! Dammit!” he cried irritably as his mind sank back into chaos. “I’ve got to talk to someone.”

  And there was one person he had always turned to.

 

  Misato was peeved when the phone rang. She felt she might finally be making some connection to Shinji, as he smiled at her across the table.

  “Damn phone,” she groaned, rising to pick it up. But she leant back to confront Shinji and instructed him to “Hold that thought,” then she continued over to the phone.

  “Hello, Katsuragi residence,” she chimed upon raising the earpiece to her ear, attempting to disguise her irritation.

  “Hi Misato,” cam Isamu’s unhappy voice. Upon hearing it Misato brightened up.

  “Isamu! What’s wrong?”

  “I need to talk to you about something,” he began. He didn’t feel particularly inclined to talk over the phone. But he couldn’t just invite himself over.

  “Well, why don’t you come over?” she invited. She hadn’t seen him all week, and Asuka was out.

  Isamu’s mood changed to the positive.

  “Really? Can I?”

  “Nah, I’m just asking for my health. Of course you can!” Misato giggled, acting very childish. Isamu was just as excited on the other end.

  “Ok, ok,” he squealed excitedly. “I’ll be there soon.” And before Misato could say anything else he hung up. She went to say something before she realised what had happened, but realised and hung up the phone.

  “Shinji, is there enough for 3 for dinner?” she asked her younger lodger – a wide smile creeping across her face.

  “Uh, yeah – why? Is Asuka coming home from her date?” he replied, a little intrigued.

  “Nope, Isamu’s coming over,” she told him giddily. To this Shinji had no idea what to do or say. Misato noticed his troubled expression.

  Damn, I should have asked Shinji first she cursed inwardly. “I’m sorry Shinji. Though I’m sure you’ll get along just fine. He likes you a lot.”

  Shinji managed a weak smile, and she ruffled his hair.

 

  “Ah! Here it is!” Isamu exclaimed upon finding the door with the plaque reading “M. Katsuragi.” He gave an energetic knock – then hid around the corner.

  He heard the door open for a few seconds, then close. He chuckled deviously, then crept over and knocked again.

  Back in his hiding space, he heard the door open again. But the closing he had expected did not occur, so he peered round the corner – to find Misato glaring at him.

  He gave her a huge, innocent grin. “Misato! Imagine me finding you here.....”

  She grabbed him by the arm and dragged through the door with a “Woah!”

 

  Inside she threw him into a chair, barking an order to “Sit!”

  “Yes sir!” he barked back and she disappeared into the kitchen. He noticed the table was set before him. “Ah, dinner.” He had forgotten about his hunger.

  He felt a bit of a dead-weight sitting at the table with nothing to do and not helping, so he got up and walked into what he guessed was the kitchen.

  The sweet smell of food had not deceived him and he found Shinji labouring over multiple pots and pans.

  “Shinji!” Isamu exclaimed gleefully. Shinji span around, caught by surprise, but upon seeing Isamu relaxed again.

  “Hi, Isamu.”

  Isamu looked at him concernedly. “Gee, you really tensed up then. How come?”

  Shinji looked a bit embarrassed, but he told the truth. “I – I thought you may have been Asuka,” he had to force out through shame. Isamu frowned deeply at this.

  “Wow, she’s a real tyrant isn’t she? I may have to have a little talk to her later,” he announced rubbing his chin. His attention seemed to drift, as did his gaze.

  “Oh, please don’t,” Shinji pleaded. “She’ll come after me for whining and I really hate it when she gets angry.”

  Isamu looked at him, amazed.

  “You mean you let her boss you around? Christ, Shinji! No wonder – if you let them trample you once, they’ll conquer you forever.” He struck his clenched fist into his other hand. “You have to stand up for yourself.”

  “Please, Isamu – don’t......” Shinji began, but Isamu cut him off.

  “No more – we’ll not speak of it till later. And if she tries anything – “ With this Isamu slapped his arm across Shinji’s shoulders, “I’ll protect you.”

  Shinji looked up into Isamu’s kind face and smiled.

  “But who’s going to protect you?” came a voice from the doorway, and the boys turned to see Misato holding a beer can. Isamu smiled at her slyly.

  “Why, you will my dear Misato,” he told her coyly, to which she grunted her disapproval.

  “No way, I’m not that stupid,” she informed him, taking a swig from the can.

  “Well! Seeing as my friends won’t back me up, I’ll have to fend for myself,” he seemed to no one in particular, then turned again to Shinji, who was trying to wriggle free of his arm. Isamu frowned at him, disappointed, making Shinji feel bad. Isamu released him in a dejected way.

  “Well, can I help?” he asked, the jubilance gone form his voice now, but Shinji shook his head and continued looking at his feet. “Oh well,” Isamu sighed and walked back to the table where Misato had sat down and was clipping her toenails.

  He pulled the seat out the seat nearest to hers and leant over. “He’s very uncomfortable around people, isn’t he?” he whispered to her.

  Misato looked towards the kitchen for a moment, then back to her toes. “Yeah” was all she could think to say.

  Isamu was angry about her absent-mindedness, and made it clear. She shrugged and sighed in an exasperated way. “Well, I don’t know what to do. The closer we get the more we hurt each other.”

  “The Hedgehog’s Dilemma,” Isamu clarified.

  “Yes, I don’t whether to push him away r try and get closer,” she explained. Isamu nodded to show his understanding.

  “The bridges we create to bond with each other take time to construct,” he said whimsically. Misato looked at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

  “I wasn’t expecting that from you.”

  Isamu shrugged and she leant over and hugged him. “You’re so much the same as how I remember you, yet so different. I’m so sad I didn’t get to see you grow up,” she said into his ear.

  “Well, I’m not exactly grown up yet – I’m only 14,” he reminded her, but was happy she said it anyway. He was also happy since her left breast was pressed up against his face.

  She let him go and kissed his cheek, and he subsequently turned bright pink.

  “Isamu, are you blushing?” she asked amazedly, trying to see around his hair, which he was using to hide his face.

  “No,” he replied quietly, abashed. Misato smiled cheekily.

  “I think you are,” she teased him, then laughed out loud, exclaiming “You’re even cuter when you’re embarrassed!” after which she kissed him multiple times until he playfully pushed her away.

  “Stop it,” he ordered quietly, but Misato could see he was smiling, and attacked him with a barrage of “Cuuchi – cuu’s” and cheek pinches. Isamu batted her hands away.

  “Don’t – I mean it,” he told her, trying to remain stern behind his giggling.

  “Oh, sure you do,” she retorted and started lightly slapping his face, which she knew he hated. He squealed in amused irritation and tried to escape.

  Shinji and Ritsuko stared on – Shinji perplexed and Ritsuko delighted. Isamu spotted the latter and exclaimed “Help! Ritsu!”

  She laughed and walked over to the two locked in combat. “Hold on Shorty, I’ll save you,” she replied with a lot more enthusiasm than she really had, and picked him up out of the chair. She winced ass pain shot through her back. “Ow – I think you’re getting a bit too big to be doing this more than once a week,” she told Isamu who blushed again.

  “Sorry,” he offered.

  Ritsuko laughed again. “It’s ok, it’s not your fault!” and placed him back on his feet. She looked over to Shinji who stood with a pot in his hands, and a very confused look on his face. “Hi, Shinji,” she greeted him.

  This knocked his mind back into motion. “Uh, hi Ritsuko – I mean, Dr. Akagi.” Ritsuko looked at him sternly.

  “Shinji, it’s ok to call me Ritsuko here.”

  “O – ok,” Shinji stammered, placed the pot on the table and returned to the kitchen.

  Ritsuko turned to Misato. “Hope you don’t mind that I let myself in.” Misato just smiled and rolled her eyes.

  “I never do,” she reminded Ritsuko, who rolled her eyes in return and they both laughed.

 

  Isamu looked up from his plate, very embarrassed. “Yes, that was fun wasn’t it” he replied to Misato sarcastically.

  Misato continued laughing but blurted out “You were red all over for a week!”

  Isamu heard Shinji snicker and looked at him out of the corner of his eye. Shinji had his hand over his mouth, trying to hold in his laughter.

  I hate it when she does this! Isamu whinged to himself, especially when it’s people I just met. And to make it worse – in front of Shinji Ikari. He must think I’m a walking joke. He frowned angrily at the giggling Misato, then noticed she’d only had one beer.

  At least she’s not drunk, then she’d be slobbering all over the place.

  “Oh, come on Isamu!” It was funny!” Misato cried out when she saw his expression.

  Isamu mimed the words you’re embarrassing me, and she looked at him irritably.

  “Oh, well I’m sor-ry. I was just trying to enjoy myself, which I don’t often get to do,” she told him looking into the can of beer in her hand sadly.

  Isamu felt bad. “I’m sorry,” he apologised, looking down at his plate. Misato smiled again and placed her shoulder and the table and rested her chin in her hand.

  “You’re just like Asuka,” she murmured, “So proud.”

  “I don’t know wether to take that as an insult or a compliment,” Isamu replied.

  “Neither, just my opinion,” she pointed out.

  “Oh.” Isamu thought for a second then accepted it with a shrug. “So, Shinji,” Isamu began, moving attention to the person who had been avoiding it since dinner began, “Tell me about you.”

  Shinji went red and fumbled his speech. “Th – there isn’t much to really t –tell.”

  Isamu sighed and looked to Misato. “You were right – he doesn’t talk much.” Shinji looked at her accusingly and she tried to hide her face. Isamu turned back to Shinji.

  “So how long have you been going out with Asuka?”

  Shinji jumped. “I – I’m not going out with her! S – she just lives here!”

  “Oh, sure,” Isamu replied sarcastically and rolled his eyes to show his disbelief.

  “I – it’s true! Ask Misato!” Shinji insisted. He was very upset.

  “Misato?” Isamu called her.

  “Oh, they’ve been at it for months now, years even,” she replied casually.

  “MISATO!” Shinji yelped, very worked up and both Isamu and Misato burst out laughing. Shinji immediately got very confused.

  “W – what?”

  “You were right Misato!” Isamu confirmed after he regained his composure a little, “he does go ballistic when you tease him.”

  Shinji growled, collected the plates and left the table.

  “Oh dear, I think I’ve hurt his feelings,” Isamu noted, worried and got up to pursue him into the kitchen. “Shinji, I’m sorry.”

  Shinji ignored him.

  “Really, I am. I didn’t realise how cut you got over being teased.”

  Shinji relaxed a bit. “It’s not your fault. Misato was the one who told you.”

  “Hey,” Isamu said a little forcefully, putting his arm on Shinji’s shoulder to get his full attention, “don’t be angry at her either. Y’know, Ikari, she really likes you. The only reason I knew about you getting cranky was that she said it on the phone. She always talks about you.”

  “Really?” Shinji asked looking up into Isamu’s face.

  “Yeah.”

  Shinji felt ashamed of being so angry with them both. “Come on!” Isamu said, patting him on the back. “Stop working and come and talk to us. We want to be your friends Shinji.”

  That’s one of the nicest things anyone’s ever said to me Shinji realised.

  Shinji’s hesitation made Isamu frown. Why doesn’t he like me? I’m trying to be as good a friend as possible. Am I not good enough? I thought Misato was exaggerating when she said that he couldn’t talk to anyone. But Shinji smiled at him and he returned it.

  “Ok,” Shinji agreed, and they both joined Misato back at the table. She smiled sorrowfully at Shinji. “I’m sorry Shinji.”

  “It’s ok,” Shinji told her, then leant over the table and embraced her – a little hesitantly at first. It took Misato by surprise, but she hugged him back. She gave Isamu a “what did you say?” Look, but he just grinned and shrugged.

  Shinji let go of Misato and looked her in the face. “Was that the right thing to do?” he asked unsurely.

  Misato wasn’t sure what to say either. “Um, well – yes.”

 

  “Isamu?” Misato asked after a lengthy pause.

  “Yes?”

  “What was it you wanted to talk about?”

  Isamu realised that he’d totally forgotten about why he’d come over. But he’d enjoyed himself so much and he didn’t want to dampen the evening with ominous speculation so he left it.

  “Nothing.”

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