"Incredible," Ritsuko commented, standing above Maya's shoulder as usual.

"What is?" Misato asked with a sigh.

"The entire Eva is designed to hide its S2 organ by scanning. They did not want us knowing about it," Ritsuko explained.

"And Cirus said something about one last trick up his sleeve, so it must have another surprise in there somewhere," Misato surmised.

"Wings?"

"Maybe," the dark-haired Major admitted.

"Maybe it has something to do with his AT field?" Maya suggested.

"Why do you say that?" Ritsuko asked.

"Well, the only time Cirus has even activated his AT field was in that attack on the Angel just today and only once before that--and at your command. Maybe his AT field behaves differently?" Misato and Ritsuko looked at each other and shrugged.

"It's possible, Maya," Misato replied.

The doors to the command center opened and Rei walked in, wearing her usual blue dress with a white shirt beneath it.

"Hello Rei, what are you doing here?" Misato asked, smiling.

"I did not find Cirus in the medical bay. Do you know where he is?" she asked in her soft, delicate voice.

Ritsuko raised an eyebrow. "Why are you looking for him, Rei?"

"He appeared to be badly injured after the battle. I wanted to find out the extent of his injuries," she answered, looking at Ritsuko with her unwavering red eyes.

"Oh, you were worried about him?" Misato asked with a wry smile.

"If you wish to call it that," Rei answered.

Misato nodded. "He went home. He left a messege for Commander Ikari with Asuka that he was staying at his apartment for two days to heal himself."

"Thank you, Miss Katsuragi," Rei replied and left the command center.

Ritsuko looked in disbelief as the doors closed. Rei asking after someone?

The doorbell rang for Cirus' apartment at eight o'clock that evening. Cirus walked slowly to the door, trying to help his leg heal, and checked who it was. His eyes widened when he saw Rei standing on the other side of the door. He looked down at his arm and saw that it was very badly bruised. Rolling down the sleeve of his shirt, he stood up straight, and then opened the door.

"Good evening, Miss Ayanami," he greeted her with a slight smile.

Rei nodded to him in response and Cirus backed away from the door, allowing her to enter if she wanted. When she stepped through the door and past him Cirus' cheeks turned slightly pink, but he quickly got it under control.

"I meant to thank you for saving my life," Cirus said as Rei turned back around to look at him as she had done the last time she'd come. "I'm sorry I didn't before."

Cirus was surprised to see Rei's cheeks turn slightly pink at this. "...Y-you are welcome."

"C-can I get you anything, Miss Ayanami?" Cirus stuttered slightly as he pointed back at his kitchen.

"I'm thirsty," Rei answered calmly.

"Water?" Cirus asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"Yes... thank you."

As Cirus poured the water into the glass he realized his heart was racing in his chest. He took a calming breath and stepped out again. He walked over and handed Rei the glass. She took it and took a small sip.

"Anything else?" he asked.

"No, thank you," Rei answered, looking down at the floor.

Cirus wasn't exactly sure what to do. He knew Rei well enough to know that her coming to visit by her own will was unheard of. "Please, make yourself comfortable. Unless you prefer to stand," he said, motioning at a chair near Rei.

She nodded to him and sat down in the chair. "You appeared to be badly wounded at the end of the battle. I wanted to see what your condition was."

This time Cirus' throat dried out and he sat down himself, across from Rei. "I'm grateful for your concern, Miss Ayanami."

Rei looked up at him directly, her red eyes again scanning him. Cirus almost took off his glasses, for no other reason than just to stop hiding things from her. She suddenly stood up and walked over to him, causing Cirus to sink back into the chair enough to embarrass himself later. The young woman leaned down until her face was only a few inches away from his, her eyes still scanning the pools of his beneath the dark glasses. Smoothly, Rei reached up with her hand to his glasses and Cirus reflexively reached to grab her wrist, but stopped himself just short. It was enough to make her hesitate, however.

"May I see your eyes?" she asked calmly.

Cirus was slightly short of breath simply because of her proximity. He normally warned people about his eyes, but he had already told Rei and she still wanted to see. He relaxed his hand and let it fall back to the chair as Rei reached out and pulled the glasses off of his face. He was looking down to try and hide his eyes, but he slowly looked up and into her own shimmering red pools. She didn't show any sign of fear or surprise, she just looked back intently, peering into the depths of his eyes. Her acceptance of their appearance was almost enough to bring him to tears, but he maintained control.

Cirus' eyes were solid black orbs with no other trace of color. Like pools of oil in his pale face, they shone and focused up at her, though it was impossible to tell where he was looking. With a slightly creased brow, Rei reached up again and brushed around his left eye with her fingertips. Cirus tightened his grip on the chair as she touched his face. It was so gentle that it was like a soft breeze blowing on his skin.

"Why do you hide them?" she asked, pulling her hand back, but keeping her face just as close.

"B... because not all people are as..." beautiful, "capable of seeing through outward appearances as you are."

"Have I embarrassed you?" she asked.

Cirus felt the warmth on his cheeks and closed his eyes. "No, Miss Ayanami, not at all."

"People fear you because of your eyes?"

"...Yes."

"I don't understand why. I find them comforting. They do not hold me out like all others do. They let me look into you," Rei replied.

Cirus couldn't stop it this time. Silent tears started to stream down his face as he looked back up at her. After so much pain and death in his life, so much hatred in himself and from others, and even losing the ability to look another person in the eyes without frightening them, it had all melted away, and it was because of her.

Rei looked surprised and pulled away slightly. "Have I said something wrong? I have upset you," she asked.

"No... no, you didn't upset me, Miss Ayanami. Quite the opposite in fact..." Cirus answered and swallowed hard.

"But you are crying."

Cirus smiled at her, and for the first time his entire face could convey the positive emotion to a person. "Sometimes crying means you are very, very happy. It's a reaction to strong emotion, not just negative emotion," he explained slowly, still slightly overwhelmed.

"Then how have I made you so... happy?" Rei asked, awkward with the word.

Cirus closed his eyes and calmed his body down. "You are the first person to ever look into my eyes and still treat me as... as a..."

"Human?" Rei asked calmly.

Unable to speak, he simply nodded to her.

Rei looked down at the ground. "I do not know what is like to be treated as a human. I am just their tool, their weapon."

Cirus looked at her bowed head and felt a deep, powerful sorrow for her. He started to raise his arm, stopped, and then raised it up to her face. He gently lifted her chin up with his finger and looked into her eyes. "...Rei... you are the most beautiful person I have ever met.�

Rei's eyes widened as she blushed softly. Her eyes began to water gently, making her red irises glisten. Cirus took his hand from under her chin and caressed her cheek ever so gently with the back of his hand. Her skin was so soft to the touch and gentle that Cirus felt like he was trespassing. He slowly let his hand down and smiled at Rei.

"...I do not know what to say," Rei said after a long pause.

"You don't need to say anything," Cirus replied.

Rei slowly wiped away the water from her eyes and stood up completely. Cirus stood up as well and walked her to his door.

"G... good night, Cirus," she said.

"Good night, Rei... And... thank you... for everything."

Rei bowed her head to him. "...You are welcome," she replied slowly.

She stepped out of his apartment and then walked down the hall until she disappeared. Cirus pulled himself back into his apartment and closed the door. He slid down the wall and let his tears pour silently out of his eyes.

Asuka was staring off into space at dinner the next evening. Aside from the usual construction nothing else had happened since Cirus had left to heal his injuries.

Misato eyed Asuka furtively. "And what are you thinking about, Asuka?" she asked in an innocent tone.

"Nothing," Asuka answered distantly.

Misato looked at Shinji and nodded to the door. He looked at her with a puzzled expression and she pointed at the door, then waved with her hand at him. Shinji narrowed his eyes at her, but left.

Misato leaned forward at the table with a slight smile. "You're thinking about Cirus, aren't you?" she asked in an insinuating tone.

Asuka snapped back to reality and her cheeks quickly turned red. "I am not!"

"Oh come on, Asuka. You can't hide it from Misato," Misato replied with a mock wagging finger.

"Fine, yes I was, but only because I'm worried about him. He was badly hurt after that last fight," Asuka admitted with an indignant attitude.

Misato smiled more genuinely. "You're worried about him?"

Asuka nervously nodded, she wasn't sure what Misato was saying.

"Jealous of Rei?"

"I am not jealous of that little doll!" Asuka shouted.

"You wouldn't be so mad if you weren't, Asuka," Misato told her in an informative tone.

Asuka opened her mouth to answer, but closed it and stared away in a huff.

Misato sighed and stood up from the table. "You shouldn't be jealous of Rei, Asuka. If you have a problem, talk with Cirus. He's a nice young man, he'll answer you honestly," she explained and then left the kitchen.

"That's what I'm afraid of," Asuka replied quietly to herself.

The next day, construction of the covering was going ahead of schedule for once. In fact it was going very far ahead of schedule. Nearly two dozen pylons had been successfully placed and connected in only a couple of hours, and the rail-system, water-supply, and sewage-system were all being implemented effectively, with nearly no mishaps.

"If it keeps up at this rate we'll have it finished by night fall," Misato commented.

Dr. Akagi nodded softly. "Hmm, or sooner."

"Yes, and then we can get to work on rebuilding Tokyo-3," the Major added with a long sigh.

Unit 01 hefted the pylon into place as Units 00 and 02 riveted it solidly. They kept up with this pattern for several more pylons before Unit 02 took over for Unit 01, and vice versa, keeping them from getting too tired. The human workers continued to install the rail, watery, and draining systems in the wake of completed covering behind the three Evas.

Ritsuko looked up from her control panel and looked at Misato. "So when should Cirus be reporting back to duty?" she asked calmly.

"Apparently tomorrow, if we can trust what he said," Misato answered doubtfully. "He was pretty badly hurt though..."

"Perhaps he wasn't hurt that badly. He was only bleeding from his nose, after all."

"Mmm, and limping, and holding his arm at his side."

Ritsuko raised an eyebrow. "Well do you want us to send security to go drag him back to the medical bay? He said he'd shut down NERV if we did."

"I think he's bluffing about that. I doubt SEELE would give him that much power," Misato replied. "Eh, I guess we'll just have to wait on him."

A commotion on the screen made Misato and Ritsuko look up. Unit 02 was waving energetically at Unit 01 and then at the ground where its riveting gun was. Asuka was berating Shinji over the comm also. They had switched jobs again, Unit 00 was holding the pylon and Units 01 and 02 were riveting.

"Hoi, do those two ever stop bickering?" Misato asked with a sigh.

Ritsuko chuckled. "Well you're the Operations Commander, stop them."

"Yeah, yeah, give me a second," Misato replied glumly as she keyed on the comm. She quickly winced as Asuka's shouting exploded into the command center.

"I can't believe such a small girl can make so much noise," Hyuga commented out of the corner of his mouth through gritted teeth.

"Ah, Asuka, what happened?" Misato asked with forced politeness.

"Shinji made me drop my riveting gun!" Asuka shouted back.

"I did not, she was riveting in the wrong-"

"Both of you stop!" Misato cut Shinji off. "Asuka, pick up your riveting gun and get back to work, Shinji, I don't know what happened so just keep working. Am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Hmph."

Misato sighed as she turned off the comm. "Those two never stop..."

Rei found Asuka and Shinji's bickering strange. It served no point and did nothing but delay their work. Something neither of them enjoyed anyway. They seemed to be just making fools of themselves in public.

Asuka was fuming. Shinji had deliberately riveted too hard, making her gun fly out of her Eva's hands as she tried to put her own in. When she saw Shinji reaching up in the same way again she let him know.

Shinji returned with a quick retort and then the two of them started bickering again.

Rei looked from one comm window to the other and then cut the comm between the two of them, opening her own at the same time. "I can not hold this pylon here for so long," she said calmly.

Shinji abruptly went back to riveting and Asuka shortly thereafter.

Misato sighed for a single, long breath. "Why me?" After asking herself that question she keyed on the comm again wearily. "Alright you three, that's enough for today. Return to your cages," she ordered.

"Yes, ma'am," Shinji replied.

"Took you long enough," Asuka said under breath, but it was perfectly audible over the comm in the command center.

"Yes," Rei responded calmly.

Misato's eyebrow twitched excitedly. "I'm going to have a long chat with Asuka tonight..."

Ritsuko couldn't help but chuckle and covered her mouth.

"What?!"

Ritsuko only laughed more powerfully, having to physically hold her arms against herself to keep from outright guffaws. "N... nothing," she said between gasps.

Misato narrowed her eyes as she stormed out of the command center, grumbling to herself unintelligibly.

"I think the pressure's finally getting to her," Maya commented as everyone present followed Misato out the door with their eyes.

"Yeah, that would be my guess," Ayobi agreed.

"Yes, I think so," Hyuga added.

Misato walked down the metal grated stairs to the docking cages as the Evas came down and latched into place. She would have a chat with Asuka that night, but she was heading for Unit 00. She walked up to it was Rei hopped down lightly and smiled.

"Hello, Rei. Could I speak with you for a moment?" she asked.

Rei looked at her with a quietly puzzled expression, but nodded. Misato guided her closer to the Eva with her arm.

"Rei, I was planning on cooking dinner Thursday night, because I think tomorrow's a little early to celebrate the construction coming along so far. I was wondering if you would like to help me cook?" she asked.

"If that is what you want, Miss Katsuragi," Rei answered calmly.

"This isn't an order, Rei," Misato reminded her with a smile. "Answer honestly, do you want to or not? I don't mind," she explained.

Rei didn't know how to answer honestly; she didn't know what she wanted to do. "...I can't cook," she said finally.

Misato waved away the thought with her hand. "Oh, don't be silly. It's easy. I'll show you how." Misato put her arm around Rei's shoulders and started to walk her towards the locker room. "...and then you just take it out of the microwave and eat!" she finished.

Shinji and Asuka looked on in sheer bewilderment as Misato walked along with a very calm, but very out of place-looking Rei.

"So what do you say?" Misato asked finally as they reached the locker room.

Rei had no idea what to say, she had no interest in cooking or eating with a large crowd. Yet the dinner seemed to mean a great deal to Misato. "A...alright," she said finally.

"All right! Great! You'll have a wonderful time, Rei. See you Thursday evening then," Misato replied energetically and walked off.

Rei looked on after Misato with a calmly puzzled expression as she had before. Major Katsuragi was a very strange woman.

The next day construction was going along at a similar pace as the day before. The Evas placed and installed the pylons, and the human workers finished up the preparation for Tokyo-3 itself, notably the plumbing, sewage, water-works, and hardwire communication lines.

"We only have three hundred workers helping with construction. It's a small wonder it's going so slowly," Ritsuko commented dryly.

"Yeah, no kidding. Hoi, I just wish we had a little more help," Misato replied with a sigh.

The command center door opened and footsteps came in. Misato didn't think it anyone other than another techie, but when the footsteps stopped directly behind her she calmly turned around.

"Then perhaps I can be of assistance?" Cirus asked with a slight smile.

"Ah... right, yeah you can," Misato answered in spurts; she was a little surprised. "You weren't kidding about the two days were you?"

Cirus raised one eyebrow, but smiled faintly. "You know I keep my word, Major Katsuragi," he answered.

"Right. Good. Well then get down to your Eva and get up there! We're behind schedule," Misato ordered.

Cirus nodded and quickly left the room.

Misato looked over to Ritsuko with a narrow-eyed glare. "You could have said something..."

Ritsuko tried to hide the smile on her face. "You should have seen your face though, Misato," she replied.

Misato�s eyebrow twitched violently. "Well aren't you quite the practical joker, eh Ritsuko?"

Ritsuko let her smile fade naturally as Unit 14 came up on its launch pad. "Hmm, he's fast."

"Shinji, hold the pylon straight!" Asuka shouted into her comm as she tried to rivet the pylon in.

"I-I am!" Shinji replied.

"Oh don't be such an idiot, I can see it shaking!"

"Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Cirus' voice cut in as Unit 14's hand came between Units 02 and 01 and gripped the pylon, holding it in place more securely. "Getting tired, Shinji?" Cirus asked as Asuka riveted the pylon in.

"...Yes," Shinji replied wearily.

It was about five in the afternoon, so the Evas had been working for near eight straight hours.

"Rest then. I'll take over for you," Cirus said and stepped forward.

Unit 01 stepped out from the pylon and Unit 14 took its place. When the pylon was finally done and in position, Unit 14 walked over to the pile of the massive structures. It picked the next one up, and then walked back to the section of the covering they were working on.

Cirus opened a screen in his cockpit and hit another control. The screen readjusted itself to become a stat chart for Unit 01's pilot. Cirus saw no reason for Shinji to be so tired so he surmised that Asuka must have started to wear on the other pilot.

After one more pylon, Unit 01 stood back up from its resting state and walked over to them again.

"So what should I do?" Shinji's voice came over the comm.

Unit 14 took Unit 02's riveting gun and the two of them traded places. "Shinji, hold the pylon with Asuka," Cirus answered.

Noticeably wary, Unit 01 walked over to the pylon and helped Asuka hold it as ordered.

Unit 00 was on the other side riveting as usual. Cirus was nervous just being close to Unit 00 yet alone Rei herself, it made him feel like some child with a crush. After letting her see his eyes, and the difficulty he had breathing whenever she was around, Cirus was quite shocked at himself in general.

Suddenly Misato�s voice cut into his thoughts.

"Units 00 through 14, stop construction. We have a possible Angel sighting." Units 00 and 14 dropped their riveting guns, and Units 01 and 02 put the pylon down on the ground.

"Distance?" Cirus asked.

"It appears to be a few kilometers west of your current position," Misato answered.

"So what do you want us to do?!" Asuka demanded after the pause that followed.

"Units 00 and 01 are to proceed towards the Angel, while Units 02 and 14 hold back and wait for further instructions," Misato answered slowly, indicating she was relaying orders instead of giving them.

"What?! Why do we have to wait here!?" Asuka asked angrily.

Cirus shook his head. He didn't like the orders either, but arguing with the command about it wouldn�t do any good. "Understood," he replied instead.

He watched as Units 00 and 01 ran off towards the possible Angel. Two launch pads opened up as they ran and they held the Evas' weapons. Unit 00 grabbed its cannon and Unit 01 grabbed its rifle as they continued running.

Cirus suddenly realized something. If the Angel was over ten kilometers away, why weren't they airlifting the two Evas towards it? Ikari, what are you up to this time?