Misato chugged down most a can of beer and let out her ritual howl of delight. With Kaji alive, and both NERV and SEELE practically stuck, she could at least somewhat relax.

Shinji sighed and mouthed the words as they came out of Misato�s mouth. "It just doesn�t get any better than this!"

Asuka was playing with her food, her head hanging on her hand, staring off wistfully into nothing.

"Uh... Asuka, are you alright?" Shinji asked, looking at her with a slightly concerned expression.

"What? Oh-yes, I'm fine," Asuka answered, coming out of her trance abruptly.

Misato hummed knowingly and leaned forward. "I think someone has a crush on the new pilot," she said in a gradually building tone.

Asuka's face turned blood red and she stared down at her bowl. "I do not!" she said a little too quickly.

Misato smiled knowingly, though it came off as evil enjoyment. "Well guess what?"

"What?" Asuka asked, her mood sour.

"Cirus hasn't gotten his pass card yet, he has to come in with someone else every time. Maybe you'd like to drop it off at his place?" Misato suggested insinuatingly.

Shinji sighed. "You did the same thing to me with Rei."

Misato made a quick brushing motion with her hand at Shinji.

"Sorry," he said through another sigh.

"I do NOT have a crush on him," Asuka started firmly. "Of course if he can't get in to the base, that's not exactly fair. Maybe I should just drop it off at his place," she finished in a badly hidden fit of glee.

Misato held out the card and barely got her hand back it was whipped out of her grip so fast. Asuka grabbed a jacket as she flew out the door, shouting something about 'I'll be right back'.

"Why do you do that to her? He's just going to stamp her feelings to the ground," Shinji asked Misato.

"Oh I wouldn't be too sure. He strikes me as the loner type; they love it when girls fall all over them. Not to mention that she deserves it, hanging all over Kaji like that..."

"Misato!"

"Eh, sorry..."

Asuka checked her hair and did one final examination of her face in a compact she had in her pocket before knocking on Cirus' apartment door. She did so, energetically, several times in a row.

The door opened and Cirus was standing there, still wearing his dark glasses, and generally the same clothes, but no coat. His eyebrows creased with curiosity. "Asuka, what are you doing here?" he asked calmly.

She held out his card. "Misato forgot to give you this earlier, so I offered to run it over for her."

Cirus took the card slowly, knowing full well Misato had set him up. Asuka may have been an annoying girl, but she didn't deserve this. He made a mental note not to upset the Major later. He cleared his throat and put on a smile. "I'm guessing you would like to come in, since you seem to be all dressed up," he said, pulling away from the door and inviting her in.

Asuka could feel her cheeks warming up as she walked past the door's archway, and brushed past Cirus on the way in. It was a small apartment to be sure, but it was enough for two to be comfortable. It had a small hall, which she'd just walked through, with an entryway into the kitchen on its left as she entered. The small kitchen was open to the main living room thanks to the upper half of the dividing wall being missing, making a small wet-bar of the kitchen.

"Can I get you anything to drink?" Cirus asked as he walked into the kitchen behind her.

Asuka realized her throat was dry and thought it would be a good idea. "Y-yes, thank you. I could use some water," she said.

Cirus grimaced in sympathy; he could hear the dryness in her throat. He didn't think he was that attractive, but this had happened enough times to where he knew he must have something that got young women's attention. He didn't like doing this to them, he wasn't interested in relationships... in general that is.

He got her a nice large glass of water, and handed it to her with a smile. "Sit down, make yourself comfortable," he said. Though he added in his mind, You're not going to like what I have to say.

Asuka sat down on the couch, but then realized where she was sitting and quickly sprang up. "I-I'm fine thank you."

To put her at ease, Cirus sat down on the floor against the wall. "As you wish. Look, Asuka," he started plainly, "you're a very beautiful young woman, but I'm not exactly looking for romance."

He noticed she sat down rather easily after that. "I am sorry."

"N-no, it's alright, that-that's fine. Really, I don't mind..." her voice trailed off.

Cirus ran a finger over his temple. Mayday, mayday. "Asuka, it is not you, okay?"

This seemed to have a small amount of the desired affect.

"If I was hunting for that kind of relationship you'd be the first person I'd ask, but I'm not looking for one of that kind," he explained specifically.

More so of the desired affect.

"Now then, is there anything I can do for you aside from that? And thank you for bringing the card, by the way."

Asuka was about to say no politely when a thought occurred to her. She smiled evilly. "Could you do me a favor, just this once?" she asked in a mischievous tone fitted to her smile.

Cirus raised an eyebrow at her. "Depends on the favor."

When the doorbell rang, Misato got up from her desk, and went to open it, but, of course, first checked to see who it was. Her eyes practically popped out of her head when she saw who was there. She opened the door.

"Hello Asuka... hello Cirus. Want to come in?" she asked.

"I'd be honored, Major Katsuragi," Cirus answered, stepping in after Asuka.

At fourteen Cirus was the height of most adults at NERV thanks to his European heritage, so Misato didn't have to look down at him as they walked back into the kitchen. For once Misato could see why Shinji insisted on keeping the place at least moderately clean.

Shinji himself entered the room at that moment from the other side. He�d been out on the balcony. "Uh... Mr. Cirus, hello."

"Hello, Mr. Ikari," Cirus returned the formality as he sat down beside Asuka. He'd gotten her to avoid hanging on him, but he was more than up for a little game of rematch between two women. Besides, Misato couldn't do anything to him directly.

They all sat down at the table and an awkward silence followed. Shinji decided to break it. "Mr. Cirus-"

"Just Cirus is fine, Shinji," Cirus reminded him.

"Cirus then, if you don�t mind, why do you always where those dark glasses?" Shinji continued.

Cirus' face turned somber again, like when he'd looked at Rei in the office. "My eyes are often found to be... disconcerting by those who see them," he answered.

"Why?" Shinji asked cautiously.

"I'd rather not say at this time, but later," Cirus avoided the question with a light smile.

"So, Cirus, would you like to go back to your place now?" Asuka asked, offering him a chance to leave... he hoped.

"Asuka!?" Misato blurted out. She quickly lowered her voice. "Sorry, Asuka," she continued, "maybe he would like to get some sleep, it is very late already."

Asuka looked up at Cirus with a mock pout. He would have winked at her, but the glasses blocked off such venues of communication. "I'm sorry, Asuka, perhaps another day soon?" he offered as he stood up.

"Oh, I suppose," she replied. They had set up a brief code system before coming. Cirus just hoped Asuka didn't get the wrong idea when he agreed to play along.

Cirus turned to Misato and bowed his head. "An honor, Major, see you at work tomorrow." He then turned to Shinji and bowed his head, simply saying, "Shinji," and leaving.

When the door shut Misato and Shinji stared in disbelief at Asuka.

"I can be very persuasive," she said lightly and then happily trotted off to her own room, leaving Shinji and Misato staring at each other in disbelief.