Neon Genesis Evangelion Higher Learning Strike Fiss, 2000 Eighteenth Lesson: Hitting a NERV "Tell me why we have to do this again?" Asuka yawned as they walked down the isles of food. "Because if we don't, Misato will." Shinji said wisely. Asuka nodded. "Oh yeah. I remember last time she went grocery shopping." a cringe appeared on her face. "I...I didn't think I'd ever have anything that looked like THAT put on a plate in front of me." Shinji smiled slightly and then put a few packs of ramen into the cart as they walked by. "So..." Asuka said, walking behind him as usual. "You nervous?" He paused, looking at her. "About what?" he instantly turned pink. "About the concert." Asuka said, using her height advantage to pick up a tin of wasabi from the top shelf. "After all, you'll be doing that solo." Shinji shook his head. "Not really. I know that song off by heart. I won't make any mistakes." She smiled and winked. "Oooh, such confidence!" He turned completely red. "Uh...t...thank you." he looked up at her. "How about you?" Asuka raised an eyebrow. "I'm only worried that Wondergirl or you might screw up and make me look bad." she grinned evilly. "And I know you wouldn't DARE screw up..." Shinji swallowed hard. "Still..." she shrugged. "Rei wouldn't screw up. Especially if the Commander is there." Shinji almost...almost...smiled. "My father? There would be a better chance of Misato actually paying us for once." Rei sat alone in her apartment, on the edge of the bed...looking at the violin in her hands. Besides herself, it seemed the only thing alive in the entire room. And even then, Rei almost seemed to blend into the background sometimes. The pale blue light shimmered off the polished red surface as it gently rocked in her hands to her breathing. Red. This is not part of school. It is. Ikari does not know of this. It is under his authorization. Images of the concert hall flooded her mind in an echo. Images of the other Pilots sitting across from her with their music in front of them. Asuka...the one in red...always red...but laughing for once. Ikari-kun...smiling. Like before. At her too. "Good job, Ayanami!" he said to her brightly. "That sounded great!" "Yeah, not bad, Wondergirl! For a while I thought you were deaf or something!" Asuka added with a sigh...but still a smile. "Outstanding!" Sensei Kaoru clapped as Rei finished her solo. His glasses shimmered in the light like the violin in her hands. He smiled. So brightly. His hands clapped for her. A sign of appreciation. Ikari appreciates you. "She's not dead...yet.." Ikari appreciates you. "You will do it again, Rei." Ikari appreciates you. ... "You've added so much to class!" Kaoru said. "You may not realize it, but even though you've only talked once in a while, the other students learn from that." he smiled and took off his glasses. It's only his job. "You've done so much for the others! And you've made my job a pleasure!" He was only being kind. "Ladies and gentlemen! The amazing Miss Ayanami just made a joke!" He smiled. The class smiled. "Thank you, Rei." Kaoru smiled as he looked up from the music. "That was beautiful." A lone tear hit the otherwise dry surface of the instrument. Rei put the violin away, then opened up her laptop. Normally, she would never bring it home with her...but today she had a purpose for it. "You wanted to see me, sir?" Kaji strolled into the office, admiring the patterns on the floor as he always did. Though he would never say so, the Commander did fascinate him; he was always looking into the scrolls around the office to insights on the Commander's mind. Even if just out of some sense of self-preservation. "Where is the list." Ikari said flatly. Something was putting him on edge. He was never this... dangerous... at least not in the way he spoke. Kaji had been expecting it and casually flicked a copy of his disk onto the desk a few feet away. Ikari made no effort to catch the disk, letting it slide to a stop by his elbow. "Will that be all?" Kaji yawned. He was terrified...but if he gave the bastard even just an inch...that would be more than enough for him to hang by. Ikari stood. Oh shit. "You should watch your tone with me, Agent." the Supreme Commander said as he picked up the disk. "I only tolerate your attitude when you deliver what you promise to me." "Would you like to continue your..." he smirked. "Attempts...at intimidating me, or would you like me to get down to business."' Ikari sat down. Slowly. "Continue, Agent." Score one for the Kaj-ster, he sighed in relief to himself. "I believe I was contacted by the party in question." he smiled innocently, noting the way Ikari's glasses flickered at the news. "Nothing to report on that end. I'm afraid he left before I could do any questioning." "Mmm." "That list might have his name. If you are wondering WHY I didn't give it to you earlier it was because the data was corrupted, and I had to reconstruct it." he yawned. "Now do you understand?" Ikari was not having a good day. He said nothing...unable to disprove this. "Enjoy the list." he said, turning. "You have not been dismissed." Kaji smiled, stopping. "You are dismissed." Ikari sighed, turning his focus to the new disk. "Be sure to include this kind of information next time." The dangerous tone was back. "I would hate to misunderstand your incompetence as an act of treason." a smile. "Oh, there is just one more thing." Kaji nodded, pulling out an envelope from his pocket. "Did you know the Children are having a concert on Friday?" "It is of no concern." Ikari nodded. Kaji prayed Kaoru wasn't bluffing...or this wouldn't sound nearly as dramatic. "Oh...is it now?" he passed the envelope onto the desk. Ikari looked at it with a strange frown. Kaji just walked on out without another word. Gendo picked it up and used his gloved hands to silently pick away at the paper seal. A moment later, he pulled out a single white piece of paper with bold, black handwriting on it. He read it. "Mmm." His hand came up and pushed his glasses up along his nose. "Fuyutsuki." his hand pressed the comm. button on his desk. A moment later. "Yes, Ikari?" "Cancel the meeting on Friday." A shocked pause. "B...but, sir! We might not be able to re..." "Something's come up." he said simply. "Handle it." "...Y...yes sir." Gendo looked down at the paper once more, still not quite sure what to make of it. EVANGELION UNIT 04 SUZUHARA TOJI (Fourth Children) Activation Test: SUCCESSFUL. To be continued... ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry for being late! ^_^ Up watching Kenshin all night. Thanks Toze! Anyway, nothing much to say this time around, so, as always, thanks for reading, and stay tuned for next week: The concert. :P e-mail: strikef@bigfoot.com homepage: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/9110 Strike Fiss, Ninja Crowbotics 2000. Khattam-Shud, EOF.