AS THE DIVINE LIGHT BREAKS

Misato put her feet up on the desk looking over the two resumes again, since Makoto had been arrested for treason and they needed another bridge lieutenant staff member to fill the gap granted Kaji now had Makoto's desk but someone needed to fill his role? the problem was Ritsuko had shoved ten candidates on her desk and she didn't like any of them and after all that had happened with Yuki before he'd been tossed out due to hate crimes she didn't trust anyone Ritsuko put forward she was also Colonel now and has more power.

She looked up as Kaji walked over he eased up his data card between his fingers. "The data you asked for it's the full read out from 02 when Asuka was inside the core, be very grateful to Maya because she said this was a massive pain to download it's taken hours."

Misato took it from his hand. "Thank you Kaji." She eyed the data card. "I'm convinced Asuka saw her mother in there hence why I want to see the read outs because she's been different since she returned it's difficult to describe I mean she's still edgy and moody at times but at the same time she seems lighter not as burdened emotionally."

Kaji looked over. "Yes I would say that too." Misato picked up a resume. "Do you know a woman called Sumire Nagara?" Kaji slowly took a chair opposite hers adjusting his Nerv jacket. "Yeah I know her she works in the Magi systems Ritsuko has her doing some boring crap like replacing the Magi's power cables."

Misato handed him the resume. "Did she piss Ritsuko off, is that how she got demoted?" Kaji raised a hand. "I don't know the whole story but she challenged her and her career got nailed." Misato passed him the resume. "Yeah but look at her, she's got all the qualifications to be a great bridge staff member."

Kaji flicked through the pages. "Yeah I see what you mean, were you thinking of hiring her to have my former desk now that I have Makoto's?" Misato looked up. "Yes because the so called candidates Ritsuko gave me are just shit and I don't trust her since she loves people who will blindly follow her and Gendo."

Kaji put the resume down. "Then promote her, you're Colonel now, you don't have to justify anything and Ritsuko and Gendo said it was your choice." Misato eased her feet of the desk as she stood up. "You know what you're right." She moved over to him running her hand down his Nerv jacket. "Have I ever told you that you look good in official bridge staff uniform?" Kaji felt a coy smile form. "It's the colour, it suits my eyes."

Misato leaned over his chair. "No it just adds to your handsome charm." She leaned over about to kiss him only for a knock to sound on the door. She turned seeing Maya looking through the glass, she stood up rolling her eyes. "Come in." Maya opened the door moving inside. "Sorry I forgot to give you Kaji this."

Misato took the disc from her hands. "What is it?" Maya took in a deep breath. "That thing you really, really hate when you meet the Prime Minster with all the pilots and have a formal dinner." Misato took it from her hand. "Oh please no it's not that time of year again I hate that man so much, his wife is a massive idiot and their two twenty year old brats are just a fucking nightmare."

Maya looked up. "It gets worse I'm afraid…they demanded Asuka presence and Asuka hates these things and Ritsuko said that she's going to tell her personally and she landed with Rei half an hour ago though they are currently taking it easy in the wreck room."

She paused trying not to laugh. "And she's probably going to chew her out for saying that Eos new dark matter device looks like a big dick." Misato smirked. "Yeah but it does, the web has been mocking it for months." Kaji put his feet on the desk. "Look even I can admit that it looks phallic and that it's the internet's favourite joke."

Maya folded her arms. "Yeah but that's the problem someone from Eos's ground station leaked the communication and now it's all over the web, though it was more a reference to Mari saying it, everyone's getting a good laugh out of it."

Misato looked up. "So it'll just be damage control then? Let Ritsuko vent steam and tell Asuka it's no problem and not to worry." Maya nodded. "Yes, though Asuka had not even spoken to Ritsuko in ages so this will be the first time since they've been near each other since the whole Obrax incident where she tried to fry her brain to get Bardiel out."

She paused. "I'm still not happy with her calling Asuka an animal and recently an apex predator because of what she did to Bardiel." Misato looked up. "Don't dwell on it, it's not like she gets Asuka, took me a very long time to get where she comes from as a person as well but I understand now and I'm working to build bridges."

Kaji eyed the disc. "Yeah well that dinner will be one hell of a bridge builder, getting her there is not the problem because Rei can do the leg work on that, the problem is she hates rich socialites who don’t work for their money or inheritance with a passion and I think Mari does as well though from what I've seen she always behaves at formal events."

Maya breathed in deeply. "Trust me you've never been to these dinners it's hard, it's not just that Ritsuko is sucking up in them it's that the two twenty years olds they just say whatever they want and they're so insulting and we have to have a Nerv translator there as well just in case the pilots go back to their native languages and it can get real messy."

Misato turned eyeing Kaji as she adjusted her dark trousers. "Yes as a matter of fact you should come with me it'd be good for you." Kaji raised his hand. "Please that's a terrible idea I'm just a sickly ex spy I have nothing good to add." Maya turned. "Yes he can go in my place because I'm not sitting next to Ritsuko again while she kisses Gendo's ass about how much a great man he is, last time I wanted to physically vomit."

Kaji sat up in his chair. "I don't even own any well pressed formal dress wear." Maya looked up. "Oh don't worry there are plenty of places that stock them and make them to fit perfectly in the Arcade, you'll have no trouble."

Kaji rolled his eyes. "Why am I being roped into this all of a sudden?" Maya turned. "You're not myself and Shigeru have been countless times and since you got Makoto's station it's your turn, it comes with the job and that jackass bailed out last year so I've done it two years running I want to avoid it and go and get drunk and watch a movie up in Nerv's cinema complex."

Misato turned becoming serious. "I'd really like your company Kaji and I'll help you pick a suit." Kaji leaned back in the chair. "Okay fine I'll come."

Maya breathed in. "Oh thank you."

Kaji looked up. "I just know I'm going to regret this."

8

Asuka leaned over putting her hands gently around Rei's waist pulling her close so she her back was up against her they'd just got showed and dressed and were now in the changing rooms. "I had fun today." Rei gave her a smile. "Personally I expected it to take far longer."

Asuka eased up her hand running it down the decorated sleeve of her white shirt sleeve top. "Please I was not going to spend five hours up there, three hours was more than enough." She eased up her other hand running it through the smaller woman short hair. "After all I want to spend time with you, I mean all of your belongings have been moved into my house now and we have the new two three seat sofa in the living room plus tomorrow they start work on your pottery studio outside the back garden right now it's all in bits and just the framework."

Rei moved her hand up running it through the taller woman's red hair. "You could have had it ordered readymade." Asuka moved her hand down taking her smaller one with its delicate fingers as she gently kissed her neck. "Yeah but I want you to tell the builders what you want and it means you can change things that don't suite you."

Rei turned feeling her smile widen as she eased up her hand easing Asuka's patch off watching as her left eye came into view with all its pulsing blue patterns that changed and pulsed with her emotions.

She eased up her hands running them down the other woman thick dark brown loose custom leather jacket with its dark red shoulder and arms stripes "Is there a limit to what I change?" Asuka leaned closer. "No you can change anything you want however you want it's yours." Rei moved her hands folding the leather jackets shirt like collar which was a habit she had picked up as Asuka sometimes forgot to fold the edge on one side because she rushed sometimes to get back in to her normal clothes and she could on occasion get distracted it was very charming though.

"Well I look forward to throwing around commands to your builder." She moved to kiss her lips only to see Mari fly into the changing room with her astronaut's cup. "You picked this up!" Rei looked at the dark brown haired woman with her tailed hair and blue headband, who was three years older than Asuka and was wearing red framed glasses and who was taller than her and Asuka. "Yes we did."

Asuka eyed her older step sister who adjusted her white shirt and dark trousers and black skate shoes. "Yes we did four eyes but I don't get what's the big deal is with that thing." Mari moved forward raising the cup as she adjusted her green tie. "It's a got a filtration system in it princess, means you can shove really awful water into it and re filter it."

She eyed the cup. "They claim it works on red water too but no one's sure if that's a boast." She looked up. "You know since red water is fucking creepy and like swimming in blood." She turned slightly. "No offence intended as Rei told me you like swimming in that shit."

Asuka turned putting her arm around Rei's shoulder. "None taken yes I like swimming in it I can even dive in it, I just can't swim in normal water it freaks me out because of the accident." Mari folded her arm. "Yeah I remember when we were kids dragging you out of my families lake you were really freaked out, not surprised you don't swim anymore and hate deep water."

She paused. "You know maybe me and Rei can help you with that." Asuka felt her body tense. "No thank you I just got used to using a hot tub but I'm not going in Nerv's sub-tropical swimming pool." Rei turned putting a hand on her arm. "That a good idea we can both help you."

Mari moved forward. "I agree with Rei, plus I kind of owe it to you after that fight we had when I tried to drown you weeks ago." Asuka breathed in why was this suddenly happening to her? She raised her hand. "You, Toji and Shinji helped move all of Rei's things over, you don't own me anything." Mari smirked. "No you and I are family, it's about more than that, it's about me helping my little sister out because she can't swim."

She paused. "Plus your grandma said I was officially part of your family and she apologized to me for separating us in childhood because she had no idea how close we were and was really grateful that I rescued you from drowning as a child." Asuka rolled her eyes. "You know I was there for that video call you were at my house." Mari raised her hand. "Yes and you were half asleep and Rei had wrapped you up in a blanket."

Asuka eyed her pulling out her medication bottle which was now empty. "It was the stupid medication Maya gave me for renewing my white blood cell count it made me tired, not to mention I couldn't drink alcohol."

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"Asuka Langley, get in here now!"

Mari turned as Toji poked his head around the door he was in his dark jeans t-shirt she watched as her big muscular friend spoke in a whisper. "Ritsuko wants you Asuka." His eyes darted. "What did you do I mean she is really pissed off?" Asuka turned throwing the empty pill bottle in the bin. "She hates me remember I don't need to do anything other than be verfickte breathing to piss her off."

Toji pushed his thick black hair back as his eyes darted. "Oh yeah..." Asuka shook her head making sure that her next words were playful sounding. "You're such an idiot sometimes." Toji smirked he knew Asuka was teasing and meant nothing by that. "Yeah but you like me right?"

Asuka moved away from Rei she patted his chest as she walked past. "Yeah I like you." She took in a deep breath stepping out in to the wreck room seeing that Shinji and Kaworu were looking uncertain she turned as the other followed her out.

She could see Ritsuko standing in the middle of the room wearing her dark two piece suit with her medium length blonde hair she was clearly deeply pissed she could see it in her dark eyes which were staring death at her. She folded her arms as Mari and Toji sat down though Rei remained standing just opposite her. "So do what do I owe the pleasure, I assume this isn't a medical call since Maya takes care of us all in our medical needs and not you."

Ritsuko looked at her in disgust. "Put your patch on." Asuka narrowed her gaze. "Why?" Ritsuko looked up. "Because the pulsing colours in your left eye are really distracting me!" Asuka felt a sneer form as she put her black patch back on speaking coldly. "You being here is really distracting to me but I'm not complaining." Ritsuko eased out her tablet. "When I send you to space on missions I do not expect to hear shit like this over the web and media!"

She pressed it hearing Asuka's voice recording. "Please tell me she's not sending lewd comments about how that new device you have for measuring dark matter reminds her of a massive dick." She watched as Mari and Toji snickered opposite while Shinji just smiled along with Kaworu. "You do not make comments about Eos's equipment looking phallic you were told about that in the mission briefing!"

Rei turned sharply. "No she wasn't I was there we're just told to fix in the new arm on Eos and enjoy the view of earth by Misato." Ritsuko turned sharply. "I wasn't talking to you!" Rei looked up. "I was on the mission though we were both briefed together so if you want to punish Asuka shouldn't we both be punished for not playing by your rules?"

Ritsuko turned eyeing her – gods she hated these two being in this relationship, because ever since Asuka had come out of the core Rei was becoming much more forward and in her face and she hated it so much she was sure she was getting it off Asuka- it was bad enough having Shinji's backchat for years without having hers now as well. "Asuka said it you didn't!"

Asuka rolled her good eye. "Our channel was secure which means some idiot leaked it over at Eos station over in South America, why are you chewing me out when they're the ones to blame?" Ritsuko put her tablet away. "Because you represent Nerv what you say and do carries weight and it reflects badly on us!" Asuka raised an eyebrow. "Please the whole world has been mocking that device since it went up, it's been all over the news everyone knows it's a media joke."

Shinji looked up from his magazine. "Asuka's right it is a media joke and Eos is yours and my father's problem not ours we just go up every six months in the Evangelion's to make drop off deliveries and to pick up their packages which we have sent back to Eos's earth's station so they can run the data." Rei looked down. "I think personally you're just sore because I heard that device's outer casing was in part your design and you hate that it's a laughing stock."

Ritsuko eyed her. "That monstrosity was not my design I only created the power core device, I had nothing to do with the outer casing and shell that was some idiot over in Switzerland." She eyed Asuka. "You know your country of origin."

Asuka felt a sneer form. "My whole family on my Grandmothers side lives in and outside Ravensburg city and it's a German state at the very edge of Germany it's not part of Switzerland!"

She narrowed her good eye. "It's not that hard to see look it up on an online map!" Ritsuko breathed in deeply as she changed the subject pulling out two cards one was gold and the other was metallic red. "These are for the five star restaurant Alimentum which is in the Galaxy five star skyscraper hotel, the one that has a revolving restaurant at the very top and it has the best view of Nerv's Evangelion training fields I know that you know it as you used to woo all your conquests up there once upon a time. The gold one is your hotel and restaurant entry the red one allows you stay in the hotel overnight."

Asuka eyed the cards. "Yes I know it and I know about the cards but why should I care?" Ritsuko eyed her. "Because tomorrow night you're going to be there because the prime minister is having a formal lunch with his family and all of the pilots must attend, that includes you."

Asuka raised her hands. "I'm sorry I don't do all that fancy scheisse." Ritsuko moved a step closer to her. "No that's incorrect you didn't do it because you dived out of the spot light for three years and became a recluse but now you're really popular and the world is suddenly interested in you again because you killed an angel all on your own and you created two spears out of his churned up digested parts!"

She raised a hand. "Trust me I don't want you there but the Prime Minster insisted, so you are going whether you want to or not!" She looked at her clothing. "And you will not wear those clothes either you will turn up in formal wear and you will be extremely polite."

She shoved the cards into her hand. "You will sit with Rei and you shut up unless you're spoken to, because I will not be picking up after you or cleaning up your mess like I had to do years ago back when you were nineteen."

Rei turned sharply. "I was there that was not Asuka's fault, that celebrity tried to come on to her in the hallway after the dinner, even Misato saw it she wouldn't take no for an answer so Asuka punched her." She looked up slightly. "What was she meant to do let her have her way? Asuka didn't like her or have any interest in sleeping with her."

Ritsuko eyed her. "Sometimes we all must do thing we don't enjoy for the good of the company." Rei eased up her hand playing with the chain that Asuka had brought her. "You have got to be joking right? Because that's insane peoples bodies are not commodity items to sell to the highest bidder."

Ritsuko eyed Asuka who was looking at her coldly. "We were going to sign a very high end celebrity endorsement deal and you fucking ruined it." She folded her arms. "I don't get what the issue was I mean she was gay and you used to screw anything with a heartbeat." Asuka looked at her for a long moment. "Just because I'm bisexual does not mean that I'm attracted to every man or woman I see its only certain people that bring out certain emotions, Shinji will tell you same since he's also bisexual!"

Shinji looked up slightly. "Asuka's right this is how it works and your just being cruel now you wouldn't ask any of us to take one for the team in that way, so why your implying that she should have is beyond me." Rei breathed in deeply. "Do you have anything else to add Ritsuko or are just here to insult my girlfriend?"

Ritsuko breathed in deeply. "No other than deal with your father's gift." Rei looked at her for a long moment. "You mean Kimi the traitor who put drugs in Asuka and Mari's LCL so they'd fight to death just because that creepy now dead politician Shigeo wanted to marry me and wanted Asuka dead because he didn't like that we were together?"

Ritsuko turned sharply. "Yes her, I'm sick of her being locked up and under my feet, so deal with her your father gave her punishment to you, so do something with her already!" Rei shook her head. "I don't care about her, I've said that already and I have no interest in being part of my father's game!"

Ritsuko breathed in deeply. "Then tell him that personally because I will have no part in this." She turned raising her hand to Asuka. "You remember formal dress wear, no cheap clothes like your leather jacket and do something with that scruffy mane of loose red hair for once in your miserable life."

Asuka watched as she turned away. "My leather jacket is a custom it cost a lot of verfickte money it wasn't cheap!" Rei moved in front of her shaking her head as Ritsuko disappeared from sight she wanted to hit her so badly right now Asuka had self-esteem issues and had problems viewing herself as beautiful or even good looking and she was only just starting on the long road to getting around them she didn't need comments like this as she only recently gotten her in to swim wear and she was still struggling with that in some respects when they visited the hot tub in the gyms spa.

"Ignore her, nothing you wear is cheap and your hair is beautiful and I like that you always have it loose outside the entry plug." Mari stood up walking over to Asuka. "I think I speak for everyone here when I say that woman is a massive fucking bitch."

Toji raised his hands. "No argument there." Shinji lowered his magazine. "Trust me she's always been this way right from the start it's just now she seems to think it's okay to pick on Asuka when it's not."

He eyed Asuka who really wasn't taking any notice. "Your clothing is fine and there's nothing wrong with your hair being loose." Kaworu nodded. "I agree with Shinji, Asuka how you dress is of no concern the woman is being petty and most cruel."

Mari turned to Asuka who was still looking down. "Ignore her last comment Asuka, she's just one of these miserable completion climbers who sees every other woman as a rival hence the mean comment about your physical appearance." Asuka pulled the patch off putting it in her pocket. "Where am I going to find a formal dress wear by tomorrow night, I don't even know what brand looks good and I'm not going in a dress?"

She breathed in. "That means I only have tonight to get it and it's going to take me all verfickte night, I'm meant to be working with the builders tonight on Rei's pottery studio along with putting her old apartment up for sale!"

Rei looked up sharply putting her hands on her shoulders. "It's okay Asuka, I can do that I have your spare keys it's not a problem and I know where everything is in your house now." Shinji stood up. "I know a place that tailors suits it's on the twenty ninth floor of the Arcade I can take you there myself, Toji and Kaworu all got our formal suits made there."

Mari turned. "Are you talking about the really expensive Italian tailor shop run by Piero and his four sisters?" Shinji looked up. "Yeah him and his sisters make men's and women's suits and dresses to fit and to order, I heard that Misato is dragging Kaji down there, because he's coming to as they are a couple now and he is going in Maya's place."

Mari felt a wide smile form. "Yeah I had my suit made by them as well though mine has a knee length skirt and I wear flat black shoes with it." She grabbed Asuka's arm. "Come on little sister we'll both take you down there they have it measured to order and you can have trousers, it will be really comfortable."

She turned to Rei. "Do you need to come as well?" Rei shook her head. "I prefer to wear long dresses for formal but please take Asuka along with my brother." Asuka turned as Shinji took her other arm. "Don't I get a say in this?!"

Rei moved towards her in truth this wasn't about the suit this was about other people looking at her during the fitting. "Don't worry Asuka you'll be fine." She leaned over kissing her gently before pulling away. "Shinji and Mari will take care of you and I'll take care of things back at our home."

Mari as watched as Asuka opened her mouth to say something as Rei stepped away. "Come on little sister, you can spend all night with Rei since she now lives with you and she's still unpacking boxes and putting books on those nice new shelves you put up for her."

Shinji turned seeing the uncertain look in Asuka's face. "It's going to be fine, don't worry Asuka." Toji watched as they vanished from sight. "Can someone explain something to me, because I'm confused?" Kaworu looked up. "What do you need explaining?" Toji raised his hand. "I've seen Asuka's footage in the visitor centre of when she was younger she was so confident, what happened? I mean she's just so unconfident about her own body image."

Rei turned slowly to him. "Shamshel did it to her, she made her see herself as others saw her and she utterly hated herself afterwards." Toji blinked. "But that shit was when she was eighteen she's twenty three now."

Rei breathed in sadly. "It's never really gone away, we just never realized because she became so wayward from us over time, I don't know if its a wound that can ever be fully healed but I'm just trying to bring her out of herself but it is slow going." Kaworu looked up slightly a warm smile forming. "Rome was not built in a day, these things do take time and she needs a lot of blocks putting back in to place as her wall is rather battered."

He paused. "But I'm sure you're up to that challenge as you speak to her in a way we can't." His smile became wider. "You speak and your words caress her soul." Rei eased up her delicate silver chain which had been gift from Asuka and had Odin's knot pendent on it. "Yes I do but I think it goes both ways, I'm sure you understand no doubt you've had those moments with Shinji."

Kaworu looked up. "Yes many times as they are not so different they both have battered walls but though they may be solid and harsh on the outside once you get past them it's like the soft caress of silk."

Toji blinked okay now he was just confused he didn't really get it when Kaworu and Rei spoke in riddles he slapped his hands together getting their attention. "So who's up for lunch?" He paused. "It's just going to be ages before Shinji, Asuka and Mari gets back and Mari gets distracted and likes shopping." He took in a deep breath. "Her and my little sister Sakura are a nightmare together they don't stop."

Rei turned to him. "I'd be up for that." Toji stood up. "Great lets have Mexican, I know a really great place and my little sister can meet us there since I was going to pick her up from the school level!"

End of part 2

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