For some reason, that night, Kira dreamed of the past. She didn't know why, but, for some reason, she had a dream of Narikage, something that hadn't happened in years.
She didn't know why...but she felt like she had to remember. *** "You must be Kira." Misato smiled a little as she stood, holding her hand out to the young girl who had just been escorted into her room.
"It's a pleasure. Your grandfather has spoken often of you and the probability of you becoming a pilot once you reached the desired age. I'm Katsuragi Misato, by the way."
Misato gave her a little smile. "Now, I hope you don't mind if we just get some of this paperwork out of the way." She gestured to a small pile and had Kira sign all of them. "Also, you should be getting your official security badge next week. Until then, here's a temp one." She handed over a small card.
"Well, since we have all this technical stuff taken care of, I'll introduce you to your fellow pilots." Misato checked her watch. "Three of them should be in the cafeteria."
"Alright." Misato smiled and led her out of the room and down the twisting corridors. They finally reached a large cafeteria that was mostly empty. Kira's eyes were immediately drawn to the three people sitting near the corner.
One of them, a girl with close-cropped blue hair was quietly eating a piece of sandwich. The other two--a young man and a red-head--were bickering loudly over a piece of cake. They stopped, however, when Misato approached.
"If you two are finished," Misato said with a shake of her head. "I'd like to introduce you all to Naru Kirameki. She's our newest pilot. Naru-san, this is Rei, Asuka, and Shinji." "Doozo yorishiku," they chorused.
"We have one pilot here who's...slightly older," Misato explained. "He's sixteen! He should be thrown out on his ass!" Asuka said in a fierce voice, her blue eyes flashing.
"Sorry about that. Narikage showed up just recently and kind of stole Shinji's thunder when it came to piloting so the three of them are still really sore on the subject."
"Narikage should be finishing up his drills right about now." Misato led her through a few high secruity areas to a giant loading dock. In front of her was the giant purple face of Unit 01.
"Good, perfect timing." There was a loud hiss of pressure release and a capsul popped from the back of Unit 01. A moment later, a chair was lifted up and down to the deck. A young man in a green suit climbed out but his head was bowed, preventing Kira from seeing his face.
He simply blinked at her with his blue eyes, his face blank. "You need to be a little more hospitible towards your new roommate." "WHAT?!" they both screamed at the same time.
"Well, that was the ORIGINAL plan but after the last battle..." Misato glared daggers at Narikage. "Four of our government buildings were destroyed." "They were in the way." "NEVERTHELESS! We now have a housing crunch and your grandfather thought it would be easier all around if you just stayed with Narikage." "Without consulting ME?" "You're an employee, Narikage. We don't need to consult you about everything."
"No." "It's too late. Her things are probably already at your place and the papers have been signed." Narikage shoved past them both, storming from the loading dock.
"He probably would have had a worse reaction if we'd told him earlier. I know it's a little strange having a girl your age living with a young man, but I dont' think you'll ever need to worry about Narikage making advances on you. He's...well, cold."
"No problem." Misato smiled and ushered her from the area. ********* "Here it is. The apartment number is 3-23. Here's your key." Misato handed her the card.
He blinked at her then turned, going to another door and rolling it open. He stepped inside and slammed it shut behind him. Had the first room been for her?
As she was moving in her last bag, she heard Narikage's door open and he shuffled down the hall. He'd changed out of his school clothes and was now wearing a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.
So it was a huge surprise when, at the beginning of the third week, she heard him speak more than four words. It happened at school during the lunch hour. She was sitting by herself, as usual, when three of the upper classmen came up to her and started to tease her.
They laughed at her. "Come on, baby. Why don't we go somewhere more private to talk." One of them lunged forward, grabbing her arm. Before she could protest or pull away, she felt herself yanked away from the group of boys and someone had wedged themselves between her and them.
"What? Is she your girl or something?" one of them sneered. "She doesn't have to be my girlfriend for me to defend her from three assholes such as yourselves." "Why you--!" One of them lunged for Narikage. He calmly grabbed the man's arm and with a deft twist, threw him into his friends.
The three boys scrambled to their feet and ran off. Narikage half-turned towards her and she realized he was still wearing his reading glasses, something she had always thought was rather attractive on him. "You alright?"
"Asuka, not everyone wants you to do their homework for them," Shinji said. "Yeah, well you dont' seem to mind!" Shinji flushed and all too soon, they were involved in their usual argument.
Narikage's door was open just enough so that if she pressed her eye to it, she could see into his room. She heard voices comeing from inside, but...it sounded like Narikage talking to himself?
She shook her head. She was so silly. He must have had his cellphone on the shelf on vibrate and it made a crashing noise when it fell. She went back to the table.
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1 – 200 of 474 Newer› Newest»It very nearly startled her awake, but something kept her in her dream.
She didn't know why...but she felt like she had to remember.
***
"You must be Kira." Misato smiled a little as she stood, holding her hand out to the young girl who had just been escorted into her room.
"Hai. Naru Kirameiki." She took the offered hand and her lips twitched into a little smile.
"It's a pleasure. Your grandfather has spoken often of you and the probability of you becoming a pilot once you reached the desired age. I'm Katsuragi Misato, by the way."
"It is very nice to meet you. Grandfather has always been proud of me and my abilities. Especially after what happened last year.
Misato gave her a little smile.
"Now, I hope you don't mind if we just get some of this paperwork out of the way." She gestured to a small pile and had Kira sign all of them. "Also, you should be getting your official security badge next week. Until then, here's a temp one." She handed over a small card.
"Arigatou."
"Well, since we have all this technical stuff taken care of, I'll introduce you to your fellow pilots." Misato checked her watch. "Three of them should be in the cafeteria."
"I would like that very much, Misato-san."
"Alright." Misato smiled and led her out of the room and down the twisting corridors. They finally reached a large cafeteria that was mostly empty. Kira's eyes were immediately drawn to the three people sitting near the corner.
She kept her steps slow though.
One of them, a girl with close-cropped blue hair was quietly eating a piece of sandwich. The other two--a young man and a red-head--were bickering loudly over a piece of cake. They stopped, however, when Misato approached.
Kira gave them all a soft smile.
"If you two are finished," Misato said with a shake of her head. "I'd like to introduce you all to Naru Kirameki. She's our newest pilot. Naru-san, this is Rei, Asuka, and Shinji."
"Doozo yorishiku," they chorused.
She bowed, her long black hair swinging forward to fall over her shoulder. "It is nice to meet you all."
"Are your fourteen like us?" Asuka asked in a rather frank manner.
"Hai."
"Oh good."
She raised her eyebrow.
"We have one pilot here who's...slightly older," Misato explained.
"He's sixteen! He should be thrown out on his ass!" Asuka said in a fierce voice, her blue eyes flashing.
"I do not believe that age really has much to do with piloting. That we four are all fourteen is nothing more than happy coincidence."
The three stared at her as if she'd grown another head.
"Ah, let me take you to meet Narikage," Misato said quickly.
She bowed to the three and followed Masato.
"Sorry about that. Narikage showed up just recently and kind of stole Shinji's thunder when it came to piloting so the three of them are still really sore on the subject."
"I see."
"Narikage should be finishing up his drills right about now." Misato led her through a few high secruity areas to a giant loading dock. In front of her was the giant purple face of Unit 01.
Kira gasped softly when she saw it.
"Good, perfect timing." There was a loud hiss of pressure release and a capsul popped from the back of Unit 01. A moment later, a chair was lifted up and down to the deck. A young man in a green suit climbed out but his head was bowed, preventing Kira from seeing his face.
Kira had her arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Narikage." The boy looked up.
He had bright, piercing blue eyes and raven-colored hair. He was also incredibly handsome.
"Katsuragi-san."
Kira stared at him.
"Narikage, this is Naru Kirameki, our newest pilot." Narikage's vivid eyes swung to Kira.
"Doozo yorishiku..." She bowed.
He simply inclined his head slightly then turned to Misato. "Is that all?"
"Narikage."
He simply blinked at her with his blue eyes, his face blank. "You need to be a little more hospitible towards your new roommate."
"WHAT?!" they both screamed at the same time.
"I'm supposed to live with a boy? Does Grandfather know about this?"
"He's actually the one who arranged it."
"I live alone," Narikage said, his cheeks a tad pink with surpressed rage. "I do not want a roommate."
"I would rather live alone myself!"
"Well, that was the ORIGINAL plan but after the last battle..." Misato glared daggers at Narikage. "Four of our government buildings were destroyed."
"They were in the way."
"NEVERTHELESS! We now have a housing crunch and your grandfather thought it would be easier all around if you just stayed with Narikage."
"Without consulting ME?"
"You're an employee, Narikage. We don't need to consult you about everything."
Kira sighed. "If that is how it must be..."
"No."
"It's too late. Her things are probably already at your place and the papers have been signed." Narikage shoved past them both, storming from the loading dock.
"That was not a nice thing to spring on him.
"He probably would have had a worse reaction if we'd told him earlier. I know it's a little strange having a girl your age living with a young man, but I dont' think you'll ever need to worry about Narikage making advances on you. He's...well, cold."
"I understand..."
"I hate doing this to you more than him, but...well, you know your grandfather. It's hard to say no to him."
"Hai. I know."
"Now, do you want me to drive you to the apartment or would you like to walk back with Narikage?"
"I...." She looked down. "I think I would like you to drive me."
"No problem." Misato smiled and ushered her from the area.
*********
"Here it is. The apartment number is 3-23. Here's your key." Misato handed her the card.
"Don't let him get to you, alright? If it gets too bad for you, just tell me and we can find other living quarters for you."
"Hai. Arigatou."
"You're welcome." Misato smiled at her.
Kira smiled, then went inside.
The apartment was small but very clean and tidy. Her small amount of belongings were piled next to the door.
She bit her lip.
Narikage wasn't home yet...where should she put her things?
She really didn't know.
That's when she heard the door lock click and Narikage entered.
She stepped out of the way.
His blue eyes bored into hers until she was forced to glance away. He moved past her down the short hallway, rolling open a door.
"Gomen...but where should I put my things?"
He blinked at her then turned, going to another door and rolling it open. He stepped inside and slammed it shut behind him. Had the first room been for her?
She blushed and walked towards it.
When she peeked in she saw that it was indded a small, empty bedroom.
She quickly moved her things.
As she was moving in her last bag, she heard Narikage's door open and he shuffled down the hall. He'd changed out of his school clothes and was now wearing a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.
She blushed lightly. He was very handsome.
There was also something about him that was extremely familiar. She just couldn't put her finger on it.
She bit her lip lightly. He was very handsome...
He appared suddenly in the doorway and she nearly hit the ceiling.
"Bedding is in the closet," he said, finally speaking to her for the first time.
"Arigatou."
"Dinner is in twenty minutes." He turned and was gone again.
She looked down. This was not going to be easy...
How was she going to live with this man?
He was so...abrupt.
And when he looked at her, she felt as if he was looking through her.
She shivered.
There had to be a way to get through to him.
But how?
All she could think of was to keep talking to him, even if he didn't reply, even if his answers ewre abrut.
It was very awkward.
But she had to get through to him.
*********
Kira had been chattering incessantly to Narikage for two weeks.
At first, he had simply ignored her. After a week of it, however, her chattering had finally gotten under his skin, provoking some short responses.
She figured she might get more than three or four word sentences by the end of the third week.
So it was a huge surprise when, at the beginning of the third week, she heard him speak more than four words.
It happened at school during the lunch hour. She was sitting by herself, as usual, when three of the upper classmen came up to her and started to tease her.
"I apologize if I have offended you, but I do not believe have warranted this verbal attack." She gave them stern looks.
They laughed at her.
"Come on, baby. Why don't we go somewhere more private to talk." One of them lunged forward, grabbing her arm. Before she could protest or pull away, she felt herself yanked away from the group of boys and someone had wedged themselves between her and them.
Looking up in startlement, she realized it was Narikage.
"I suggest you move along if you'd like to keep your limbs," he said in a quiet, but deadly, voice.
"Narikage-san..."
"What? Is she your girl or something?" one of them sneered.
"She doesn't have to be my girlfriend for me to defend her from three assholes such as yourselves."
"Why you--!" One of them lunged for Narikage. He calmly grabbed the man's arm and with a deft twist, threw him into his friends.
Kira stared wide eyed. "Narikage-san..."
The three boys scrambled to their feet and ran off. Narikage half-turned towards her and she realized he was still wearing his reading glasses, something she had always thought was rather attractive on him.
"You alright?"
"H-hai...but you didn't have to be so violent..."
"Then he shouldn't have swung at me," he said flatly.
She nodded slowly. "Arigatou gozaimasu!"
"Don't read too much into it. If I hadn't interferred and they had done something to you, Katsuragi-san would have yelled at me."
"Still. Thank you anyway."
"Hmm." He turned away from her again and bent down, picking up his bag.
"Arigatou," she said once more before gathering her things for class.
"What did you want for dinner tonight?"
"Umu...I'm not sure..."
"You've been chattering nonsense for two weeks and you've never told me what you like."
"I'm not picky..."
"Very well." He started to leave.
"Sukiyaki..."
"What?"
"Sukiyaki...its one of my favorite foods...And onigiri with pickled plums..."
He glanced back at her.
"You have expensive tastes."
"Onigiri isn't that expensive..."
"Pickled plums are though. Especially now."
"I like them with bonito flakes too..."
"I'll see what I can do." Then he walked away.
She blushed as she walked to class.
Narikage was a wonderful cook...she hoped he would make her favorite foods.
But she wouldn't complain if he didn't.
"Hey, Kira-chan!" Asuka pounced on the girl as soon as she entered the classroom. "Rei, Shinji and I are going out after school. Wanna come?"
"I would...but I still have a lot of homework to catch up on."
"This stuff is easy. I could finish it for you in an hour."
"But that would not be honest and I would not learn."
"Asuka, not everyone wants you to do their homework for them," Shinji said.
"Yeah, well you dont' seem to mind!" Shinji flushed and all too soon, they were involved in their usual argument.
Kira sighed and, ignoring them, walked to her class.
*******
When she got home that night, she was surprised to see Narikage already there.
"You got home rather quickly."
"I had tests this afternoon," he said shortly.
"Oh..." She went into her room to study.
He was finally talking...and now she was finding it hard to talk back.
It was very odd.
About an hour later, there was a sharp rap on her door, Narikage's way of signaling her dinner was ready.
She stretched as she walked to the door. She'd changed into a pair of jeans and a tight dark red long sleeved t-shirt.
When she entered the kitchen, Narikage was just putting the rice on the table.
And he'd made all of her favorite foods.
"Arigatou."
He inclined his head slightly but didn't say anything as he sat down.
She sat down as well, a little uncomfortable. He was being so nice...but...
She wanted to hear him talk...
"How was your day after lunch?"
"I told you, I just had tests," he said. Well, it was an abrupt answer, but he'd answered her right away, which was new.
"I didn't know if you'd done anything else."
"No. Just tests." He took a bite of his rice.
She sighed and took some food for herself.
"You aren't chattering at me."
"I thought it bothered you."
"If it had bothered me, I would have told you to shut up."
"Oh. So does that mean you like it?"
"I didn't say that either."
"So you simply, don't care."
"Hmm." He took another bite of his rice.
She sighed and began to eat.
That's when she heard a soft crash come from the direction of Narikag'e room.
She blinked. "What was that?"
Narikage quickly put his chopsticks down.
"Sumimasen." He quickly stood up from the table, hurrying to his room.
She stared after him. What was going on? She stood up to follow him.
But...would he be angry if she did?
She shook her head and started down the hall.
Narikage's door was open just enough so that if she pressed her eye to it, she could see into his room. She heard voices comeing from inside, but...it sounded like Narikage talking to himself?
What on earth?
She could see Narikage's back and when he moved to the side, she saw...Narikage? What on earth?!
She blinked rapidly. What was going on?
Then it hit her. Of course. He was probably standing in front of a mirror. And he was probably talking on his cellphone.
She shook her head. She was so silly. He must have had his cellphone on the shelf on vibrate and it made a crashing noise when it fell. She went back to the table.
A moment later, he reappeared, sitting back down across from her.
"What was that about?"
"Nothing," he said a little too quickly.
She blinked. "Oh?"
He wouldn't meet her eyes as he finished his dinner then took his dishes to the sink.
She sighed. When she was done with dinner, she took her own dishes to the sink. "I'll clean up."
"You need to fnish studying. I'll clean up."
"Are you sure? I mean you did cook dinner."
"Yes. Go finish your homework."
She sighed and went into her room.
He was so stubborn.
And so handsome...
She shook herself. She didnt need to think like that.
'But he is,' nagged a little voice in her head.
She bit her lip. It was true...but she needed to concentrate on her homework.
She forced herself to concentrate and began her homework again. Everything went fine until she got to a problem she couldn't solve.
She stared at it. It was a story problem...one of the worst. She never understood how to figure them out.
Maybe...Narikage could help her...
She stood up and went to knock on his door. "Narikage-san?"
There was a pause and the door rolled open a little. Narikage was standing there but he had changed into a black tank top for some reason.
"Umu...I am having a hard time figuring this problem out. Could you help me?"
For some reason, he glanced towards the kitchen then back at her.
"Very well." He actually reached out and took her arm, pulling her into the room.
She blinked at him, but shrugged it off. "Its this story problem."
He took the print-off from her, studying it.
"Twelve."
"What?"
"That's the answer."
She stared at him. "I could have gotten that from the back of the book. I need to figure out how to work it out."
He sighed and went to his desk, pulling out a pencil.
"It's simple." He began to scribble on the paper, outlining each step.
When he explained it, it DID sound simple. "Arigatou!"
He handed the paper back to her. "Anything else?" Was he being...friendly?
She blushed a little. "No...Arigatou. I just needed help with that problem."
"Alright then." He sat down on his bed, pulling out the book he'd been reading before she entered.
"What are you reading?"
"'A Tale of Two Cities'"
"Oh? I've not read that before...What is it about?"
"Read it for yourself and find out."
She blinked. That was rude.
But, it was Narikage.
That's when she heard the water running in the kitchen.
She blinked. "Did you leave the water on?" She turned. "I'll go turn it off."
"No!" Narikage suddenly lept up, the book dropping from his hands. "I mean. I'll do it. Go finish your math before you forget how to do the problems."
She frowned at him. "I only had that one problem left. Its no big deal." She turned to walk out of the room.
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