I'm not subbed to the list, please email C&C to <7ahw@qlink.queensu.ca>.
########################################################################
T h e H e a r t ' s B a t t l e g r o u n d
A Ranma 1/2 and Neon Genesis Evangelion crossover by Adrian Wong
Ranma 1/2 belongs to Rumiko Takahashi while Evangelion belongs to Gainax
Productions.
"Heat of the Night" and "Candyman" are both by Aqua.
" " Japanese dialogue
< > thoughts
[ ] Chinese dialogue
/ / Illusory sounds, memories
***Kevin "Lord Talon" Wible*** and ***Andrew Huang*** are the honorable
pre-readers for this fic!
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Part 3
Every year, Tokyo-3 high would have a Share-Life day in which chosen
students from each class will use their talents to help bring in money
(from their fellow students) to fund the school. This year, it was no
exception.
In the auditorium, a mini concert was being held by a famous transfer
student of Tokyo-3 High. Standing on a dramatically lit stage, the exotic
looking Chinese girl began singing a 90's classic in a voice that was
surprisingly professional as the crowd cheered.
"I've been waiting for summertime to come
welcome beaches, lying in the sun
music playing, people everywhere
no need to worry, the tequila is here."
"Yeah! Go, Shampoo, go!" Kurumi cheered from her seat, as did Akane and
many of the other boys and girls of the class. Mousse was staring at the
singing girl as if intrigued, while the glances of the other boys were much
more intense.
One boy, however didn't look particularly amused. In fact, he was frowning.
<Why am I feeling this way? It isn't like she is breaking any school rules!
Actually . . . her skirt for the concert seemed to be . .. more airy than
what's being permitted . . .>
Shampoo meanwhile, was gesturing to the crowd to join in as she sang on:
"And when the sun goes down we are having fun,
coz there will be a party going on . . ."
{Everybody joined in}
"In the heat of the night,
we are having a fiesta,
we dance until siesta,
when the sun comes alive.
In the heat of the night,
we are having a fiesta,
let�s dance until siesta,
when the sun comes alive."
{Shampoo alone:}
"ooh ooh oh oooh . . ."
As she began dancing closer to the crowd, the crowd began cheering louder.
The boy jumped as he realized that was because they could see under her
fluttering skirt.
"HOlD! STOP EVERYTHING RIGHT NOW!"
Everything in the auditorium stopped as all eyes turned to him. Running
up to the stage, he scolded Shampoo.
"Shampoo! Your behavior just now was inexcusable!"
Shampoo blinked at him. "What Class Pres. talk about?"
Herb glared at her with a red face. "You just . . . I mean . . . FLAUNT
your panties to the entire school!! You truly are a disgrace to us Chinese
students!"
The students snickered and whispered among themselves as Kurumi rolled
over on her seat laughing. Akane fought to control her smile as Mousse
simply stared at the scene on the stage with much interest. Shampoo
scratched her chin and rowed her large, beautiful eyes.
"Shampoo's panties . . . you see them under THIS?"
With that, she lifted up her skirt as Herb instinctively turned his face
away. Risking a peek, he gritted his teeth.
"You . . . you shameless . . . WHAT?"
Herb's eyes widened as he saw a pair of regular girl's gym-shorts
underneath the airy skirt. The girl smirked with half-lidded eyes.
"Shampoo no know Herb had X-ray eyes to see through gym shorts. Better be
careful around Herb from now on."
Caught in this incredibly embarrassing situation, Herb stammered.
"So . . . Sorry, my mistake."
Before he could escape, however, Shampoo caught him by the wrist. He
sweated at the sight of Shampoo smiling at him like a feline at its prey.
"Herb insult Shampoo's honor and think can get away with just one sorry?
Shampoo no think so." Herb sweated nervously at hearing that.
"Umm . . . how, how do you want me to make it up to you?"
Leaning over, Shampoo gave the poor boy a sultry smile.
"Well . . . Herb can start by singing next song . . ."
The crowd cheered as Herb jumped.
"What?! No way! I can't sing-"
"Or would Herb rather show underwear to whole class as apology?" Shampoo
asked innocently as Herb blanched and the whole school roared with laugher.
"Oh, all right! I'll sing!"
"That good boy." Shampoo turned to the student in charge of the karaoke
machine. "Now, mind put in that classic by . . . what that weird name
singer you told Shampoo?"
"It's Right Said Fred, Shamp-chan."
"AIYA! That the one Shampoo talking about: 'I'm too SEXY!'"
Herb's blood froze at hearing that as the students began laughing and
giving him catcalls.
"Yes, China boy! DO IT!!!"
"Show us what you've got, Class Pres.!!"
Herb pleaded with Shampoo. "No, please! Not this one!"
Shampoo sighed. "Ah, it's alright! Shampoo in good mood today, so will
go easy on Herb." With that, she picked up another CD, and thrust it in
front of Herb. "There, how about this one? Shampoo even sing together
with Herb to guide Herb through."
Herb stared at the title. It certainly looked more innocent than the last
one.
"I'll take this one."
Shampoo called out to the crowd. "AIYA! Everybody, Herb had picked
CANDYMAN by AQUA!"
Herb immediately realized that he was tricked as the crowd began to cheer.
* * * * * *
After the mini-concert, Shampoo joined Kurumi and the two Eva pilots as
they left the School together. Shampoo was still idly singing as Kurumi
couldn't help but giggle.
" Oh my love - I know you're my Candyman
And all my love - your word is my command
Oh my love - I know you're my Candyman
and all my love - let us fly to Bountyland~"
"Shampoo," Akane looked concerned, "are you sure that you're not going too
far in humiliating him like this? I mean, as a Class President, Herb still
have a stiff, formal image to protect . . ."
"So? Shampoo got image to protect too! What baka Herb think he do,
saying Shampoo show everyone panties?! Shampoo say Herb got off easy!"
"You enjoyed singing with him, didn't you?" Mousse asked out of the blue
in that calm voice of his, as all eyes looked at Shampoo in a new light.
Shampoo, however, simply snorted. "Ice-boy wrong: Shampoo no like
tyrannical dragon boy, not if hell froze over!"
Kurumi looked doubtful. "I don't know . . . Herb IS awfully cute, much
cuter than those common boys that you . . . err . . . socialize with so
often."
"But he stiff, like little old man!" Shampoo exclaimed in a pouting
voice. "Besides, he ALWAYS against Shampoo."
Akane looked thoughtful: "Well, he is taking that 'perfect image of a
Chinese Student' thing a little too seriously . . . maybe he is being
influence by his family to think this way?"
Shampoo's expression softened a bit.
"Maybe he had been subjected to some kind of racial prejudice before."
Mousse added.
"Well," Kurumi spoke up as she searched her memory. "Herb had
transferred to Tokyo-3 High around a couple of months ago, sometime before
Shampoo got here. He was a hit with the girls, who all doted over him and
voted him as the Class President. However, they soon stopped fawning over
him after realizing that he isn't particularly interested in any of them,
thus began alienating him. The boys, none of them having any similarity
with him, did likewise. While nobody actually did haze him, they did make
him feel left out most of the time."
Shampoo looked thoughtful at hearing that. Kurumi stared at her for a
while, then spoke up again.
"Shampoo, as a bystander, I dare say that Herb really isn't trying to be
mean to you: he's just trying desperately to do what he thinks will be for
the good of the class, to prove that even if he is a loner here, he isn't
completely worthless. Besides . . ." Kurumi's face suddenly turned
playfully annoying, "his jealousy frequently gets in his way."
"WHAT?!"
"You mean you really don't know? Herb was ALWAYS trying to find a way to
stop you from flirting with the other boys. Now why would he do that if he
doesn't at least feel attracted to you at all?"
"Maybe he is shy." Akane said.
"It's not easy for humans to open up to one another." Mousse added.
"Hmmm . . ." Shampoo frowned, then abruptly jumped. "AIYA! Shampoo
almost forgot about bringing health restoring soup to Hiba-chan! Later!"
With that, she leapt over a two-story building and disappeared.
"Well, she surely know how to make an escape." Kurumi muttered. "Oh
well, my home is down the other way. Talk to you guys later! Oh, and
remember to remind Ninomiya-san to do that test for me!"
With that, she sprinted down the street and disappeared as well.
Mousse turned to Akane, and said. "I'll walk you home."
Akane groaned inwardly at the fact that Mousse wasn't allowed to move to
Hinako's house due to the strict order of the almighty Commander Soun. Her
father had made up some cheesy excuse about how the first child was unique
in some way or another, and must had a private living space to himself or
else his synchro rate would have been affected. However, Akane was able to
pressure him into moving Mousse to a more presentable apartment that is
incidentally closer to Hinako's place than the last one. Well, at least
that was a start.
"Sure, Mousse." Akane said. "By the way, how do you like the new
apartment that Commander Tendo assigned you?"
"I didn't know why he made that arrangement, but . . ." Mousse smiled
faintly, "it is closer to your place."
Akane blushed.
* * * * * *
At the Tokyo-3 hospital, Herb was walking shakily down the corridor as his
face still burned with embarrassment. From that day on, no doubt the
nickname "Candyman " would stick with him for a long, long time.
<Damn her! Damn her . . . damn myself for being so stupid.>
"Hey, Herb!"
Startled, Herb stopped dwelling on unhappy thoughts and came face to face
with his aunt, Doctor Melon. She looked at him with a light frown on her
face.
"What's the matter with you today? You seemed awfully spaced out."
"It's nothing, auntie." Herb said as he turned his face away from his
aunt's questioning gaze.
"Well, anyway, I have to work late tonight, and won't be able to come back
till past 3 in the morning. For tonight's dinner, I think stir-fry would
be great for the kids. Here, this is the grocery list that I had worked
out. Take this money and get to the supermarket before it closes tonight,
please? Oh, and no matter what Mint-chan said, DO NOT let him have anymore
chocolate. Also . . . oh yeah, get a new sandbag for Lime? He had just
broke his last one."
"Hai, Auntie." Herb obediently took the shopping list as he made his way
through the corridor to do errands for his aunt Melon. She had helped in
getting him immigrated to Japan when that monstrous plague that had hit
China after the second impact took over Tsing Hai province. It had caused
various tribes in the area to be forcibly evacuated from their homeland,
never able to return. The fact that he now had to act as a servant to her
here in Japan is nothing when compared to being left without any money or
relatives in China. Besides, she did ease his transition into a Japanese
schoolboy by teaching him Japanese in the past, way back when he was still
the "Prince" of the Musk tribe. Shampoo, on the other hand, obviously
hadn't start learning the language till she got to Japan. A frown formed
on his brow again.
<And she's supposed to be the Princess of the Amazon tribe, humph! As if!
She's nothing but an immature, bratty, bimboish little->
[Here, take it slow.]
Herb instinctively ducked behind a pillar in the corridor as he saw Shampoo
some distance in front of him, together with a tiny old woman on a
wheelchair. He peeked at them from behind the pillar, and blinked as he
saw the girl patiently spoon feeding some soap to the old woman, whose arms
were both in casts. She looked at the younger girl with a slightly guilty
expression.
[Shampoo, you need not bring food to me every night. I'm very well taken of
in here.]
[Not as good as I'd like to see.] Shampoo replied in a pouting voice.
[Why, those people keep on feeding Hiba-chan chemicals without giving you
anything nutritious to eat. No wonder you are healing so slowly!]
[Sigh . . . you're worrying yourself over nothing, Shampoo. The
medications that the doctors gave me had done their trick, and I'll be able
to take off my casts and move my arms again sometime next week.]
[Really?] Shampoo's face lit up. [Well, when will Hiba-chan be able to
walk again though?]
[It will be soon, Shampoo, I'm sure of it. So stop wasting your time
coming over here night after night. It will affect your studies.]
[Don't worry, Hiba-chan! Kurumi had been helping on various subjects, as
well as Akane-]
The old woman looked pleasantly surprised. [Akane? You've make another
friend at school?]
[Uh! She's the one who had piloted the insane Eva that had made a rampage
through the city. I tried beating her up at first-]
[Shampoo!]
[Oh, let me finish, Hiba-chan! Later, I found out that she was forced into
the position then without being given any training, and apologized to her.
She accepted! Since then, she had became a really close friend of mine and
Kurumi's.]
[Thank goodness . . . another enemy is something that you can't afford,
especially now that our tribe is scattered and gone . . .arrg . . .] The
old woman winced as her left leg suffered a clamp.
[Hiba-chan!] Shampoo immediately kneeled down and rolled up the ancient
woman's pant leg and applied a few tension-relieving pressure points
strikes to the lower leg. She then began massaging the withered stick that
most would hesitate in touching. [Here, is this better?]
Turning away, and walking down the opposite way of the corridor, Herb had a
look of wonder on his face when he compared the dutiful great-granddaughter
that he just saw to the flirty delinquent girl that he was so used to see.
[Maybe, just maybe, there is more to her than I thought . . .]
* * * * * *
The next day in the schoolyard, Herb was again surround by kids teasing him
about his performance last night. Herb rubbed at his temples as he
desperately fought the urge to unleash his years of martial arts training
upon this lot: that would have messed up his perfect student record.
"Yo, Candyman!"
"Ya my lollipop~~"
"Can we fly to Bountyland together, Candy-chan?"
"Only place you fly to is earth's orbit if you keep act like jerk!"
The offending students all stopped and turned to a very annoyed looking
Shampoo in surprise.
"Shampoo?"
"Hey. What's the deal here? You're the one who started this all!"
Shampoo simply smiled smugly. "Shampoo have change of mind. Now, whoever
held song against Herb held song against Shampoo . . . and you three know
what Shampoo mean, no?"
The boys blanched. They could still remember that particularly rowdy boy
who joked about how the Chinese girl must be a "good ride" due to her
impressive figure, and what happened to him afterwards. It took him an
entire month to be able to walk again. Hastily, they retreated. Herb
stared at Shampoo with disbelief in his eyes.
"Shamp . . . Shampoo . . ."
"Shampoo no owe Herb: now we even."
"I . . . it" Herb struggled to get this words out as Shampoo leaned closer
towards him.
"Yes?"
" . . .it is against the school regulations to physically threaten other
classmates. Please don't do it again."
Herb hastily walked away as Shampoo face-faulted.
<What . . . what is this feeling?> Herb asked himself as he fled.
Composing herself again, Shampoo began to look peeved.
<And I thought the ice-boy was weird . . . he isn't interested in me at
all! That idiot Kurumi must be reading too much of those damned shoujo
mangas of hers!>
* * * * * *
In the cafeteria of Tokyo-3 High, a high-pitched squealing could be heard.
"WAH! IS THAT TRUE?!"
"Yes, Hinako had asked me to tell you to come to the NERV centre after
school today." Akane sighed. "And yes, I STILL feel that you are insane
for wanting this."
"What going on?" Shampoo who was walking up to her friends, asked. Kurumi
was literally glowing with excitement.
"I'm taking the Eva test this afternoon, isn't it cool?!"
Shampoo simply shook her head with a bored look.
"Whatever."
Akane noticed this, and asked. "What's the matter?"
"Nothing."
Oblivious to all that was around her, Kurumi began to dream of herself as
an Eva pilot battling against angels, being invincible and heroic and proud
. . .
RINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
**ANGEL ATTACK!! ANGEL ATTACK!! RETREAT TO SHELTER NOW!!** The automatic
recording was activated as Herb came running towards them.
"Everybody from class F1, gather here now! Everybody from class F1, gather
here now!"
Herb caught sight of Shampoo. For a moment, neither of them knew what to
do. Pulling himself together, Herb called out to her.
"C'mon!"
Shampoo immediately went over to his corner and joined her classmates as
Mousse ran through the crowd and joined Akane. Kurumi followed them, but
was immediately stopped by Akane.
"Kurumi, you go to the shelter with Herb and the others!"
"But I'm supposed to be testing as a Eva pilot, and now is as good a time
as any other!"
Remembering how her father had forced her into an Eva without prior
experience, Akane was determined NOT to take the chance of having Kurumi
suffer the same fate.
"After today. Kurumi-chan . . . trust me on this one: you DO NOT want to
battle in one of those things without training!"
"But-"
Akane barked in annoyance.
"Remember what happened to Shampoo's great-grandmother?!"
Kurumi quiet down, and reluctantly joined the rest of her classmates to the
shelter. Nodding at Mousse, the two of them raced off to the NERV
headquarters to face their upcoming challenge.
* * * * * *
At the command centre, Soun was staring at the two teenagers in their
respective plug suits with stoic calm as the two looked vaguely uncomfortable.
"The original plan for this counter-angel operation is for one Eva to go
battle the angel alone at a time, just to save energy and avoid the
unnecessary risk of having more than one Eva unit suffer damage per fight."
Mousse tensed up involuntarily as Soun stared sternly at him. The
Commander continued.
"However, the angels are apparently getting stronger and stronger each
time, thus it appears that a team effort would be required. Now go get
into your plug suits, according to the blue patterns that we are receiving,
the angel will arrive within minutes."
"Hai!" Mousse and Akane replied in union.
* * * * * *
In the underground shelter beneath Tokyo-3 high, everybody were nervously
staring at the TV as the reporter from another part of Japan board-cast the
news regarding the angel.
**Five ,minutes ago, the new angel had just appeared at the pacific
shoreline of Japan. Judging from its speed, it will reach the geofront
city, Tokyo-3, in less than a minute. Already, the UN armed forces are
trying to destroy the target before it can reach the major cities.
Unfortunately, none of them can penetrate the angel's defense . . .**
Sitting in a corner with her eyes closed, Shampoo was whispering in a
foreign language that most of her classmates failed to understand. After
she was finished, Kurumi approached her and asked.
"What are you doing?"
"Praying." Shampoo replied. "Catholic missionary touched Chinese Amazon
Village years ago before the Second Impact, thus tell our people story of
creator of all. Some in village believed in story . . . including
Shampoo's mother. Even after she gone, Shampoo still remember words. If
Shampoo done it first time, maybe . . . maybe Hiba-chan no be in hospital."
"Catholics . . ." one of the girls spoke up with a dull look on her face,
"before these angel attacks, people still hung to the belief that God is
just and merciful. Afterwards, they all realized that He is just as cruel
and blind in its destructiveness as nature itself is."
"No." Herb, who had been listening to the exchange, spoke up. "Bad things
happen to us not necessarily as punishments. Rather, they are here to test
us, to help train us to be something better than we were before. Without
these disasters, people's potential to protect and care for others won't
have a chance to shine through."
The girl was silent as she thought this over in her head. Shampoo turned
to look at Herb in a new light as the latter blushed. "I've spoken my piece."
Kurumi couldn't help but add in her own opinion on this. "The Class Pres.
is right. Without the angels attacking us, how do we get selfless Eva
pilots willing to risk their own lives in defending us? How do we get to
have heroic characters like that, huh?"
Just then the broadcaster on TV announced:
**The angel had reached Tokyo-3: it is now up to the Eva-units to counter
it! Oh, a special emergency report stated that all of Japan is about to
suffer a blackout, and-**
Abruptly, the TV screen went dead as most of the lights in the shelter
dimmed up as the students gasped. Only the few lights empowered by the
backup battery were still functional, providing the underground space with
its dim, eerie glow. Kurumi find herself holding her palms together.
<Akane, Mousse, please be alright!>
* * * * * *
Inside Eva-01, Akane was sweating into the LCL as she stared at the new
angel heading towards the NERV centre from the distance.
"That tetrahedral-thingy is a living being?"
Nodoka's voice answered her from the com. link: "Whatever it is, it is
giving off a blue pattern. It might be an angel residing within a
spacecraft, or the actual body of the angel itself."
Hinako voice soon joined Nodoka's: "Akane-chan! The rifle that you are now
carrying is powered by all the electricity over all of Japan. Hopefully,
it can kill the angel in one shot. However, before that happen, you need
someone to distract the angel from you. Reports from the UN troops said
that the angel would attack anything within three miles of it that it views
as a potential threat. Mousse, you go distract the angel while Akane-chan
waits for an opening. Be careful!"
"Hai!"
With that Mousse darted towards the angel and began shooting giant throwing
daggers at it from Eva-00's own unconventional rifle. However, unlike its
chains, these daggers were not generating their own AT Fields, thus are
useless in harming the angel. However, it did succeeded in triggering the
angel's self-defense action and immediately, Eva-00 found itself dodging
power-beams like mad. Akane, who was still some distance behind, frowned
as she looked for an opening: there wasn't one yet.
* * * * * *
Inside the shelter, the darkness and the silence seemed to be joining
forces, making everyone in it uncertain and depressed at the same time.
Finally, one of the boys spoke up:
"It's just that . . . with all these angel attacks, all these people around
us getting killed, getting hurt . . . makes one feel that the end is near."
"It's almost like the foreshadowing of an inevitable apocalypse," another
girl added.
"What's the point of all this struggling anyway, if the end of the world
truly is coming?"
"Resistance is futile-"
"STOP IT!" Kurumi shouted. "Akane and Mousse will defeat that so called
angel and we will be saved!"
"What if we can't? What if the next angel killed them both? Those
monsters are each stronger than the one before it!"
"Then . . . then . . ." Kumuri didn't know what to say.
"Then we all try best to have more happy times while we can, and more
importantly, to help ones we love till that time come." Shampoo said
solemnly. "That only way we no waste life."
Just then, a distant explosion was heard, accompanied by a hoarse, inhuman
cry that sent most of the girl and some of the boys blanching. Shampoo had
a far-away look on her face as she spoke up again.
"No be afraid. Try be there for people we care for . . . that all that
mattered."
A hand was put onto her shoulder. Shampoo looked up, and saw Herb staring
at her with a complex but definitely supportive look. Shampoo gave him a
little smile, and said nothing more. Only Kurumi noticed the scene, as the
other students were too preoccupied with the fact that the fighting was
apparently moving closer than what's safe to Tokyo-3 high.
* * * * * *
Akane Tendo's heart froze.
It front of it Eva 00 was shot in the chest by the light beam from the angel.
"Now, Akane! DO IT!" Mousse shouted through the searing pain invading his
body as Eva00 collapsed backwards.
But Akane couldn't do it. All she could do was to stare dumbly at the
horrid sight in front of her.
Just then, Hinako's shout could be heard coming from the com.link:
"Use the rifle, Akane!"
Akane still couldn't move, but the next sentence changed that.
"Akane, don't waste Mousse's sacrifice!"
That sentence had cut through Akane's shock. With an unearthly aura
flaring around it, Eva 01 howled like a beast as it aimed the super rifle
that was the embodiment of the motor generated power of all of Japan at the
angel and shoot.
BOOOMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back at the NERV command centre. Kasumi exclaimed excitedly. "The blue
pattern is gone . . . the fifth angel is destroyed!"
Hinako gave a sigh of relief as Nodoka nodded with a pleased expression.
"Good. Tell the technical team to collect the carcass of the 5th angel.
To the medical team: go rescue the first child."
* * * * * *
Inside the NERV hospital room, Akane was sitting beside the bed of a
bandaged Mousse, who was staring back at her calmly.
"The beam missed the entry plug: my condition is not fatal."
"Mousse . . ." Akane couldn't help but sob, "how long does this have to go
on? Must you end up in here every time after a fight for my sake? You
can't go on taking hits for my sake. Sooner or later, you'll . . ." Tears
dripped down Akane's cheeks as she sobbed even harder.
Mousse stared at the trailing tears, then raised his uninjured hand to
brush it away.
". . . it is of humanity's best interest that we work as a team. This way,
at least we have a chance to succeed in defeating the angels . . ."
"Next time, I'll be the one taking the hit. I won't let you do it anymore,
not if Daddy commands it himself!"
Mousse shook his head, wincing slightly with the strain on his injured neck.
"You can't. You're too important."
"And you aren't?!"
Closing his red eyes, Mousse turned his face way. "Even if I die, there
will be replacements . . ."
Before Akane could question him on what that meant, Hinako walked into the
room.
"I'm sorry about what had happened to Mousse," she said. Akane turned her
face away as she roughly wiped off the rest of her tears. After a moment
of silence, Hinako continued: "If it would make you feel any better, Unit
02, along with the second child, would be shipped in from Germany some time
soon to ad the two of you in future battles after this one. Then of course,
if your friend can pass the test-"
"I don't want her to pass." Akane said flatly. "She doesn't even know
what she is getting herself into."
Hinako stared at her sadly.
"You have every right to be angry, Akane-chan. But remember this: somebody
have to do the job of defending the earth against the angels. The means
don't always justify the ends, but it is either forcing a couple of
teenagers to become martyrs or to let the entire human race be destroyed.
Which option would you choose, Akane-chan?"
With that question hanging in the air, Hinako left Akane alone with Mousse
to reason this out in her own mind. Akane turned to Mousse, but found that
he was already sleeping due to the medications. Sighing lightly, she
leaned against Mousse's bed, and allow herself to fell asleep from exhaustion.
* * * * * *
A couple of days later, Akane and a dejected looking Kurumi were walking
down the streets on their way home. After sighing for the Nth time that
day, Kurumi finally said that same phase once more.
"I can't believe that I failed."
"That's extremely lucky of you if you happen to be sane." Akane replied.
"Oh, C'mon! The world NEEDS Eva pilots!"
"Yes, and those that are not needed didn't need to face the hardships of
being forced against the most sickeningly frightful enemies that mankind
had ever known to exist." She turned to Kurumi with a serious expression
on her face. "This isn't a video game, Kurumi, people get hurt out there.
There is no reason for you to wish that upon yourself."
Kurumi sighed yet again, and said nothing more.
Just then, she caught sight of a pair of teenagers, each with multiple bags
of groceries in their hands, as they shared the two earphones of the same
Walkman that the girl had in her pocket.
[That song is good! Play it again!] The boy said in Chinese.
[That's the fifth time you've heard that song already! C'mon, I'll show
you an even better one.] The girl said as she pressed a button on her
Walkman. [By the way, do you always shop here for your aunt? It isn't
exactly common for a boy to shop for food and household products,
especially in this sexist country . . .]
[Well, it isn't like a busy woman like her can afford the time to shop for
her kids. So naturally, I became the logical choice to carry out the task.]
[Hmm . . . oh well, it is the 10's after all, no matter what country we're
in. Well, since you're stuck with shopping, I guess I should tell you that
the supermarket down the next street have the same vegetables for much
better prices. I found that out when I went to buy some ingredients for
the Amazonian fast healing soup that Hiba-chan needed-]
"Hey Shampoo, Class President!"
The two instinctively put a lot more space between themselves as they
turned to greet their classmates.
"Oh, uh, Kurumi, Akane. What you do here? Kurumi pass Eva pilot test?"
Shampoo asked, trying to distract the girls. It didn't work.
"Nah, didn't meet the synchro-requirement. Now back to you, since WHEN did
the two of you get to be so cozy together?" The nosy girl asked with an
oily expression.
"Um . . . it not what Kurumi think!"
"We're just, uh, shopping at the same supermarket!"
"And listening to that same Walkman together?"
The couple blushed as they realized that their ears were still linked
together by the earphone wires.
"Shampoo," Akane smiled for possibly the first time since Mousse's injury.
"I'm happy for you."
Shampoo blushed at hearing that. Kurumi saw this and mock whispered to
Herb. "Whoa, Class Pres., you REALLY should feel privileged having someone
as uninhibited as Shampoo blushing over you."
"AHHHH!!!" Shampoo stooped on her feet as Herb turned alarmingly red.
"Whatever! Think what you like! Shampoo no care!"
"Hmmm," Kurumi picked the earphone from Shampoo's ear and put it to her
own. Smiling mischievously she gave it over to Akane as Herb turned even
redder than before. Putting it on, Akane couldn't help but chuckle as she
heard the following song:
**
Oh, oh, oh
I am the Candyman-
Oh, oh, oh,
Coming from Bountyland
Oh, oh, oh
I am the Candyman-
Oh, oh, oh
Coming from Bountyland
I wish that you were my Lollipop -
Sweet things, I will never get enough
If you show me to the sugar free -
will you give me a sodapop for free
Come with me Honey -
I'm your sweet sugar Candyman
Run like the wind - fly with me to Bountyland
Bite me I'm yours - if you're hungry please understand
This is the end - of the sweet sugar Candyman
Oh my love - I know you're my Candyman
And all my love - your word is my command
Oh my love - I know you're my Candyman
And all my love - let us fly to Bountyland
You are my Lollipop - sugar sugar top
You are my Lollipop - sugar sugar top
I wish that I were a bubble gum -
chewing on me baby all day long
I will be begging for sweet delight -
until you say I'm yours tonight
Come with me Honey - I'm your sweet sugar Candyman
Run like the wind - fly with me to Bountyland
Bite me I'm yours - if you're hungry please understand
This is the end - of the sweet sugar Candyman
**
End Part 3
Feb 23, 1998.