Disclaimer: All characters that are used belong to their respective creators. I do this for fun and do not take any money off of it. Please don't sue me. The stories are mine, so please don't use them without asking me.
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    Carrying luggage, Misato and Shinji were standing outside the gates of the mansion where Dema-fa and Rei were holed up.  They were accompanied by a brown haired girl, about Shinji's age, and a an older man.  All of them were in a bit of shock at the size of the house.  Behind the group, a penguin was waddling.

    "Misato, is this it?" Shinji asked.

    Misato swallowed heavily and nodded.

    "Yes. It is.  The cursed Asuka mansion."

    "Hey!" the girl exclaimed.

    Misato shook her head.  "No, Asuka.  The name of the family was Asuka."

    Shinji glanced from the house to Misato and asked, "Cursed?"

    The man started explaining, "This house used to belong to Dr. Asuka.  In his last year, he went a bit crazy.  He suicided by pouring gasoline on himself and then setting himself on fire.  A few days after his death, his son Ryo was brought into a hospital with bruises and cracked ribs.  He did not explain where he got them from.  Another mystery was the fast paced at which he healed.  A little while after he checked out of the hospital, he and a friend of his vanished, never to be seen again.  Ever since that time, this building has had an aura of fear around it."

    Pointing at the mansion, Asuka crossly said, "I can't believe that we're going to be staying in a haunted house.  Kaji, this has to be a joke."

    "I don't feel any fear coming from the mansion," Shinji quietly stated, ignoring Asuka for a second.

    "Shut up," Asuka said, as she spun to face Shinji. "Who asked for your opinion?"

    Kaji hid a chuckled and said, "Actually, he's right.  There is no fear in the air, and it is a good place to stay.  The reputation alone is a powerful enough deterrent."

    Asuka humped and replied, "All right.  If you say so.  I want to meet this so-called superman Dema-fa and see if he lives up to what I've heard of him."

    *So do I,* Kaji thought and said, "I didn't say so.  Commander Ikari did.  Once he found out where those two were hiding, he figured it would be the best place to keep the Eva pilots when they are not needed.  The apartments are a bit to easy to get to and this place can easily be made into a fortress."

    Misato thought, *And, it also provides more eyes to keep track of Mr. Lech. God, he's getting annoying.*

    The four people made their way slowly to the front door of the mansion.  Once they arrived, Kaji knocked on the door.  The door opened, revealing the smirking Dema-fa.

    "Ah.  I see Genny decided to take me up on it.  Welcome to here.  Come on in and make yourselves at home, since it is," Dema-fa cheerfully said, as he waved the group in.  "By the way, keep your shoes on, I still haven't got all the broken glass up."

    Seeing the penguin, Dema-fa stated, "I see you brought the dinner platter."

    Before he could say another word, Misato angrily stated, "You are not going to cook or eat Pen-pen.  He is my pet."

    Chuckling a bit, Dema-fa glanced at the group and saw Kaji and Asuka.

    "Hello.  I call myself Dema-fa.  Yes, it's a phony name.  But, I like it.  Now, who are you?"

    Asuka, flustered at this person's nature, replied, "Asuka Soryu-Langely.  I'm the second child."

    "Will I meet your older sibling?"

    "Er.  I'm an only child.  I don't have any brothers or sisters," Asuka stammered.

    Misato rubbed her temples.  "Not like that.  She meant she was the second child chosen to pilot an Eva unit.  Rei is the first child,  Asuka's the second, and Shinji is the third child."

    Dema-fa shrugged and replied, "Oh that.  Misato, you might want to find another term for them.  It is kind of misleading."

    Kaji chuckled a bit, "Call me Kaji.  Are you always like this?"

    "No.  Sometimes, I'm a lot worse," Dema-fa replied.  "Well.  Did you have a nice trip, Shinji?  I'm quite sure you heard what happened to Rei."

    "We were attacked by an Angel out at sea.  We managed to destroy it."

    "I managed to carry the day," Asuka blurted in.

    Glancing at the brown haired girl, Dema-fa said, "Maybe you did, but I wasn't talking to you.  Now, be quiet."

    Seeing that Asuka was getting angry, Misato blurted out a question. "Where is Rei?  I have to make sure she's all right."

    Dema-fa pointed upwards and replied, "She's upstairs, asleep.  Her room is at the furthest end from the stairs."

    "I'd better check on her."

    "You do that.  Asuka, Shinji, the bedrooms are upstairs.  You might want to pick one out while I get supper ready.  Since Misato seems to be well, I'm fixing split-pea soup."

    Misato glared at Dema-fa's retreating form, before leading Shinji and Asuka upstairs.  Getting out of everyone's sight, Kaji snickered a bit at Misato's discomfort.

    *I like this guy.  Now, I have to figure out where he came from and what his motivations are.  It's too bad I'm not going to be staying here.  I would love to watch his actions in dealing with Misato.*
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    Walking into the room that Rei was in, Misato wondered what prompted Dema-fa to bring Rei to this house.  Frowning, She watched as Rei turned in her sleep.  It was obvious that she was not having a pleasant nap.

    Shaking the girl's shoulder, Misato said, "Rei?  Wake up."

    Misato was taken by surprise as Rei snapped awake and grabbed her arm very tightly.  The blue-haired girl glanced around in a panic.

    "Rei, ease up on my arm."

Rei turned her head to Misato and released her grip.  "I'm sorry.  I do not no what came over me."

    "It's obvious.  You had a nightmare," Misato responded, as she shook some feeling back into her arm.

    Rei shook her head, "That is not possible.  I do not dream."

    "This place must be getting to you.  Do you want to stay here?"  Misato said. *Everyone dreams, Rei.  You just don't remember them.*

    Rei thought for a long moment.  "This place offers protection from the elements as well as safety from people trying to harm me.  Despite the discomfort that I feel in being here, it is the best place for me to stay."

    Misato shook her head and asked, "Is that your only reason?"

    Turning her head, Rei replied, "Yes."

    What Misato couldn't see was Rei blushing slightly.  Leaving the room, she went and checked up on Shinji and Asuka.  Before exiting the room, she dropped Rei's belongings off.  Once alone, Rei got up and put her few things away.  After doing so, she looked into the mirror that her  room had.

    *Why did I blush?  I have no other reasons for staying here.*
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    About forty minutes after Shinji and the others had arrived, Dema-fa finished cooking supper.  True to his word, he fixed a big pot of split-pea soup.  But, he also cooked a twelve pound, honey glazed ham for the group.  While the food was cooking, he had broken out a small table and chair for Pen-pen to sit at.  Soon, the five people and one penguin were sitting at their respective tables.

    Starting up a conversation, Dema-fa asked, "Why isn't Gendo Ikari here?  I thought he would at least want to check up on his son."

    "Commander Ikari is busy at the moment," Misato said, trying to kill this subject as quickly as possible.

    Seeing Shinji look away, Dema-fa thought, *O-kay. Better change subjects quick.*

    "His loss.  So Asuka, what do you think of the place?"

    Still fuming a bit at Dema-fa's earlier attitude towards her, she replied, "The place is fine.  It's who is in it, that I'm having problems with."

    "Maybe so.  But until NERV figures out who I am, you're stuck dealing with me."

    Slamming her hands down on the table, Asuka demanded, "Why don't you tell them?  At least tell them something other than that silly name.  Do you know how annoying it is, referring to you in a name that you know is false?"

    Dema-fa smirked, "Yes, I know how annoying it is.  That's why I did it.  As to why, they wouldn't believe me if I flat out told them who and what I was. They have to be ready to accept that answer, first."

    Misato thought, *If I had anything to go on, I would figure out who you are.  Even fingerprints would help.*

    A flash of memory came to Misato.  She recalled how Dema-fa picked up an empty glass and gripped it and then put it up in her apartment cupboard.

    *Always one step ahead?  All right Mr. Lech, we'll play it your way.  I'll use those fingerprints that you so kindly gave me to figure out who you are. And when I do...,* Misato's thoughts trailed off.

    Asuka glared angrily at the older boy.  "You are really getting on my nerves."

    "Too bad," Dema-fa replied, shrugging.  "I enjoy being the way I am, and I make no excuse for it."

    "Ergh.  Listen you screwball, I don't enjoy being treated like this.  No one has ever talked to me like this before."

    "Oh well.  At least, I'm first.  Maybe if you didn't wear your panties so tight, you would be a bit more pleasant."

    Asuka flushing bright red, reached across the table and slapped Dema-fa across the face.

    "Don't you ever say that to me again!"  Asuka yelled, while rubbing her hand.

    Instead of replying, Dema-fa rubbed his face and chuckled in a very deep voice.  The laughter caused everyone around the table to shudder.

"I think I'll head back to headquarters, now," Kaji said, while standing up. *Whew.  This is one brave person or very crazy person.  And, here I thought I couldn't be surprised anymore.*
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    After dinner, Misato accompanied Asuka to her room.  She wanted to have a private talk with her about Dema-fa.

    "God, what a jerk," Asuka muttered.  "I can't believe anyone would say that to me."

    Shaking her head, Misato said, "Get used to it.  He seems to have a knack for annoying people.  I think I'd better tell you about what he has said and done, since we met him."

    Misato went on to explain all the exploits that Dema-fa had said.  Asuka was startled at Misato's story about what happened the first night Dema-fa spent with her and Shinji.  The fact that he brought down Jet Alone by himself, caused some concern for the brown haired girl.

    A bit calmer now, Asuka stroked her chin and observed, "He's totally irreverent, has huge amounts of strength, and wants us to figure out who he is.  Something changed him.  He's taking the somewhat wiser course of having us figure it out, instead of him just telling us.  As we figure it out, we won't think of him as that object But, as a person who has been changed."

    Misato frowned, "You might be right.  That is very perceptive of you, Asuka."

    "Have you forgotten, that I graduated from a university?"

    "Only because, I had to deal with Dema-fa."

A flash of anger passed across Asuka's face, "He's still a jerk."
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    Back at NERV headquarters, Kaji was talking to Commander Ikari.  He gave his impressions of the house and of Dema-fa, himself.

    Pushing his glasses back on his nose, Gendo asked, "Were you able to get any information from Dema-fa."

    Kaji chuckled and replied, "After he made that comment to Asuka, I figured it would be best if I left.  It'll be a lot easier to pump him for information if I didn't have to worry about him getting slapped."

    "And, how is Rei?"

    Kaji shrugged as he left.  "She seems fine.  She shuddered along with the rest of us when Dema-fa chuckled, though."

    Gendo frowned as he laced his fingers together.

    *Rei is showing emotion?  Unexpected.  Despite my misgivings about Dema-fa, I do have to give him credit.  That house is a better location to keep track of everyone.  I'll send some men to secure the grounds.  There is something that puzzles me.  Why was that phone left active?  No one has lived there for years.*


Tom Mathews a.k.a Disruptor

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