MISATO'S SECOND CHILDHOOD

by Gunman

Disclaimer: I do not own Eva or its characters.

Summary: Misato gets turned back into a teenager due to an unusual accident involving Eva 01. As a result, she is designated the 5th Child of NERV. ShinjixMisato.

Author's Notes: A while back someone wrote me a curious review for my 'Misato's Wish' story.

"However, I'd like to point out something to you that I'm sure not many of have noticed. There seem to be more than a few stories out on and other sites, that have Shinji aging the necessary years to meet, or come close to it, with Misato's age. However, how about the other way around? What if someone wrote with Misato somehow de-aging back to Shinji's age? Say she stopped aging when exposed to Adam's exploding power back during Second Impact? Or how about when a nude Shinji was spit out along with the LCL that had absorbed him had affected her? Say when she grabbed the plugsuit and cried over it. Or some other way, but no one has ever tried to have Misato reverse in age to meet the 14 yr old Ikari? Do you think it's possible, or do you think I'm just frothing at the mouth in madness over this idea?"

This idea intrigued me, so I decided to do something about it. Ergo, I wrote this story. Hope you like it.

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30 Days.

That's how long it had been since Shinji's battle with the 14th Angel.

30 days since he was absorbed into the massive mechanical behemoth known as Unit 01 when the thing went berserk and literally ate the Angel, absorbing it's S2 Engine. Apparently the additional inclusion of the S2 Engine caused the Eva to go into a type of spasm that increased Shinji's synch ratio to 400-percent.

Thus far all of NERV's attempts to bring Shinji back had failed. Ritsuko was working almost around the clock trying to think of something. Anything. But it was useless. The Eva wasn't cooperating. And for good reason.

She missed her son.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

(Inside the Eva)

"I still can't believe you've been here all this time." Shinji said as he sat under a tree, his head in his mothers lap as she gently stroked his hair.

"I can't believe what Gendo is responsible for. I mean... it was bad enough that he abandoned you. But for TEN years?" Yui sighed, a tear threatening to streak her face.

"But I'm back now, mother. I'm back... and you're... you're alive."

Yui just smiled as she leaned down to kiss Shinji's forehead.

"Hardly Shinji. My body and soul are trapped here inside this machine. And I... it's complicated to explain right now."

"We'll figure something out, mother." he assured her.

"I know you will, Shinji-kun. You're my son after all." she said, more than a small tinge of pride going through her as she said that. "But tell me... are there any girls you like?"

"MOM!" he gasped, shooting up and nearly hitting Yui in the forehead.

"Sorry!" she giggled as he panicked. "But I have to ask. I am your mother after all, and I do know what you're thinking."

"You do?"

"Of course. Every time you've synched with Eva, I could feel, hear, and see your thoughts. I know you have special feelings for several young ladies in NERV."

Shinji blushed heavily at the implications.

"Yet they all seem to be heavily centered around... Misato Katsuragi?"

Shinji was practically glowing now.

"Shinji-kun! I'm surprised at you. Though I guess it's to be expected. Opposites do attract and all."

"What? They do?"

"Of course. You're so tidy and orderly. She's a slob. You eat healthily everything you cook. She uses a microwave and downs beer like it was water. You're careful and attentive. She's a road hazard. Need I go on?"

"Uh.. no. That's okay." he said, waving his hands comically.

"Well?" Yui prompted.

"Well... what?"

"Do you like her, Shinji?"

Shinji lowered his head down for a few seconds before answering.

"Yes. She was the first person I met when I came to Tokyo-3. She took me in, helped me grow out of my shell. But... she's older than I am. And she's my guardian and commanding officer. There's no way we could... I mean... I want... I just... don't know how."

'Hmm. Maybe I can help.' She thought as she suddenly heard a voice screaming from the outside world.

"WHAT GOOD IS ALL YOUR SCIENCE IF YOU CAN'T GIVE ME BACK MY FAMILY! GIVE ME BACK MY SHINJI!!!"

Yui smiled. 'Alright, Ms. Katsuragi. I'll give you my son... and a little gift as well.'

"Shinji-kun?" Yui said.

"Yes mother?"

"It's time for you to go back."

"Back? But... what about... what about you?"

"I will always be with you, my son." she said gently touching his cheek. "But there are others that need you now. Others like your precious Misato."

"But... you... if you send me back, I still can't be with her." he said, feeling himself pull away from his mother, as if being slowly towed away from her as if he was in water.

"Don't worry Shinji. When you wake up, you'll think this was all a dream."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

This last words barely echoed within Shinji's mind as his body felt the sting of the cool air of the Eva cages, then suddenly impacting a large flat surface.

Fortunately Shinji was too out of it to care. Nor did he even notice the panicked female sounds of crying and the warm gently touch of two thin but strong arms pulling him close to a warm body.

"Shinji! Shinji... my Shinji... you're back!" Misato cried as she held his naked body, tears streaking down her face in waves that threatened to dig their own canals into her skin.

"I need a medical team to the Eva Cages stat!" Ritsuko shouted into the microphone.

"Sempai!" Maya Ibuki shouted from her terminal.

"What is it Maya?"

"It's... Unit 01! Something happening!" she cried.

Ritsuko looked terrified. What now? She wondered.

Misato turned her head suddenly to the growing rumbling sound the Eva was making. The entryway that Shinji had emerged from, which was virtually out of it's head itself, exploded with a violent surge of LCL, completely covering both the naked, unconscious Shinji, and the shocked, open-mouthed Misato. The torrent of Link Control Liquid ceased within seconds, but Misato herself looked like a drowned rat nonetheless.

"ACK! Shinji's right. This stuff does taste like blood." Misato huffed as she spit as much of the azure liquid out of her mouth as she could.

From high above in the control room Ritsuko breathed a sigh of relief that it was just LCL. Though the ever-curious scientist wondered... why was this LCL blue and not orange-red like it usually was? Though the logical part of her figured that after a month of not being changed, as they didn't want to filter out Shinji as well, the LCL may have undergone a slight color change.

But at least it was normal color when Shinji came back.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"I can't believe Shinji and the others can stand that stuff." Misato groaned as she dried her hair off with the thick towel again. I can still taste it!

"They've had little choice in the matter, Misato." Ritsuko said as she took down some more notes. That curious blue tint in the LCL was becoming more and more bothersome to her mind. "The LCL helps connect the pilots to their Eva's, but also to cushion them against inertia and shocks from battle."

"Fat lot of good it's done them so far. You know Shinji's been complaining about feeling all the bumps and bangs when he's in a fight." Misato said as she tossed the towel down and put her bra on. Hmm. That's weird. It feels bigger. Looser than before. She thought as she fashioned the clasps behind her back.

"True. And speaking of Shinji, he's been cleared by medical and should be out of the hospital by tomorrow." Ritsuko replied as Misato put on her skirt.

"That was quick. Don't you want to keep him in your clutches for observation?" Misato asked as she pulled her blouse over her shoulders, which now felt only slightly looser than normal.

"You make me sound like some kind of mad scientist." the blond woman said as Misato tossed the now torn stockings into the trash can.

"I only speak the truth, massster." the purple haired woman slurred her speech to sound like Igor.

"Ha. Ha. Not funny." the scientist grimaced slightly.

"You laughed." she said as she put her shoes on.

"Are you going to see Shinji before you go home?" she asked.

"Nah. I'm sure he's got enough to handle with Rei and Asuka watching over him." Misato said as she walked out of the locker room and to her car.

How did she know that both of them were there? Ritsuko wondered as she watched her friend leave.

Damn it! If it wasn't for those two girls I'd be right in there by the side of his bed, head sleeping in Shinji-kun's lap waiting for him to wake up. Misato thought as she reached the parking garage and headed to her car.

Her first impulse was to head to see Kaji for some much needed comfort. However, a sudden gurgle in her stomach forced her to drive to her apartment, which was closer than Kaji's place.

She fumbled with her pass card and managed to get inside the apartment, closing the door before stumbling towards her bedroom.

She only missed her futon by two feet, yet was saved from a vicious bruising of her body by the large piles of dirty clothes that she had neglected to wash in the last month.

It was Shinji's job, of course.

Misato passed out the second she hit the floor, her body drained of all it's energy.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Shinji stepped into the front door of his apartment in the late afternoon. The hospital had only kept him there overnight for observation and after a questionable lunch, he was released. He walked home after trying to get a hold of Misato, only to receive no answer.

Not that he minded, as having just gotten released from the hospital he was sure Misato's driving would have sent him right back to his waiting room.

He arrived at his apartment complex and quickly went up to his apartment that he shared with his two female roommates. At not seeing anyone he looked around the apartment, but didn't go into the private rooms of the two women.

As he stepped into the kitchen he was met with a soft tapping at his leg.

"Hi, PenPen. Hungry?" Shinji asked the warm-water penguin.

"Wark!" the water fowl replied.

"Alright." the boy smiled.

Shinji set about cooking PenPen's fish and minutes later he was finished. As he set the bowl of fish down for the bird to eat, he saw out of the corner of his eye a flash of purple hair heading to the bathroom.

"Morning, Shinji."

"Afternoon, Misato."

Shinji suddenly froze and turned back to look at the departing form of Misato Katsuragi.

It could have been Shinji's imagination, but did her voice sound different? Higher, almost?

Shinji paid it little mind, writing it off as Misato had just gotten up and she just needed to clear her throat and maybe gargle some of the germs out. Though part of him wondered why she was sleeping so late. Usually she'd be at NERV now.

A suddenly shriek caused the boy to instinctively run towards the bathroom.

"Misato! What's..." he froze as he came face-to-face with a teenage girl he was sure he didn't recognize. "...wrong?"

"What... how... I don't..." the girl gasped, staring at her reflection in the mirror while touching her face like it wasn't her own.

"Uh... excuse me, miss? But uh... who are you and what are you doing here?" Shinji asked.

"What?" the girl gasped as she turned to look at him.

"Uh... I asked, who are you?" he repeated.

"What? Shinji-kun it's me! I'm..."

However, before the girl could finish, Shinji was pushed to the side by a rather grumpy redhead.

"What the hell's your problem? Can't a girl get any beauty..." she paused for a second as she noticed the other girl standing in their bathroom wearing what looked like Misato's clothes, only they were a size or two larger than her frame. "...sleep?"

Asuka stared for a couple more seconds before quickly turning towards Shinji and grabbed him by his collar.

"BAKA! What the hell is this?" she shouting, pointing at the girl. "You're out for an entire month and you just bring home this stray off the street?"

The girl looked miffed. "Stray? I live here Asuka!"

The two pilots looked stunned as the girl said that.

"Live here? What are you talking about and how do you know my name?" Asuka demanded.

"Why wouldn't I know you're name? Shinji-kun will you please tell this dingbat who I am!" the girl declared.

"Uh...okay. Sure. Who are you?" the confused boy asked.

Her jaw nearly dropped as she stared at the boy in disbelief. "Shinji-kun. It's me! Misato!"

"Huh? What? Misato?" Shinji gasped, stunned.

"What the hell are you trying to pull, Shinji?!" Asuka shouted at the boy.

"I'm not pulling anything!" the boy replied.

"A likely story!"

"Will you stop it! We have to figure this out!" the girl calling herself Misato shouted.

"I'm getting Misato!"Asuka shouted as she released Shinji and stormed over to Misato's room.

"I'm right here!" the girl cried out again.

The German redhead stomped over to her guardian's bedroom and practically tore the door off it's hinges. "MISATO! GET YOUR ASS..." but she paused as she noticed the room was empty.

Actually it wasn't 'empty' of the large piles of clothes, beer cans, empty food trays, and other assorted pieces of trash, there was just no body to be found.

Then again you couldn't really trust that by looking at Misato's room. A whole Navy Seal Team could easily find places to hide in this landfill.

Asuka walked back out of the room.

"Okay, not the best decision I've ever made." she said, referring to going into Misato's room.

Back in the living room she saw Shinji and the purple haired girl just standing there, staring at her. It was then that Asuka realized that the girl was the spitting image of Misato, albeit much younger. She was the same height as Shinji, her purple hair nearly as long as her own.

"Okay." she sighed and pulled in her breath. "What. The. Hell!"

"I don't know, Asuka. I went to sleep last night after getting back from NERV and when I woke up... I was... like this." she said, waving her hands up and down her body, which looked only slightly more curved and endowed than Asuka's.

Of course the redheaded girl barely noticed this comparison.

"I don't believe this. How the hell did you turn into a teenager, Misato?" Asuka asked.

The purple-haired girl shot her an irritated look. "How the hell do I know?!" she shrieked.

"What's the last thing you remember before waking up this morning?" Shinji asked.

"Let's see... The last thing I remember is going to sleep in my room, the next I'm waking up with boobs as small as Asuka's!"

Shinji automatically winced at that comment as the redhead snapped around to stare at her.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Asuka shrieked.

"I said I've got small breasts just like you do." Misato replied.

"I DO NOT HAVE SMALL BREASTS! In fact they're bigger than yours are!"

Misato pulled her blouse away from her skin and looked down. She then looked at Asuka who was wearing a yellow tanktop and running shorts she had picked to sleep in. She looked down again and then back to Asuka.

"What are you doing?" the confused redhead asked.

"Comparing." she said. "I may have lost a few years, but I think I'm still bigger than you are." she stated with no malicious intent.

However, Asuka didn't see it so innocently.

"Grrrrrr!" the redhead snarled.

"What do you think, Shinji-kun? Who's breasts are bigger, Mine or Asuka's?" she asked as she grabbed Shinji's hands, placing his right hand on her left breast while reaching out to place his left hand on Asuka's right breast.

Both the Second and Third Child froze at this, glowing furiously, yet reacted in different ways.

"AAAAAHHHHH!!!!!" Shinji shrieked.

"PERVERT!!!!" Asuka screamed.

SMACK!

"What the hell Asuka!" Misato shouted as she went over to examine the bruise on Shinji's cheek.

"He Touched Me! You Made Him Touch Me!" she shouted, holding her arms across her breasts. "My breasts have been sullied!" she wined.

"You're breasts were already sullied, the way you keep throwing them at Kaji." Misato retorted.

"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! THAT'S IT!" she shouted as she leaped at Misato tackling her to the ground.

"ARGH! GET OFF OF ME YOU MANIAC!" Misato shouted as she grappled with the redhead trying to keep her hands away from her throat.

"I DON'T CARE WHO YOU ARE! NO ONE INSULTS ME AND TOUCHES ME AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!!!" Asuka shouted as she struggled to get her hands around Misato's neck.

Shinji quickly broke out of his stupor and, without thinking, leaped into the torrential fray of arms and legs in an attempt to break up the fight.

However, while this was successful, it also placed him right in the middle of the fight and resulted in several more bruises than either females had.

"Why did you break us up, baka?" Asuka shouted once she was on her feet.

"Yeah? Asuka needs a good spanking!" Misato replied, straightening her rumpled clothes.

"What?" she gasped. "Was that some kind of innuendo, you perverted hedonistic slut!"

"STOP IT!" Shinji boomed, getting the pairs attention before they went at it again. "Right now we need to get to NERV and find out what's happened to Misato! We can sort this out later!"

Asuka just stared at the meek boy who stood before he with fire in his eyes.

Misato was also taken back by Shinji's forceful command of things. She wondered how long he had been hiding this side from her.

"Both of you get dressed and we'll go to NERV now to sort this out. Alright?"

The two girls nodded numbly, still shocked at Shinji's outburst, and went to their respective rooms to change.

Asuka changed into a red shirt with a black skirt and matching red shoes.

Misato, who hadn't done her laundry in a month's time, tossed around a few vague pieces of cloth until she found a couple of Asuka's boxes in her closet.

What the... Grrrrrr! Damn it Asuka! Don't bother to ask me if it's okay to store your... She mentally spat, only to grin widely as she tore the boxes open.

Within a couple minutes Misato emerged from her room wearing a mostly blue and white dress that came up just above her knees with two shoulder straps over her thin shoulders. The dress looked like Asuka's yellow sundress she had worn on the Over The Rainbow carrier, only with more material. She also wore a pair of matching white bra and panties and a pair of white shoes.

Shinji just stared at how beautiful she looked as Asuka fumed.

"Are those my clothes?" Asuka demanded.

"Don't see how. They were in my closet." Misato said innocently.

"Oh right! You don't have clothes in your size anymore and all of a sudden you've got a new wardrobe? Take those clothes off right now!"

"Alright. Care to help me Shinji?" she smirked as she twirled around to show her back to the boy where the zipper was.

Oh yes, she's still Misato. Shinji thought with a blush as he tried to look away.

"Grrrrr! Forget it! Let's go!" Asuka shouted.

"Alright, just let me grab a beer real quick." Misato said with a smile on her face as she went into the kitchen, opened up the fridge and took one of her precious Yebisu beer cans out. She popped the top and was about to pour the contents down her throat, when a hand quickly grabbed the beer can out of her grasp. "Huh? What? SHINJI!!!" she shrieked as she saw the Third Child pour the contents down the sink. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!!!" she shouted as she tried to stop him.

"What are you thinking?" Shinji asked, doing his best to shrug off her attacks. "If you really are a teenager, Misato, then you can't drink this any more than I can."

"Grrrr! I can and I will, Shinji!" she shouted as she grabbed another beer can out of the fridge.

But this time, Asuka was the one to snatch it away from her.

"The baka's right! You can't drink this nasty stuff!" the redhead said. "Don't know how you could in the first place."

However, while Asuka's words were true enough, the redhead was silently delighting in the pleasure of denying her guardian what she treasured most in this world.

"Now come on! We've got to get you to NERV for a whole battery of tests, ASAP!"

Shinji and Asuka had to drag Misato out of the kitchen by both arms, the purple-haired girl fighting and failing to reach her precious Yebisu.

"But... my beer..."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

The three children walked into the NERV complex, getting a couple odd looks from the personnel that were on duty. Or to be more precise, Misato was the one getting the looks.

Children were a rare occurrence here in NERV, with the exception of the Eva pilots. So to see a fourth child with them was indeed a rare sight.

They had also taken the train since Misato couldn't legally drive now.

"So... what do you think going to happen to me?" Misato asked, suddenly scared at what was going to happen to her now that she was a teenager. Mostly from what Ritsuko would do to her. To emphasis her fears, she clutched onto Shinji's hand for comfort.

Shinji gave her hand a gentle squeeze before responding.

"Don't worry, Misato. Ritsuko will figure something out." Shinji replied.

"You have that much faith in her?"

"You don't? She's not NERV's chief scientist for nothing you know."

"I know, Shinji-kun. I just... I'm worried."

"Don't be. Asuka and I will be right with you. Right, Asuka?"

"Huh? Oh! Yes. Right with you!"

However, for obvious reasons, that didn't give her much comfort.

The trio get in an elevator and see that Rei Ayanami was already there.

"Good afternoon, Rei." Shinji said politely.

"Ikari-kun." Rei responded in monotone.

"Hey, Wondergirl." Asuka said.

"Pilot Sohryu." she replied.

"Hi Rei." Misato said out of instinct.

"Major." she replied.

The trio paused as they noticed Rei didn't seem phased by this. As if she already knew. It was Asuka who decided to speak.

"Uh... Wondergirl? How did you know this was Misato?" she asked.

"She has the appearance of the Major." the albino replied.

That shocked everyone.

"But... you do know that... she's different now." Shinji said.

"Yes."

"And that doesn't strike you as unusual?" Asuka asked.

"No."

"Why, Rei?" Misato asked.

"Had you been someone else, you would not have spoken to me so readily as the Third and Second Child have. You would have introduced yourself first. Furthermore, there is no record or mention of Major Katsuragi having a child or younger sister or any other family member. Based upon this it was easy to deduce that you are Major Misato Katsuragi of NERV."

She had wisely left out the possibility that Misato might have been cloned.

"And the whole I'm-A-Teenager-Thing doesn't shock you?"

"It does not."

Once again Rei's unflappable attitude stunned the whole group. It was easy to see why Asuka always got flustered around her.

"Okay. Thanks. And good use of logic, by the way." Misato said.

Rei simply nodded her head as the elevator beeped, indicating the Children's floor.

However, after they had gotten off, and the elevator doors closed, Rei allowed herself a small frown.

The reason: Misato was still holding onto Shinji's hand.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Ritsuko stared at her best friend from college before bursting out laughing.

Oh, god! I should have known this was coming. Misato thought, hanging her head and rubbing her forehead with her hand. "Are you finished? Got it all out of your system?" she asked, annoyed.

"I'm sorry, Misato!" Ritsuko laughed. "But you have to admit, this is pretty damned funny!"

"Not to me, Ritsuko Akagi! Can't you do something about this?"

"Oh...oh...okay." she said, her laughter calming down and forcing herself to focus. "So... you have no idea how you got like this?"

"None."

"Alright. Can you think of anything out of the ordinary that's happened to you within the last... few months?"

Misato didn't have to think too hard. "I got sludged by that blue LCL when Shinji got released from the Eva. That's all I can think of."

"Of course! The altered composition of the LCL must have had some kind of reaction to you when it came out of the Eva!" Ritsuko gasped.

"You realize that's just crazy!" Asuka snapped.

"Based on what was said, I'd say it was pretty accurate." she said, then turned to Shinji, realizing he too had gotten doused by the blue LCL. "Shinji, have you felt any... unusual effects as well?"

"Me? No. Why?" the boy asked.

"Because Misato wasn't the only one who got doused by that blue LCL. You did too, though you were unconscious at the time."

Shinji didn't remember that, but nodded his understanding at what she was saying. "Okay. But I feel fine."

"Huh. Alright, well, I'll need to run some tests then."

Shinji started to head outside when a voice stopped him.

"Uh, can Shinji stay?" Misato asked.

Everyone froze and looked at her in shock.

"Misato, to preform these tests you're going to have to get changed into a medical gown." Ritsuko said.

"I don't mind if Shinji's here. It's not like I've got anything he hasn't seen already."

Ritsuko gave her a sour look before replying. "Just What The Hell Have You Been Doing In That Place You Call An Apartment? And The Answer Had Better NOT Be Shinji!"

"I'll just go and wait outside." Shinji said as he quickly headed out the door.

Misato was upset now, only because she felt more at ease around Shinji. Now more than she did when she was an adult. And she didn't know why. Though the logical part of her said it had to do with her argument with Asuka earlier that day.

"Alright, Misato, strip." Ritsuko said to the purple-haired teen.

"Yeah, take off my dress!" Asuka shouted.

"It's not yours, Asuka!" Misato stated.

"I still don't believe you!"

"With all the clothes you've got I'm surprised you remember what is or isn't yours." Misato said as she unzipped the back of her dress and pulled it down.

"So you admit it! Are those my underwear too?" Asuka gasped.

"What? You expected me to go without them?" Misato said as she removed her bra and panties.

"You usually do at home!" the redhead mocked.

"MISATO!" Ritsuko shouted.

"We're Not Home, Asuka!" Misato shouted back as she put the gown on.

While the trio continued to banter back and forth, Shinji sat outside the office, just waiting.

Within less than a minute, the young man was daydreaming.

So this is what Misato looks like as a teenager. She really is cute. He blushed as that thought entered his head. But he was right, Misato, even as a teenager, was still attractive.

Just then, Ryoji Kaji came down the hallway. He spotted Shinji and walked up to him.

"Hey, Shinji, how's it going?" the unshaven man asked.

"Oh, hey, Kaji." Shinji said politely, then balked. KAJI! Oh, god! What's he going to do when he finds out Misato is a teenager? What's Misato going to do?

"Uh... something wrong, Shinji?" he asked, noticing the boys panicked expression.

"No, nothing. Just waiting for Misato and Asuka to get finished with their exam." he said, suddenly cursing himself for his honesty.

At that Kaji's ears twitched.

Misato and Asuka were getting an exam? By Ritsuko? And Shinji was waiting for them?

"Really?" the man said. "So... that means they're inside Dr Akagi's office right now... undressed?"

"Uh..." Shinji gasped, knowing what was coming.

"Want to spy on them?" Kaji asked.

"NO!" Shinji shouted.

"Oh, come on Shinji. It's not an opportunity your friends would waste."

Before Shinji could verbally respond, his mind went into overdrive. He hadn't considered that.

Toji and Kensuke.

He knew they were hot for Misato ever since they met her. The second they found out that their dream girl was now a teenager, they'd be hitting on her twenty-four seven. It was bad enough that they kept drooling over the images of a scantily dressed adult-Misato, but a teenage-Misato would be even worse because it meant they would be in constantly contact with her if she went to school.

And knowing those two, they'd use every opportunity they could to take pictures of her like they did of Asuka.

Selling those pictures was one thing, but he didn't want to think what they'd do with them when they were alone.

A waving hand in front of his face brought him back to reality.

"Earth to Shinji. Earth to Shinji. You in there?" the unshaven man spoke to the blue-eyed pilot.

"Huh? Oh. Sorry, Kaji." he apologized.

"No problem. So, have you thought about my offer?"

Shinji suddenly sprang up. "I WILL PROTECT HER VIRTUE AT ALL COST!" he shouted, doing a very good Rock Lee impression.

However, Kaji was more than a little confused as he backed away.

"Uhhhhhhhhh... what?"

Glowing red at embarrassment, Shinji quickly sat back down.

"Sorry. Never mind." he said, his outburst being projected more at Toji and Kensuke than Kaji.

Before Kaji could fire off another round of questions, the door to Ritsuko's office opened up and out popped Asuka.

"Hey, baka, Ritsuko says she... KAJI!" the redhead cried out happily as she saw the man.

"Hello, Asuka." the unshaven man smiled. Though Shinji could tell it was casually forced.

"I didn't know you were here, Kaji-kun! I hope the baka hasn't take up your valuable time." Asuka said, sliding into the seat next to Kaji and wrapping her arm around his.

Shinji just sighed as he was verbally beaten down once again.

"Actually, we were just talking about yours and Misato's examination." Kaji said.

"Oh. It's not mine. Just Misato's." Asuka explained.

"Shinji! Will you come in here?" Ritsuko's voice emerged from the office.

Shinji quickly left the scene, feeling relief at the break he was given from Kaji and Asuka.

"Yes, Dr Akagi?" he asked as he entered the room.

"I need to take a blood sample from you to see if you've been affected in the same way Misato has." the blond woman said.

"Oh. Okay." he said, noticing Misato sitting on the examination bed in only a hospital gown. She smiled and waved at him.

He smiled and waved back.

"Is everything alright in here?" Kaji asked, poking his head into the room.

Shinji looked back to notice that Misato had quickly ducked behind the exam bed. Obviously she didn't want Kaji to see her like this. Which in a way made sense to the boy.

"Please stay outside while I'm conducting an examination, Kaji." Ritsuko said.

"Oh, come on. I'm sure I can help. I know Misato's body better than anyone's." he said with a smirk that mad Asuka's face heat up with anger. "Where is our dear Operations Director?"

"You don't need to see that flat-chested hedonist." Asuka retorted as she pulled on Kaji's arm.

"I AM NOT FLAT, ASUKA!" Misato shouted as she sprang up from behind the bed.

Everyone froze at that.

"Misato?" Kaji gasped in shock at the younger girl.

"Shinji!" Misato shouted at the boy as if for help.

"Asuka!" Shinji shouted at the redhead trying to get her help.

"Kaji!" Asuka shouted at the man trying to get his attention back on her.

"Ritsuko!" the blond doctor replied, not wanting to be left out.

The other four occupants just stared at the woman, who sheepishly went back to her notes.

"What the heck happened to you?" Kaji asked as he advanced towards the purple haired teenager.

"Shinji!" she suddenly called out.

In an instant the blue-eyed boy was across the room and standing between the obviously frightened girl and the unshaven man with the Asuka-accessory on his arm.

"Kaji, please! Ritsuko isn't done with her examination yet." Shinji said with uncharacteristic nerve.

"What's going on here? Why is Misato a teenager? And why are you blocking my path to her?" Kaji asked the boy.

At first Shinji couldn't answer him, wondering himself exactly why he was doing this. After a couple minutes of thought he finally replied.

"Because it's obvious you're making her upset like this. So could you please leave or wait outside?" he said.

"I think that would be a good idea, Kaji." Ritsuko said as both she and Asuka dragged the unshaven man outside the office. "Asuka, make sure he stays put."

"Yes, Ma'am!" the redhead shouted, still latched to his arm.

Kaji was a little confused at all this, but even more so from the way Shinji was acting. He'd never seen the boy act so protective before. While he felt a small surge of pride well up within him as a man, he also found it annoying that he was doing so in blocking his attempts to find out what happened to his Misato.

"Thank you, Shinji-kun." Misato said as she clutched the back of Shinji's shirt tightly, pulling herself against his back like he was her personal shield.

"Are you alright, Misato?" Shinji asked, looking back to address the girl.

"Yes. I'm fine now. I just... didn't want to deal with Kaji right now. Not like this." she said.

"Yeah, I'm sure." he replied, knowing how Kaji often acted towards other people, especially women, and Misato in particular.

He was well aware of his flirtatious actions towards the female personnel of NERV, but that he hit on Misato more than anything else. And now that Misato was a teenager, well... she might not be able to defend herself like she used to.

Misato refused to let Shinji go, so the Third Child remained with her while Ritsuko did her tests. Plus the blond-woman still needed a blood sample from Shinji.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Eventually, Ritsuko's testing was done and the Magi concluded her results.

"Misato is now a 14-year old girl, physically." Ritsuko said.

"Oh, really? Thanks for pointing that out Watson!" Misato snapped at her friend.

"What did the test results indicate, Dr. Akagi?" Shinji asked calmly.

"According to the Magi, an unknown retro-virus got into Misato's system and altered her genetic code, reversing the cellular decay rate that would normally allow her to age."

The pair looked at her in confusion.

"A retro-virus?" Shinji asked. "From the LCL?"

"That's the best way I can describe what's happened to her." she sighed as she turned to Misato. "Basically, it caused your progressive DNA to pull a 180 and literally reversed all of your physical attributes."

"Stop using such big words!"

"In simple terms, what happened was that you inadvertently were exposed to the LCL version of the Fountain of Youth!"

"So... that means I could be getting younger?" she gasped.

"From what I can tell, no. Your cellular structure hasn't shown any additional signs of regression. It's stopped about halfway through your total age."

"Oh good. I stopped just short of having to go through puberty again." Misato griped.

"Yeah, that's unpleasant enough once." Ritsuko acknowledged.

"But then... why don't I feel any different?" Shinji asked. "I was exposed to it as well."

"True enough. But if I'm not mistaken, Misato also got a mouthful of it as well." Ritsuko answered.

Misato blinked. "Yeah, it was nasty. Wait! You mean... because I swallowed some of that blue LCL as well as got hit with it from the outside, I got... shrunk?"

Ritsuko rolled her eyes at the 'shrunk' comment. "That would be my guess. But I'll need more extensive testing to be sure."

"OH God!" Misato groaned, already hating her tests.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"Is this accurate, Akagi?" Gendo said as he looked over the Cliff Notes version of Ritsuko's report of Misato's examination from yesterday.

"Yes, sir. The effects of the blue-tinted LCL seemed to have some form of revitalization capability. But it only works if a person is exposed both inside and out of their bodies." Ritsuko said.

"Interesting." he said, rubbing his chin with his gloved hand.

"And what of the Major's health?" Fuyutsuki asked.

"She's currently outside with Shinji and Asuka." Ritsuko said.

"Summon Rei as well. When she arrives have all four of them come in here." Gendo said.

"Yes sir."

(Ten minutes later)

Rei, Asuka, Shinji and a teenage Misato stood inside the Commander's office staring at the glasses wearing commander sitting at his desk.

"Major Katsuragi." Gendo said, starting things off.

"Yes, sir!" Misato said with a straight pose.

"In light of your recent... transformation... I see little choice in keeping you on staff as NERV's Operations Director."

"You... you're firing me?" she gasped. Though to be honest, she should have expected this.

"Not quite. There could be some uncomfortable questions that could arise from this. As such, you will be tested for compatibility with the Eva's."

Misato's eyes opened wide. "You're making me a pilot?"

The other pilots looked at each other as this news was revealed.

"Yes. Dr Akagi will oversee the testing." Gendo said.

"Yes sir." Ritsuko acknowledged.

"And as I'm sure you are aware, Eva pilots need to maintain a healthy body as well. That means no more of your usual beer consumptions and a healthier diet would be advisable."

Misato was almost to the point of tears.

She was being 'Ordered' to give up her beer and curry.

THIS SUCKS! She mentally screamed.

She didn't even bother to ask how he knew about her eating habits.

"You will also be required to attend school with the other pilots." Gendo continued.

"WHAT?" she gasped again. The bad news just keeps coming.

"Furthermore, you will all be moved into a different apartment, larger than your previous one, where two guardians will oversee your well-being."

"TWO Guardians?" Shinji asked.

"Since you are now 14 years old you are too young to be the guardian of both the Third and Second Child. As such, a new guardian will be assigned to you." Gendo explained.

"Understood, sir. But Not Kaji!" Misato quickly shouted.

Gendo could hardly argue that point.

"Very well. I will assign Lieutenant Ibuki to be co-guardian with Dr Akagi."

"Thank you, sir." Misato said as Asuka grimaced at the purple-haired teen. "Uh... sir?"

"Yes?"

"If I've been demoted to a Pilot, that means someone else will have to take my place as Operations Director." she exclaimed.

"Lieutenant Ibuki has had some officers training." Fuyutsuki suggested.

"If that is a recommendation, then I will give it some consideration. But later. Now you will begin your synch tests."

"Yes sir!" the group replied in unison.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

For the next four hours Misato was tested for compatibility with the Eva's. She was at least glad that they had given her her own plugsuit. It was modeled after Rei's plugsuit, only that the body was red, the arms from the shoulders were almost pitch black, and the legs were white. The piping along the plugsuit was a bright red, and the pressure buttons were easy enough to use.

After she had pressurized her suit and stepped out of the locker room, Asuka noticed that Misato's breasts were indeed larger than her own.

"How do you like my suit, Shinji-kun?" Misato asked as she spun around for the boy to see all of her.

The boy blushed as she modeled for him. "Uh... it looks good, Misato."

Both Asuka and Rei were scowling at this.

Misato was tested for compatibility with all the Eva's, starting with Unit 00. Her score was 15.

Misato was next tested for compatibility with Unit 01. Her score was 57.

Misato was then tested for compatibility with Unit 02. Her score was 29.

After the testing was done Misato got out the Eva and headed up to where Ritsuko and the others were.

"So? How did I do?" Misato asked.

"Well... you're synch ratio's with Unit 00 and Unit 02 were low, but for a first time synch it wasn't bad. You're synch ratio with Unit 01, however, was the same as Shinji's current ratio." Ritsuko said.

"Really?" she smiled, knowing that it meant that she and Shinji had something else in common now. "So... I'll be able to pilot Unit 01 if Shinji can't." she smiled. I'll be able to keep Shinji-kun from harm better than here inside the base.

"Yes. You'll be Unit 01's back-up pilot in case something happens to Shinji." Ritsuko said. "And given this, you, Misato Katsuragi, are officially designated the 5th Child of NERV."

"Congratulations, Major." Maya Ibuki said, then caught herself. "Uh... I mean..."

"Forget it, Maya. It's something I have to get used to after all." Misato said with some unease in her voice at her obvious demotion.

"I just wonder why her synch ratio is higher with Unit 01 than the others. And at exactly the same level as Shinji's more recent synch ratio score." Ritsuko wondered aloud.

(However, no one had any way of knowing that Yui was effecting the synch ratio so that Misato would be more compatible with Shinji.)

For some reason, news of Misato and Shinji having the same level of synch ratio was upsetting to both Asuka and Rei. However, one was too proud to admit it and the other was unable to express the proper emotional state for that situation.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"I still can't believe Shinji and the others go through this every time they have a synch test." Misato groaned as she rubbed the towel through her hair again.

"Yeah, can't imagine that." a voice said to the teenage girl.

Misato froze and quickly pulled the towel from her hair to cover her nude body.

"KAJI! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN THE WOMEN'S LOCKER ROOM??!!!" Misato shouted at the top of her lungs.

"Enjoying the view." he said with a smirk.

"GET OUT!" she cried again, keeping her body firmly hidden.

"Oh, come on, Misa-chan. You don't mean that." he smirked as he stood up from the bench.

"I'M SERIOUS AS I WAS WHEN I WAS AN ADULT! GET OUT!" she shouted again.

"And if I don't?" he asked playfully.

"I'm calling security!" she grumbled as she moved past him to get to the phone that was outside in the hallway.

However, she was stopped when Kaji grabbed her arm and pulled her to him.

"You know how bad Section 2 is at responding to these kinds of things, don't you Misato?" Kaji asked, towering over the purple-haired girl.

Misato paled as he held her in his grip. Before she could have shrugged him off, wrestled out of his grip, and punched him in the jaw. But now that was possible. She was younger than she had been and he was still the same. Older, bigger, and stronger.

"What do you want Kaji?" she asked.

"Well... it's not every guy who gets to take his girlfriend's virginity twice." he said with a wide smile. A smile she didn't like.

"Wha... no. NO!" she protested, struggling to get out of his grip.

"What?"

"I said 'NO' Kaji! What part of that didn't you understand? I made a mistake when I was younger, getting into a relationship that fast. And a purely physical one at that. You and I aren't lovers anymore Kaji, now Let Me Go and Get Out!" she said, continuing to remove herself from his grip while trying to keep her towel over her body.

"But you didn't say 'No' then." he said, keeping his grip tight.

"Well I'm saying it now. Let me go!" she cried again.

"Let me convince you otherwise." he said as he pushed her back onto the bench in the main locker room, both hands wrapping around her slim wrists.

"No... NO... GOD DAMN IT KAJI GET OFF OF ME!" she cried out, not noticing that her towel had slipped off.

"I'm trying if you'll give me a minute." he said with a widening grin.

Misato whimpered in pain as Kaji was now bending her arms lower than the wooden bench itself, which was causing pain to her arms and shoulders.

"AH! Kaji... you're hurting me!" she cried.

"Then stop fighting me." he said as he moved in a kissed her neck. "Besides, you know you want this."

"NO! SOMEBODY HELP ME!" she cried as she struggled against his grip as he loomed over her.

Suddenly a swift blur flew into Misato's vision, slamming into Kaji and knocking him off of the girl. Misato tumbled to the floor as Kaji landed against the lockers.

"Misato!" Shinji cried out as he grabbed the towel to cover Misato's nude body in, helping her up from the floor as Kaji regained his vision.

"Shinji?" the unshaven man asked as he saw the Third Child standing before him with a trembling Misato behind him.

"What The Hell Were You Trying To Do, Kaji?" Shinji shouted.

"Just... rekindling the passions of our youth, Shinji." he replied to the boy.

"He was about to rape me!" Misato cried, clutching the back of Shinji's shirt tightly.

"Is that true Kaji?" Shinji snapped.

"Shinji, this isn't your concern." Kaji replied.

"I TOLD YOU TO GET OUT, BUT YOU REFUSED! I TOLD YOU WE WEREN'T LOVERS ANYMORE, BUT YOU IGNORED ME! I SAID "NO" BUT YOU DIDN'T LISTEN!" Misato shouted with obvious distress in her voice.

"Kaji, I think you'd better leave. Now!" Shinji growled, his eyes flashing with rage.

For a second, Kaji swore he saw a bit of Gendo in the boy. He decided to leave before Misato's shouting brought anyone else running in.

Once he was gone, Misato broke down and cried into Shinji's chest. The boy gently comforting her but continued to watch the door.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Gendo and Fuyutsuki listened intently until the tape stopped playing.

"This was recorded ten minutes ago, sir." the dark-suited agent said.

Most of NERV was wired with cameras and recording devices. However, the lockers and restrooms were equipt with audio-only recording devices.

"Have Section 2 arrest Ryoji and put him in our smallest holding cell with a guard." Gendo ordered.

"At once, commander." the agent said as diligently walked out.

"I have to admit, I never thought Ryoji would do such a thing." Fuyutsuki said.

"Trying to seduce female personnel is one thing, but trying to force himself upon someone younger than himself is unforgivable." Gendo replied. "Especially a designated Child. If I didn't want to see him suffer I'd have ordered him shot."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Kaji was arrested several minutes later as Shinji and Misato finally left NERV.

"I was so scared, Shinji." Misato whimpered, her arms around Shinji's waist. "It was like... I couldn't do anything. He was so much stronger than I was."

"I know, Misato. But it's over now." Shinji reassured her, hugging her back, practically helping her walk back to their apartment.

"I don't know why I'm so shaken by this. If you hadn't gotten there..."

"But I did and nothing happened, Misato. So don't worry about it any more."

The pair were silent as they continued to walk home.

"Shinji?" she said.

"Yes?"

"How did you show up so quickly?" she asked.

"I was coming to pick you up to walk you home." he explained.

"Must have been right before Kaji entered the locker room." she deduced.

"I'm just glad I was there." he exclaimed.

Her crying started to resume. "I was so scared, Shinji-kun!"

Shinji stopped walking and turned to Misato, his hands on her shoulders. "Misato?"

"What the hell is wrong with me, Shinji? I've never been scared like this! I've never had trouble standing on my own!"

"I don't know, Misato." Shinji said as the girl continued bawling. "Misato? Misato, look at me."

The girl looked up as Shinji gently wiped her tears away.

"I don't know what's happened to you. Maybe it's because you're a teenager again. You've got back your... teenage feelings. Whatever is it... I promise I'll be here to help you."

Misato stopped crying altogether as she stared at him.

"Do... do you mean that?" she asked.

He smiled at her, knowing that he had to be strong now, for her sake. "Yes, Misato. I promise."

She smiled as she dove into his chest, hugging him tightly around his torso. Shinji hugged her back gently as she spoke once again.

"Shinji?"

"Yes, Misato?"

"Could you... could you do me a huge favor?" she asked with some hesitation.

"Misato, I don't think having your beer is going to..." he started to protest, only to have Misato cut him off in mid-sentence.

"I don't want beer, Shinji." she said quickly, pulling back to look him in the eye.

"Then what do you want?" he asked curiously.

"Could you... sleep with me tonight?" she tentatively asked.

Shinji balked as he stared at her, wide-eyed.

"Please, Shinji! Ever since I got turned back into a teenager I've been having all kinds of weird and unfamiliar feelings. I feel... scared. Weaker than before. I mean I was almost raped!"

"And you want me to sleep with you?" he asked in disbelief at her request. "Why?"

"Because I know you would never take advantage of me, Shinji-kun." she said softly. "I trust you."

Shinji felt his heart swell as he heard that.

"Alright, Misato. If it will make you feel better." he answered her.

"Thank you, Shinji-kun. Thank you." she said as she buried her face in his shoulder.

As the pair continued to walk on, Misato realized what it was she was really feeling. Not fear or helplessness at having almost been raped. It was a strong feeling of need.

Connected to Shinji.

After thinking about that for a few more minutes, she came to the realization, that given her new emotional state, she was having strong feelings towards Shinji not only because he had saved her. She was sure that these feelings had started before they walked into NERV. And she realized... she was in love with the Third Child.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Author's Notes:

This story was written based on the suggestion from one of my reviewers as I mentioned above. In the past Shinji and Misato pairings had always involved Misato being older than Shinji. Sometimes Shinji had been aged to meet Misato. Anyway, the reviewer suggested a possibility that Misato be the one to de-age and become as young as Shinji and company.

It was an interesting idea, so I decided to write up this story. I'm not sure if I'm going to add to this story any time in the future. I've left it open to the possibility of a second or third chapter, but that will probably not be for a while.

I've got a lot of other stories in the work too.

The scene in Ritsuko's office with everyone calling out each others names was taken from Shrek 2.

Anyway, let me know what you think about this story.

I did this kind of quick, so I'll understand if it's not perfect.

Please read and review.