Rated M for: Language and Lemon

Alright, here is the start of my new story set during After Impact with a birthday theme. Honestly, one of the reasons why I want to do this story is because I haven't done lemon in almost two years, so its partially to prepare for what happens in Two of Us. Be that as it may, I still plan on having some fun with this. Expect chapters daily (and possibly some double posts)

Each year seemed the same...or was it? How long had Shinji and Asuka known each other? That was probably the more appropriate question. It had been several years since there sojourn with Nerv and even though it had seemed a long time for them, in reality, it had hardly been a full year. Now though, things were...different. Or was that even the right word?

They were both seventeen now and three years had passed since the invasion of the angels. Even so, they were still very much stuck together, living at Misato's apartment. However, that was all about to change soon.

There years of high school had just wrapped up a week ago, and now the prospect of college was looming over them. Asuka of course already knew what she wanted to do with her future, but Shinji was a different matter. College was something that he admittedly hadn't thought about much, but after awhile (and largely thanks to Asuka) he had warmed up to the idea. His decision irked Asuka though when he told her that he had decided to go to the same college as her.

She planned on getting a degree in engineering, and even though she didn't actively participate in activities at Nerv anymore, she still couldn't see herself working anywhere else. This may have been largely influence by the fact that her had mother worked there. Shinji on the other hand thought he may try culinary as his degree. Cooking was the one thing that he was good at, and as Misato frequently told him (and Asuka on certain days) he was an excellent cook.

After all that however, there were still a few things left to take care of.

Shinji's birthday was rapidly approaching, as Misato kept reminding him. Shinji had never been one for birthdays, mainly because his father had ignored them half the time. But eighteen was a rather important part of his life as he would become an adult then. Misato had said that she would throw a party for him, though Shinji was skeptical about this.

Misato's work load had increased so much during this past year that it was rare to find her awake at the apartment, and when she was, she was usually drunk. Nerv had undergone a shift since Third Impact had been avoided, and they were now in charge of reforming Tokyo-3. Much of the original infrastructure had of course been destroyed during the course of Seele's attack on Nerv, and because of this, Nerv felt responsible for the attack. Fuyutsuki was now the acting director of Nerv since Gendo was unable to be found after Third Impact. Shinji knew his father was alive somewhere, but understood somehow that he wanted to be left alone. He respected this, but also didn't care at the same time. Through the years, he had become his own man, not relying on the help of others as much. Asuka was a bit of an exception though.

Even after there job as Evangelion pilots ended, they still lived together in Misato's apartment. At one point, Asuka had gotten her own place, but eventually had to admit that it was too difficult to take care of the place. Shinji suspected that she just preferred having him around to help clean and cook. He didn't mind this that much though, and thought he would have even gone with her if she had asked him.

Not much had changed with them however, and they still argued frequently, though it was much more tame then it used to be. They had already gotten used to Misato not being there, so Shinji had eventually gotten Asuka to agree on several things. If he would cook, then she would have to do the dishes. They swapped this occasionally, on the off chance that Asuka wanted to cook, which did happen. She had gotten better over the years, thanks to watching Shinji so much, and could cook German food better than Shinji by now. She still preferred his cooking though.

They had certainly grown more close to each other though, and would talk long hours into the night just about random stuff. Shinji was rather glad that the pressure of being an Evangelion pilot had been lifted from there shoulders. Shinji had always enjoyed Asuka's company, and she had mellowed out after Third Impact was avoided. They had learned more about each in the past years then they had learned about each other as fellow pilots. This was partially in tribute to Asuka's superiority complex all but dissipating, though it did crop up sometimes as well.

All in all, things had progressed smoothly since that time.

Shinji was first to awake that morning, as he usually was. Cooking breakfast quickly, as Asuka would be out, and sure enough, moments later, she was.

Asuka was never much of a morning person, though her grogginess was usually alleviated with a shower. As Shinji started cooking bacon, he heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. Asuka usually took her time in the bathroom, as girls were want to do, and it was almost half an hour before she came out drying her hair.

"Breakfast ready yet?" asked Asuka as she stepped into the kitchen.

"More or less," said Shinji as he load up a plate with a stack of toast and set it on the table.

"Thanks," said Asuka as she sat down at the small table.

Asuka had been quicker to show her gratitude towards Shinji these past few years, and Shinji was grateful for that.

"Eggs and bacon should be up soon," said Shinji as he turned back towards the stove.

Asuka nodded as she bit into a piece of toast. Shinji would have made a plate for Misato if she hadn't already left for Nerv. Sometimes he got up earlier to make breakfast for her, but she usually just grabbed something on her way to Nerv.

"Have you decided whether you'll be sleeping in the dormitories or finding an apartment yet Asuka?"

"For the last time, no I haven't yet Shinji," sighed Asuka, feeling slightly annoyed.

Shinji had started to ask her this a lot recently, ever since they had decided on going to college together, of which Asuka still resented. She had a suspicion that he was asking this in hopes that they could move in together. It was fine living with Misato, but living together on there own was too much for Asuka to take.

Shinji let it drop with this, though he did sigh internally. Even though they would be focusing on different subjects in college, it made sense to live together, if only to split the living costs. Asuka couldn't see this however, or refused to see it more like.

They ate breakfast together, just as they had many days before that, but Asuka had just remembered something.

"Isn't your birthday coming up Shinji?"

Shinji could have dropped his fork in surprise.

Whenever his birthday came around, Asuka usually all but ignored it. She did usually get him a gift, even if it was rather thoughtless. Shinji suspected that Misato went with her almost every year and helped her chose something for him, though it was never anything special. Shinji remembered one memorable year when Asuka had bought him a saucepan. As if Shinji hadn't already bought enough of those with his income from Nerv. When he had first moved into Misato's apartment, she hardly had any utensils, so he had taken it upon himself to correct this. A saucepan was the last thing he needed, so you could expect his surprise when Asuka brought up his birthday.

"It is," said Shinji evenly.

"Whats with the tone?" asked Asuka, her eyes narrowing sharply.

"Didn't think you were one to remember it."

Asuka tutted loudly and laid her fork on the plate with a 'clank.'

"What?" asked Shinji, surprised at her reaction. "I'm just surprised you remembered is all."

"We celebrate the damn thing every year, so how is it a surprise I would have forgotten it?"

'Because you seemed so keen on remembering it years prior to this,' thought Shinji

"Well?" asked Shinji, "what about it?"

"Is Misato going to try throwing a party again?"

"She said she would, but with her work, I don't think she'll find the time."

"Not like anybody would come to begin with," mumbled Asuka almost inaudibly.

Shinji ignored this. The only people that had been present during his last party had been Touji and Kensuke. Kensuke was now away on military scholarship that had started the moment he had finished high school, and Touji was away on vacation with his family the entire month of June. Rei of course had been to a few of his parties as well, but she was in the same position as Misato right now.

After Third Impact, Rei was able to return, and even though she was a clone of Shinji's mother, he had eventually come to terms with that. Shinji talked to her when he got the chance, much to Asuka's displeasure, but it had been some time since he had gotten ahold of her. She seemed to be working together with Ritsuko currently, which surprised Shinji since he knew Ritsuko had resented her. What she did though was a mystery to Shinji.

After Third Impact, Shinji all but quit Nerv, though he still received paychecks now and then which he assumed was thanks to Misato. Asuka still went in occasionally as she wanted to work there after college, but Shinji didn't want anything to do with the company, even in this After Impact world. This stemmed from his fathers involvement with Nerv, and Shinji's own desire to separate himself from his father. He wanted to make his own decision now.

After finishing dinner, Asuka washed the dishes as was required, and proceeded to watch T.V. She still did this a lot, even if it was just to keep her occupied. Shinji decided to take a shower afterwards, hoping that there was still some hot water left after Asuka had used it.

After finishing with his shower, Shinji found that Asuka had vacated her seat in the living room and was talking on the phone. He didn't bother listening in, though he surmised that she was talking to Hikari.

Hanging up the phone, Asuka turned to Shinji and said-

"Hikari wants to go shopping with me. Apparently she wants to get something for Touji when he gets back for vacation."

"Isn't it a little soon for getting him something. They just left a few days ago."

"You how she is with him," said Asuka as she rolled her eyes.

"Are you going then?"

"I guess," said Asuka. "Its either that or stay here and be bored with you."

Shinji didn't say anything about this. Now that high school had ended and they didn't have much to do, things did get boring around here.

"Well, I'm going to change and then meet her downtown," said Asuka.

Without waiting for Shinji to reply, Asuka walked into her bedroom and shut the door. Shinji couldn't blame her for wanting to get away from the apartment. He himself would have liked to leave as well, but seeing as he didn't have any reason to be out...

'Even just going out with Asuka for a while would have been fine,' he thought. At the same time though, he wondered where that thought had come from. His emotions got confused sometimes when he thought about Asuka, but he tried to ignore them most of the time. As they had lived together for a while, Shinji considered Asuka to be a close friend of his, probably the closest, and even though Asuka wouldn't say it, she thought of Shinji as a friend as well. Anything else just seemed strange.

"I'm over thinking this," mumbled Shinji as he walked into his own bedroom and lay down on his bed, throwing his earbuds into his ears, and tuning the world.

Asuka had a hard time relating to Hikari sometimes. Maybe it was just because Hikari was a normal girl, whereas Asuka had been trained by Nerv to be an Evangelion pilot. She sometimes forgot what it was like to be a girl, and living with Shinji and Misato didn't help this either. Or maybe it was the concept of love that alluded her.

Asuka could never understand Hikari's taste, namely what she saw in Touji. Asuka looked at Touji much the same as she would look at dog shit on someones shoes, disgusting in other words.

Asuka had never loved anyone other than her mother, and she could hardly even remember her to begin with. Of course, there had been plenty of guys who had asked her out during high school, but she had shot all of them down. Most of them still had suspicions that her and Shinji were dating leading all the way up to graduation, but she had learned to ignore it for the most part. Shinji still laughed though when he heard about the latest person that she had shot down. Even Asuka had to smile at this sometimes.

Living with Misato and Shinji had been such a large part of her life recently that it was hard to imagine her life without them, or even the Evangelions for that matter. She got along well enough with Hikari, as she was one of the only girls that didn't seem to hate her for being so popular. Other than that though, she didn't have many people to confide in.

After finishing the shopping, Asuka and Hikari stopped at a fast foot joint. Asuka wasn't very hungry, but Hikari said that she hadn't eaten yet today.

"Do you think Touji will like what I got him?" asked Hikari as they sat down.

"No clue," replied Asuka. She was pretty sure that Touji would have simply enjoyed some of Hikari's cooking instead of what she got him.

"How are things going at Misato's?"

"Same as usual. She work constantly and Shinji and I are at the apartment by ourselves most of the time."

"Has anything happened with Shinji recently?" Hikari asked innocently.

"Why?"

Hikari rolled her eyes slightly. Asuka may be smart about some things, but in others, she was clueless.

"Speaking of Shinji, isn't his birthday coming up?"

"How did you manage to remember that?"

"Last year Touji told me that he was going. I remembered it was around this time."

"Yeah, it is," said Asuka who's expression had turned sour.

"Are you doing anything for it?"

"Myself? No. Misato says she will, but nothing ever really happens."

Hikari eyed Asuka for several seconds before she sighed and rested the palm of her hand on her chin.

"Asuka, don't you think you should get him something this year that will actually mean something?"

Shrugging, Asuka said, "I'll just have Misato help me get him something like I usually do."

'Why do I even try,' thought Hikari.

"Hasn't Shinji gotten you stuff for your birthday in the past? I seem to remember he even made you a cake last year."

Asuka paused as she thought about this. True, Shinji had made a cake for her birthday last year, and it was rather good. She seemed to even remember complementing him on it as well.

"Yeah, he has," nodded Asuka offhandedly.

"So do something for him this year," said Hikari.

'That was rather difficult,' thought Asuka.

Even though she had spent a good part of the last three years of her life around Shinji, she still didn't really know what he liked to be honest. He had zero hobbies, and his likes and dislikes weren't even very substantial. Asuka thought about getting him some music, since she knew he liked classical stuff, but that felt plain at the same time.

"I'll think about it maybe," said Asuka. Anything to end the conversation.

It wasn't that Asuka disliked Shinji. She did like him, to a certain extent, but she also got confused around him. Shinji had been there for her during many moments of her life, none of which had been easy for her to get through. She supposed that if not for Shinji, she could still be in a bit of a slump.

After Third Impact, Asuka was lost, to put it loosely. She didn't have anything to do with her life. Without being an Evangelion pilot, everything that she strived for was suddenly lost. What purpose did she have if not for her piloting skills? It was Shinji that had taken a hold of her then, hugged her. She couldn't remember the words he had said, but they had calmed her. They had both hurt each other by their actions, but they were able to forgive each other after Third Impact. She supposed it was because of that that she felt so comfortable around Shinji. Sometimes, she even felt too comfortable around him.

"Well, I'm ready," said Hikari as she picked up her tray.

"Same," said Asuka.

While Asuka was away, Shinji spent most of his time cleaning the apartment. Misato's room itself took several hours to clean it felt like, as there were empty beer cans strewn across the ground complete with carpet stains. Shinji cleaned every bit of the apartment except for Asuka's room. He knew that area was off limits, even without Asuka reminding him every time he vacuumed. He was actually thankful that she cleaned her own room, as it was one last thing for him to have to deal with.

Shinji was just brewing himself a cup of tea when he heard the front door open and close, signifying that Asuka was back. As she walked into the kitchen, she saw that tea kettle on the stove and said-

"Glad you're making tea. It's surprisingly cold outside."

"In the summer?" asked Shinji. Asuka got cold easily, though it was still a surprise to hear her complain about the weather during the summer.

"That bother you?" she asked.

"No, not really. How was Hikari?"

"Fine. Couldn't stop talking about Touji."

"You sound annoyed."

"Am I?" asked Asuka as Shinji passed her a cup of tea. "The guy hasn't even been gone a week, and she already misses him."

"I'm sure he feels the same way," said Shinji.

"I'm not even sure if that idiot can feel," scoffed Asuka.

Shinji had to laugh at that.

"You clean while I was gone?"

"Yeah, Misato's room mostly.

"Hmmm," mumbled Asuka.

Shinji spent the next few minutes rinsing out the kettle and placing the tea back into the cupboard when Asuka asked him something.

"Hey Shinji, would you be interested in going out together tomorrow?"

"Huh?" asked Shinji, not quite sure he had heard that right.

"Do I need to repeat myself?" asked Asuka. "Tomorrow, we should look for apartments near the college.

"Finally taking my advice?"

"If I don't, then I'll just continue to hear you complain about it, and it makes sense to search for apartments together. Though not under the same roof of course."

"Right," said Shinji.

"So...wanna?"

"Yeah, though we should run it by Misato tonight first."

"Will she care even?"

"Considering that she's our guardian...yes. She may not be around much anymore, but she is still our guardian."

"...I suppose you have a point," said Asuka.

With her last sentence hanging, Asuka stood up and walked into the living room, turning on the T.V. as she lay on the couch.

Shinji continued sitting on the kitchen table with his tea clasped between his hands, wondering what had spurred Asuka on to make this decision. Whatever it had been, he was glad of the change. It had been a while since him and Asuka had done something together, and was looking forward to it.

The prospect of college was a daunting thing of course, but Shinji supposed that if he and Asuka were neighbors, things would work out okay. He would still of course be stuck cooking for her everyday of course, but being on his own had a certain vibe to it. He thought of Misato as a parent since his had never been around much, and it would be sad to say goodbye to her. But knowing that Asuka would be going with him made that pain easier to bare.

Shinji looked at the calendar on the kitchen wall, thinking that this birthday might end of differently afterall.