Title: As Blue As Ice, As Red As Fire
Author: anime-freaksg
A Neon Genesis Evangelion Fanfiction
Pre-fic author notes: One reviewer posed a very important question in his review. And the answer is YES. Shinji has been dating both Asuka & Rei.
Chapter 1 – Remembering part 1 of 2
Shinji's POV
For every Action, There is a Reaction…Einstein's theory of Relativity…I thought to myself later that night as I laid down on my bed. Admittedly, I was a bit…harsh, perhaps too blunt. I should never have broken the news to her like that…probably should have been more…subtle. But I knew it had to be done, one way or another, sooner rather than later.
Still…
Time: 2230 Hours – Half an hour till end of Tokyo 3 Senior High Graduation Dinner and Dance
Locale: Residence of Ayanami Rei
Shinji Ikari, now nursing a slight bruise on his cheek, adjusted his tie as he stood nervously in front of Rei's apartment door. Of course, this wasn't the same apartment she stayed in during the NERV days. After the disbandment of NERV and the sudden disappearance of NERV Commander Gendo Ikari, Shinji and Misato had finally persuaded Rei to move to a newer, more inhabitable apartment a few blocks away from Misato's old apartment.
Now, you might be wondering what in the world is Shinji doing in front of Rei's apartment instead of going back to the Dinner and Dance. The fact is, Rei decided not to go to there because it was simply unnecessary…and she didn't want to have a confrontation with Asuka…
'Oh my gosh…I can't believe I am going to do this…' he thought to himself, fingering the velvet box in his right pocket. 'Okay, breathe in…breathe out…breathe in…breathe out…let's do it!'
However, before the former pilot of EVA 01 could press the doorbell, the apartment door swung open, revealing the apartment's tenant, Rei Ayanami.
"Ayanami…h…how did you know…?"
"That you have arrived Ikari-kun? I was expecting you…and I heard you speaking to the taxi driver…"
"I see…well, thanks Rei…" Shinji replied, smiling sheepishly.
That was when he finally noticed the stunning light blue dress Rei was wearing. The dress effectively showed off her figure…and perhaps a little bit more. All he could do was stare wide-eyed at her.
Rei, noticing Shinji's gaze on her, blushed slightly.
"Is…there a problem with my choice of attire, Ikari-kun?" she said softly, turning away slightly embarrassed.
"Oh…of course not! Its just that you look…very…beautiful…"
With Rei still facing away from Shinji, he failed to notice the soft smile being formed on Rei's lips as she walked towards her coffee table to retrieve her handbag.
"So…Ikari-kun…shall we proceed to the Restaurant as you have…requested?"
Shinji couldn't stop himself from grinning as he heard those words. Even after two years, Rei was still having problems changing her way of thinking.
"Rei…it's not an instruction…if you do not wish to go there, just tell me…we can go somewhere else…"
"No…the restaurant is all right…as long as I am with you…" Rei turned around to face Shinji, finally showing him the smile that she was hiding…the very same smile she gave him after he rescued her from the 5th Angel so long ago…
Now looking back to that day, I felt that it was those very words, together with the smile she gave me that night that reinforced my decision to propose to her.
That night…was unbelievable.
For a night like this, location was obviously important. So, after careful thought I picked the Second Impact Bistro, the five-star restaurant on the top floor of the Hotel Tokyo 3…with some help from Misato and Kaji with the reservations of course….
And so…it was over after dinner coffee and tea that I finally proposed to her. The setting then…it was perfect. A slow song had just started…and would you believe it, snow had started falling! Even now, I can still remember the song being played then...
chiisana shiawase o daiji ni atatameteta
nee, omou to mune no oku konna ni itaku naru no
anata no me anata no koe subete itoshikute...
konayuki ga hoho ni maiori namida ni kawatta
itsu made mo soba ni ite kono te o hanasanai de
fuyu no sora kirameku hoshi wa futari o tsutsunda
shiroi kata shiroi iki anata to kanjiteru winter wish
yorisoi aruita umizoi no yuuenchi
nee, kanransha ni notte hikari no machi miyou yo
tooku naru umi to awai kiss ga setsunakute...
hajimari wa konayuki no ivu chiisana sutori
dare yori mo aishiteru kono te o hanasanai de
arukidasu futari no mirai naranda ashiato
nukumori mo yasashisa mo anata to dakishimeru winter wish
(How such small happiness is warming our important moment
Hey, inside this heart and mind, I began to feel such kind of feeling
Your eyes, your voice, all of them I cared the most
Falling snow pieces that rolling on my cheek are changing my tears
Forever be by my side, don't let go of these hands
Upon the winter sky, the twinkling stars is surrounding both of us
White shoulders, white breath, feeling you deeply as my winter wish
Walking closer together on an ocean-side park
Hey, watching a far from train that we rode, let's watch the lights of city
Far away from the ocean, and the scent of a kiss honestly given
The beginning of a little story on the eve's falling snow
The true self I've fallen in love with, don't let go of these hands
Walking our future together in each footsteps
How warm, how gentle, hugging you deeply as my winter wish)
Now I look back at it and laugh. As I tried to open the velvet box holding the ring, my hand was shivering so much that I nearly knocked over my cup of coffee.
"Ikar…Shinji-kun, is that a ring?" Rei had asked, her stoic expression unable to hide the look of surprise in her eyes.
I gulped as I nodded nervously.
"Yes, Rei…do you know what I am about to do?"
"…Yes…you are about to ask for my hand in…marriage?"
"Yeah…so will you marry me Rei?"
When I heard her answer…I went ecstatic. If I remember correctly, her exact words were 'I would love very much to be engaged to you'. I just hugged and twirled her around the restaurant, without a care in the world. Then, once again, she gave me that smile…somehow I've always felt that that smile was reserved only for me. Me and only me…
And I will never be able to see it again.
TBC…
Post-fic Notes: A bit shorter than the prologue. Couldn't be helped, I didn't want to elaborate too much on silly details during the dinner like what they ate etc…(If you're wondering, Shinji had Grilled Salmon while Rei went for a Caesar Salad…at least what I wanted them to have ^_^)
Thanks to animelyrics.com for the lyrics of Winter Wish (From Love Hina: Winter Special) and all my reviewers for your support…good or bad.
Next Chapter will be an Asuka POV around the same timeline as this chapter. The story will be continued proper in chapter 3.