*ED note: Italics are internal thoughts.

Chapter_02

"And do you, Princess Asuka Washington Souryu, take Shinji Rokubungi Ikari to be your lawful wedded husband in sickness and health as long as you both shall live?" The high priest asked.

Asuka looked around at everyone watching her. All smiling. She's at the church. Getting married. Before she answers, Asuka turns from the priest and looks over at her soon to be husband who is visibly sweating. This annoys Asuka greatly. When they first met, she had thought the weak, piece of garbage was actually kinda cute. Now he's a sweating pile of nerves.

I hope he doesn't pass out before the ceremony ends. Not that I'm doing much better, but I put that down to wearing a heavy-as-all-hell dress. I could pass out just from the physical exhaustion of tugging this silly piece of 6 foot long luggage they call a wedding dress around.

"I do." She replied as cheerful as she could muster.

"And do you, Shinji Rokubungi Ikari, take Princess Asuka Washington Souryu, to be your lawful wedded wife in sickness and health as long as you both shall live?

"I…I.." Shinji stammers.

Is he frickin' hesitating!? What an ass. I refuse to get left at the alter, regardless of whom it may be. I give a semi-loud cough and give an almightily glare his way. He gets the message.

"I do." Shinji finally gets out.

"Then by the power vested in me by the Lord our Savior and the Holy Church of Saints, I now pronounce you man and wife. Congratulations."

Thank God I was at least able talk everyone into removing the part were we kiss. We turn to thunderous applause inside the church and I can't even hear myself think.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

One Week Ago

Asuka sits waiting in the South Wing Reception Hall, waiting. She hates waiting, especially if it's for the boy she's been forced to marry and even more so if he's late. In truth, the idea still felt weird to her. She stands up and inspects her brand new dress she's wearing. It fits her like it was made especially for her body. Which it was of course. Perks of being a Princess. The dress is a pretty low cut and she wonders how long the boy will be able to go without staring at her breasts. Asuka hears the door open and watches as Misato comes in with someone directly behind her.

"Apologies my Lady for our lateness. May I present to you, Mister Shinji Ikari." Misato steps out of the way revealing the boy behind her.

"Hm, cute." Asuka thinks to herself.

"What was that?" Said Misato.

Holy crap, did I say that out loud?!

"What?" Asuka said innocently.

"Did you just say…" Misato looks questionably at Asuka.

She heard me. Crap. Hopefully he didn't.

"Uh…Hi. My name is Shinji Ikari. It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Souryu." Shinji said politely as his eyes immediately fall toward Asuka's cleavage.

Well that took like one second. Fail. He's not much to look at. We're about the same height. He's a little taller than me. Skinny, practically no muscle. He looks scared. What a wimp. What's there to be scared about? He just landed into all the money he could ever spend in his lifetime. Guess I'm going to have to throw him a bone.

"Call me, Asuka. Okay, Shinji?" Asuka winks at him. Shinji perks up.

"Yes, Prince- I mean, Asuka." Shinji smiles bashfully.

Asuka continues to hold a big smile while inwardly thinking about all the ways she is going to get back at everyone for this. However, during all her evil scheming she realizes they have fallen into awkward silence. Asuka HATES awkward silences almost as much as people being late.

Why can't the moron just say something like "nice dress" or even "nice boobs". Hell any compliment would be appreciated.

"Would you like to show Mister Ikari to his new quarters?" Misato gratefully breaks the silence.

"Sure. Follow me, Shinji." Asuka beckons for Shinji to follow.

The two teenagers leave Misato behind and walk out of the reception hall down a myriad of corridors which Asuka is sure Shinji will get lost in more than a couple of times if he isn't chaperoned. They finally reach the entrance to the East Wing.

"This is the East Wing. It's the farthest from all the adults. You'll be glad of this in the future."

"Okay."

As they walk inside, Asuka watches Shinji look around the place. Asuka decides to fill him in on the details.

"As you can see the East Wing's center is comprised of a large window-filled indoor atrium with that door over there leading to the royal rose gardens and to the grounds outside with two bedrooms on either side. I already set up my room on the left yesterday. You're bedroom is the one of the right. You should find everything you need in there. Any questions?"

"Wow." Shinji simply said.

Asuka was pleased with Shinji's reaction. It was nice section of the palace but it still needed some work if it was to meet up to her standards.

"I'm sorry, which bedroom is mine?" Shinji asked.

"The right one. The left one is mine. If you need anything-"

"I'll let you know, got it." Shinji interrupted.

"What? No. Why would you tell me? Get your court attendant and they'll sort it out."

"Right of course. I didn't know I had an attendant."

"You haven't been given one yet!?" Asuka asked incredulously.

"Guess not. Everything has been kinda rushed."

Asuka could at least agree with Shinji on that. The whole thing felt like a rush job. And although she loved how far she was now from her parents she was still worried that it came with almost more baggage than she could to deal with. Lost in thought she almost forgot about the boy standing nearby.

"Well..uh, thank you." Shinji quickly walked into his bedroom and closed the door. Asuka distinctly head the click of the lock.

What a bastard! What does he think I'm going to do? Rush in and jump his bones?!

Asuka takes a few deep breaths.

He's just an idiot, don't get upset.

Asuka slowly walks over and gently raps her knuckles on the door.

"Shinji?"

"Yeah" Asuka hears a muffled voice from inside.

"I'm going to step out real quick. I forgot something in my old room. I'll be right back, Okay?"

"Okay."

Asuka turns to leave but looks back again at the locked door.

Don't do it, Asuka. Don't do it.

"Shinji?"

"Yeah?"

"You're not scared of me are you? I mean know I can be intimidating, but you don't have to lock your door, alright? It sends a girl the wrong message."

Asuka turns to leave feeling better for pointing out his error in logic, which she is sure they're will be plenty more to come. Just before stepping out she hears the click of the door being unlocked. Asuka smiles. At least he listens she thought.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"So what do you think of him?" Misato asks.

Asuka is lying on Misato's bed staring at the ceiling trying to relax while Misato rifles through her closet. Misato has been the closest thing to a stable mother figure Asuka has ever had so she always seem to end up in her room at some point. Asuka even used to occasionally spend the night until the Queen found out and forbade her from ever doing so again.

"He's an idiot." Asuka said with her eyes closed.

"Oh? Maybe he is. I thought he was kind of cute. So did some other...people I know." Misato grins knowingly at Asuka.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Look can't we find another guy? He's scared of me. The loser practically ran into his bedroom and locked the door first chance he got."

"Give him a break, Asuka. This isn't exactly easy for him either."

"Whatever. I'm going to talk to my Grandfather about this. I don't see why Shinji has to be my only choice. Maybe he was just the back-up guy." Asuka hops off the bed and heads for the door.

"Hold on. Before you go, if you're on your way would you mind taking that paper to your Grandfather. He wanted another copy." Misato motions to a newspaper on her dresser.

Asuka sigh. Now she's a delivery girl. Awesome. Asuka grabs the paper and leaves.

As she walks towards her Grandfather's study she looks down at the paper. Why would her Grandfather need a copy of the newspaper anyway? She glances down at it and suddenly stops cold. The first headline reads:

PRINCESS TO MARRY A COMMONER NAMED IKARI

"Well sh-"

つつく。

Sorry this took awhile. I meant to get this out a lot faster but I've been sick and wrote this in almost complete state of delirium. So if it doesn't make any sense, please let me know. Thank you to all the reviews so far and I hope to have the third chapter out soon. Next chapter: Traditional Marriage Practices (A Romantic Dare)