Foreword: Yeah, yeah... It was probably pretty crappy of an ending for last chapter. Anyway, I'm really trying to do better. Sorry guys.
A Special Thanks To: Draknal, again, like always. He's always there to help me with my stories and writing.
Running in Circles
"-Zero!" Asuka shouted, "This is so stupid… I knew it wouldn't work… Stupid Shinji…"
She turned to walk away and let her fingers touch the door.
Asuka glanced back one more time and softly said, "If… you don't come back, I'll... I… You better get up soon, Third Child…"
Her hand twisted and the door swung open, and she said nothing.
Asuka heard a loud gasp behind her and immediately turned around.
Shinji Ikari was sitting up on his bed, sweating profusely and his azure eyes were darting around the room. They seemed to converge on the redhead at the door.
"A-Asuka? Is that you?" he whispered, his voice hoarse from not being used.
She had to force herself to slowly walk to his bedside instead of rushing over and hugging him.
"Finally awake, huh, moron?" she said with an evil smirk. This smile was only to hide the genuine one beneath it.
Shinji glanced back at the girl and said "I'm not a moron… but yeah, I am finally up."
"Just hurry up, Third Child," Asuka said, venom hiding her elation. 'He's finally growing a spine, isn't he?'
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
Misato stood outside of the room and looked at Hikari, "What's taking that girl so long? This is ridiculous! I say now and she comes later!"
Misato stomped into Shinji's hospital room and cried, "Asuka! I said it's time to g- Shinji? DOCTOR!"
Major Katsuragi flipped out once she saw the Third Child and began to scream for a doctor.
The young man covered his ears and said, "Mi-Misato! Can you stop being so loud? My head is still hurting!"
Asuka spoke in an elegant and flowery voice, "In other words… SHUT THE HELL UP!"
Misato was at a loss of what to do, and was glad when the doctor finally showed up.
"What, may I ask, is the problem?" the doctor asked in a whiny voice. He was obviously overworked and underpaid, because he was very irritable and there were large bags under his eyes.
Before anyone could speak, Asuka started shouting, "Hurry up and examine this idiot here! Clear him, and we'll be on our way!"
The downtrodden doctor sighed, "Alright then…" He began his examination of the pilot.
Asuka's foot impatiently tapped at the ground that dared to be under it.
Shinji laughed at her, "Gee, Asuka. The way your acting makes me think you want me home or something."
The redhead blushed and looked at the floor, "Just hurry up, Third Child…"
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
Shinji sat in his chair, reclined slightly. He usually sat timidly, his eyes resting on the table.
Not tonight.
His run in with his inner self helped him to realize that being a pansy wasn't going to help anything.
"What do you want, Asuka?" he said in a slightly irked tone, glancing at the redhead.
She raised an eyebrow and said, "Nothing. Why are you even talking?"
"Oh. Simply because I can. Other than that… you keep looking at me," he said, his face splitting into a grin.
The girl stomped her feet, attempting to divert attention from her rosy cheeks, "Oh, shut up! I'm just trying to find out when you're gonna make dinner! I… and wipe that smile off of your face before I do it for you!"
Shinji burst into mocking laughter, which only infuriated the girl even more. She took a step forward and whipped her hand out.
Using two fingers, Shinji stopped the slap by lightly touching her wrist. Still chuckling, and his voice dripping with sarcasm he said, "Nope! Little girls aren't supposed to go around hitting people like that."
Asuka turned around and began to walk back to the couch. She turned and softly said, "You know… I liked the 'old you' better."
As she turned around, Shinji's eyes fell to the floor. His mind was raging, 'God dammit, Shinji! Hi, my name is Shinji, and I like to wake up and screw everything up!'
Angry at himself, Shinji started up dinner.
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
Asuka sat in her room with her head resting against the pale walls. 'What happened to him?' she thought.
There were unseen tears within her. The timid boy that she liked had gone.
'Well… it's nice that he's standing up for himself, but he's just an asshole now…'
A soft knock at the door alerted the girl to somebody's presence just outside the door.
The redhead glowered, "Go away, Dummkopf!" She knew it had to be Shinji, because Misato was busy filling in NERV that the idiot was back in action.
Gone was the mocking tone that had filled the flat before. Shinji's timid voice spoke out with uncertainty. "A-Asuka? C-Can I come in?"
Asuka smiled faintly, but remembered to make herself seem angry, "Grr… Fine! Just don't mess anything up!"
He slowly opened her door and shuffled inside. The boy had reverted to his usual hesitant self.
"A-Asuka? I… I wanted to say something…" Shinji faltered again.
The German girl stood up and looked at the boy, "Well? I'm waiting! Speak up already!" Her hands were on her hips and she had regained her superior tone.
He shifted a little and said, "I… I know you don't like it when I do this… but… I think I owe you an apology… I was being a jerk out there and I know it…"
The redhead stepped forward, "I know you're just growing a spine and all, but I kinda like the way you were… You were always… considerate… If you tell anyone that I said that, you're ass is mine, Third Child!"
Shinji's gaze seemed to darken, "So you'd rather be my friend in secret… it figures… Second Child…"
Asuka stumbled backwards and sat on her bed, "W-what? What did you say?"
Shinji didn't give her an answer, but he just looked at her. Tears were forming under his eyes and he looked exactly like a puppy that had been kicked a few too many times.
The redhead felt like she'd been slapped in the face, 'My drawing… That face… They look exactly the same…' She began to sob.
Shinji was pretty mad, and he was turning to leave. A light whimper convinced him to take a look back at the girl.
He could hear her crying and could feel the sadness coming from her body. "A-Asuka? I… I'm sorry…"
Shinji took a step forward and tentatively put his hand on the grieving pilot's shoulder.
Asuka pulled away from Shinji, but only slightly. Eventually she stopped crying, as she found herself in a light hug.
"Look… I know I say it a whole lot… but… I'm sorry… for what I did…" Shinji had to labor to get the words out correctly.
The girl slowly pulled back, "Whatever… I… I just was remembering something…"
Shinji's smile had a calming effect on Asuka, "What were you remembering?"
The redhead wiped tears from her eyes and said "It's… something personal… it'll be easier if I showed you…" She silently stood up and opened her school bag. Asuka simply handed him her science notebook.
Shinji opened the book quietly and flipped through the pages, 'Notes… Notes… Notes… Notes… Notes… Picture… Wait! Picture!'
His mouth hung open and Asuka looked at her feet, "It's not that good, but that's what I thought of…"
"I didn't know you were an artist, Asuka. This looks just like me," Shinji spoke in utter amazement.
The girl lips curled up into a droll little smile, "Thanks… Anyway… get out. I'm tired and want to go to sleep."
The pilot of Unit 01 nodded and handed her notebook back. He turned around and began to leave the room.
"Oh, just one more thing Shinji!"
Shinji turned around and looked at Asuka.
"I don't really like being called Second Child… I'll try to stop calling you Third if you promise not to call me Second, okay?" Asuka looked at Shinji with pleading eyes. All it took was one look into those eyes, and he could instantly tell that she disliked being called Second Child.
He nodded and said, "On my honor, I'll never call you Second Child again… G-Good night, Asuka."
The redhead smiled as she watched him leave her room. Once he was safely gone, she whispered, "Good night… Idiot-Shinji."
Her voice wasn't bitter or cold.
The words rolled off of her tongue with a warmth that she couldn't give a reasonable explanation for.
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
"W-What are you doing, Asuka?" Shinji's whiney voice rang through the apartment.
The redhead rolled her eyes and simply ripped off his blanket, "You're coming with me!"
The Third Child shook his head in an attempt to wake himself up, and sighed, "Can I at least get changed?"
Asuka nodded and sauntered out of the room, "Better hurry up!"
Shinji shook his head again, 'What's with her today? She was sad yesterday and now she's all psychotic… like usual.'
Shinji sighed and pulled on a pair of fading jeans. He scratched his head as he stumbled into the bathroom.
Shinji didn't have to waste time on a shower, because he had long ago learned to take his after dinner rather than before breakfast. Otherwise he'd have two angry women shouting at him to hurry up.
Grabbing his toothbrush and covering it with paste, Shinji began the morning ritual known as 'The Brushing of the Teeth.'
He finished up and yawned as he re-entered his room.
Shinji emerged from his dwelling a few minutes later with a plain black shirt on.
An impatient Asuka stood at the door with her foot tapping angrily, "Well? Let's go!"
The young Ikari sighed, "Where, exactly, are we going?"
The redhead flashed a devious smile, "I'm going to show you that I'm your friend…"
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
Asuka dragged Shinji down the sidewalk, "Move faster Shinji! You're a boy, aren't you? Can't you walk any faster?"
Shinji caught up with the girl and obediently followed her, "So… where are we going again?"
The girl tilted her head and said, "It's your lucky day, Shinji! You've won a free day on the town with your best friend! That friend is quite the head-turner, I might add!"
Shinji blinked, 'Is she just jerking my chain again? Maybe she really wants to be my friend.'
The redhead walked faster and said, "If you don't hurry, I'll make you eat Misato's cooking for a whole week!"
This seemed to spur the young man forward a little bit, and he caught up with the girl. As they turned the corner, he realized just where the two were going. They were going to the Arcades of Tokyo III.
Shinji and Asuka stepped in to the dark and dank paradise of people like Kensuke. As the two made their way to the back of the room, a loud voice called out to them.
"How could you betray us like that? We thought you were our friend Shinji! You can't just go out in public with Satan's Favorite Daughter!" Kensuke screamed as he feigned ripping out his hair.
Toji Suzuhara limped towards the group and called out to them, "What's the deal, man?"
Shinji looked as though he would faint right there and he began to stutter, "T-T-Toji? I… I'm sorry about-"
"Shut up, dude! You didn't have anything. I heard all about this from Misato. Just don't worry about it, man. NERV hooked me up with some prosthetics, but I'm not really used to them yet. Thankfully, Sis is home now, so she can take care of my food!" Toji clapped Shinji on the back and continued being as friendly with Shinji as he had been before the 13th Angel.
Asuka was cross by now. She didn't expect to run into the Stooges, but she could work this situation to her advantage.
The redhead threw her arms around Shinji and smiled seductively, "Me and Shinji were just going out on a little date. Weren't we, idiot?"
Nothing could shake Shinji's nerves of steel, and he kept cool and replied with the grace of an ambassador.
In other words, he blushed heavily and stammered, "A-A-Asuka?"
While the Stooges fell to the ground sputtering, Asuka began to laugh.
Asuka tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear and said, "Oh man! That was too easy! I'm just kidding, you dorks! Shinji and his best friend, me, are just going out for a day of fun!"
Toji stood back up and cried, "But I'm Shinji's best friend! Right, Pal?"
Asuka flicked Shinji in the head and said, "What about me, hm?"
The young Ikari sighed and said, "Um… Can't both of you be my best friends?"
The redhead sighed, 'It'll have to do…' "Yeah, yeah…"
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
"So Shinji, did you have fun?" Asuka called as she walked into the kitchen with a towel covering her.
Shinji was just putting food on the plates that were resting on the kitchen table. "Yeah. I didn't think it was possible for anyone to beat both Toji and Kensuke in Sharpshooter!"
The girl scratched her neck and said, "Well, you certainly don't know how good I am at shooting!"
Shinji threw the pan into the sink and spoke, "Lunch is ready."
The redhead walked into her room and shut the door.
After a few rustling sounds and a few minutes later, she re-entered the kitchen fully clothed. She hadn't put in the neural clips that were usually in her hair, so her damp locks cascaded down her back.
She hopped into her chair and set to her food with ferocity. Shinji sat down in a chair next to her and began to work on his own plate.
The girl put down her fork and looked at Shinji, "So idiot, got any plans for later?"
"Not really… why?" he replied. He was honestly surprised that she would ask, but there was also suspicion in his voice.
She liked to pull off elaborate pranks. Just like the time when she took all of his clothes and moved them into her room while he was in the shower… but that was a different story.
Asuka grinned and said, "Good! We still have a whole lot of stuff to do later! Misato can fend for herself! We're going to go out for dinner."
Shinji almost spit out his food and said, "What! How are we going to get the money?"
The redhead shook her head and said, "You worry too much! I got it covered!"
"If you say so…" Shinji responded. He always spoke with a hint of uncertainty in his voice, and this was no exception.
Asuka snapped back, "I do! Anyway… I just thought of something to do!"
The timid boy slowly spoke, "Um… a-alright…"
"You," She paused and watched the boy grimace, "Are going to play your cello for me, while I take a nap!"
"But Asuka! I'm not that good at playing the cello! Besides, why should I play if you're just going to sleep through it?" Shinji's voice was a combination of whining mixed with phantom residue of irritation.
"Because, Dummkopf, I didn't get a very good night of sleep last night! So your playing will lull me to sleep!" Asuka twisted her one of golden-red locks around one of her fingers.
Shinji was feeling a little better, and was also feeling a streak of bravery coming on, "So, Asuka wants Idiot-Shinji to play her a little lullaby? Well alright then."
Asuka grabbed a blanket from her room and settled down on the couch while Shinji went to retrieve his cello.
Shinji sat down on one of the kitchen chairs and drew the bow across the strings.
A slow and calm melody wafted through the air.
The redhead yawned and said, "Wake me up around five-thirty, 'mkay Dummkopf?"
The boy nodded and continued to play…
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
Rei sat in her room calmly, with her hands folded on her lap. Though she had the urge to stand up and start dancing, she opted for the energetic activity of blinking every few minutes.
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
"DUMMKOPF! You should have woken me up earlier!" The silence was broken by a screaming redhead.
Shinji cowered and stammered, "B-But it's five-thirty! That's when you told me to wake you up!"
Asuka smacked him on the side of the head, "Idiot! You should know it takes girls at least an hour to get ready to go anywhere in public!"
Shinji was feeling his backbone tingle, "I'm sorry…" 'So much for backbone!'
The redhead scrambled into her room and slammed the door shut, shouting over her shoulder, "You peek and you're going to die!"
Shinji absently nodded and wrote out a note for Misato explaining where he and Asuka were going to be.
The redhead's door flew open and she marched out wearing nothing but a white set of undergarments.
The young Ikari's face reddened and he felt as if he would pass out from joy. Asuka had never, ever let him see her dressed so scantly.
The girl scratched her flat stomach and blinked, "Hey Shinji! Have you seen my new set of clothes?"
Shinji shakily nodded as he watched the floor, "Uh… y-yeah! It's in the Laundry Room."
The girl sauntered down the hall and towards her destination. Shinji's eyes quickly darted from the floor to her well-shaped rear.
'Bad! Bad Shinji! You should NOT do that!' he scolded himself.
Black fabric swooshed as Asuka's knees collided with her skirt. Shinji could hear a zipping noise as the girl zipped up her deep blue shirt.
The redhead stopped in front of Shinji and looked into his eyes.
A resounding slap was heard in the apartment, and it wouldn't be surprising if the neighbors heard it either.
"PERVERT!" Her screaming was not something that one willingly endured.
Shinji sighed and rubbed his reddening cheek.
Asuka continued, "I could feel your eyes caressing my butt!"
"You probably liked that feeling, didn't you?" he retorted.
"We- HELL NO!" she cried like an Amazon warrior. The irate Asuka seized the only thing close to her that could damage Shinji: Pen-Pen.
One may often wonder what the thoughts of a penguin are, at this moment, Pen-Pen was thinking, 'Oh shit… not again!'
Asuka reared her arm back and prepared to throw the penguin like a javelin.
Shinji cocked an eyebrow, "Asuka… what are you- NO! NOT THE PENGUIN!"
Right as he turned to jump over the couch, the girl released her weapon.
As he looked around in a daze, Shinji realized that he was pinned to the wall and by a penguin no less! Pen-Pen's beak had penetrated the collar of Shinji's shirt, effectively immobilizing him.
Asuka smirked and pulled the penguin out of the wall, "Now go get changed, you idiot! We are going to go have some fun tonight!"
Shinji sighed and walked down the hall and into his room.
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
Shinji and Asuka had eaten out at a fast food restaurant. The two were now walking down the sidewalks of Tokyo III.
The redhead looked at him and smiled brightly, "Guess what, Shinji!"
The boy nervously replied, "W-What is it, Asuka?"
Asuka latched herself on to his arm and said, "We're going to a festival!"
"We are…?" Shinji blushed and his brown hair fluttered in the spring breeze.
The redhead thought to herself, 'Maybe I should make a move on him… I think I will… I already know how I feel about him.'
The two continued walking until they had entered a crowd of people. Loud rock music was playing and it seemed to be a music festival.
Asuka tugged on Shinji's arm and called out, "Hey Shinji! Let's get some ice cream!"
He nodded and stepped up to a booth. As Asuka reached into her pocket for money, Shinji placed his hand on hers.
"It's okay… I've got this one," he said as his face turned red.
Asuka smiled and waited for her ice cream.
(-(-(-(-.-)-)-)-)
Asuka was still attached to Shinji's arm as they began their trip back to Misato's apartment.
"So Shinji, are you still convinced that I'm only willing to be your friend in secret?" the redhead asked as she looked at Shinji.
The young Ikari looked at her and smiled, "You've changed my mind. I know you really want to be my friend."
They continued for a little bit in silence, "Shinji… did you have fun today?"
Again he smiled and replied, "You bet. I had a great time! I got to spend the day with the Great Asuka Langley Sohryu, after all!"
Asuka smiled, 'I wonder when he'll notice that I'm hanging on his arm…'
The Pilot of Unit 01 spoke up, "I especially liked the jazz exhibit! I thought that was so cool how all of those people listened to such awesome music."
Asuka nodded, "I thought you might like to go to a festival like that, because I always see you with your SDAT player."
Shinji would pat her on the shoulder if his arm wasn't ensnared by the girl, and he said, "Thank you Asuka… for the whole day… I had a lot of fun."
"Well that was the idea, Dummkopf!" she said as her grip around his arm tightened.
The young man sighed as thoughts of Misato entered his head, "Asuka… You do know that Misato probably made a gigantic mess, don't you? There are probably beer cans everywhere!"
Asuka's head dipped and it made contact with Shinji's shoulder, 'Maybe if I'm lucky, he'll make a move on me!'
The redhead had since realized that she had feelings for the young man. Though she couldn't place a name on them, Asuka knew that she needed to be closer to Shinji.
He could always find something nice to say about Asuka, even when she couldn't find anything remotely acceptable about herself.
Shinji had a way of making her feel safe. Asuka felt invincible, just as long as Shinji was standing right next to her.
'Just what is it about him that makes me feel like this? Nobody else has ever made me feel this way before…' Asuka was busy trying to find a rational explanation for her emotions.
The two drew nearer to their abode and Shinji was just now realizing that Asuka had been attached to his arm for the whole night. 'I wonder what she's doing… Maybe she doesn't realize what she's doing…'
Shinji and Asuka stepped into the elevator in their apartment complex and pressed the button to reach their floor.
The soft mechanical whir and a light clicking noise were Shinji and Asuka's companions in the empty elevator.
Once it had reached its destination, the twin doors slid open, allowing the couple to walk to their dwelling.
Shinji opened the door and stepped inside.
Much to his chagrin, beer cans littered the room and Misato was sleeping on the kitchen table. A beer can was propped under her head like a pillow, and she mumbled a little bit as the two walked in.
The Pilot of Unit 01 sighed heavily and said, "I'll just deal with it in the morning… I'm too tired to clean up right now."
Pen-Pen was passed out on the floor within a small fortress of beer cans.
The redhead tapped the outer wall with her foot and sighed, "Misato should know better than to force Pen-Pen to drink like that!"
Shinji tried to head off to his room, but Asuka was still detaining his arm. 'Is she ever going to let go?'
Asuka kept her hold on Shinji's appendage and she thought, 'Maybe I should just tell him how I feel… No… What if he doesn't feel the same way…?'
Quietly Shinji looked at Asuka and said, "Do… Do you think you could let go of my arm, Asuka? I kinda want to go to bed now…"
Asuka let go of him as though he were on fire and she turned away from him.
"A-Asuka? Are you okay?" Shinji's voice was laced with concern.
The girl turned and slapped him, then bent over to pick up her weapon of choice: Pen-Pen.
She whipped it at the boy like before, and he once again found himself pinned to the wall.
Asuka could feel tears running down her cheeks and she slammed her door shut. 'He just… He just rejected me... I knew it… I knew he could never like me… he could never return my feelings…'
She stripped off her clothes and threw them at her closet, not bothering to check if it was open. Asuka fell on to her bed and curled up into a ball.
Tears dripped onto her pillow as she held it close to her body, and her soft sobbing could be heard through the walls.
Shinji was still pinned to the wall as he heard the soft crying. 'God DAMMIT Shinji! You've done it again! Not only have you made Asuka cry, but you're stuck to the wall by a bird that technically can't fly! You're such a jerk, Shinji Ikari!'
Again, he tried to pry Pen-Pen from the wall, but alas, his beak was just stuck to far in the wall. Spying his SDAT player, the young man reached for it, yet his fingertips were barely long enough to graze it. It seemed as though somebody up in heaven was mad with him.
Shinji put his face in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair, 'Just why the heck did Asuka get so mad at me? What did she expect? I was tired and wanted to go to sleep! It's not like she could just sleep with me! I wonder what she feels like to sleep next to… BAD Shinji! BAD! She was hanging on my arm all day… does that mean something? She was probably making sure she didn't get lost…'
'She was trying to make a move on me! … No… that can't be it… She could never like a spineless coward like me… could she? Maybe she could… I know that I love her, but… I just don't want to get hurt.'
'I'm such an idiot! Stupid Shinji! You just hurt Asuka even more! How can you deserve happiness if you just keep hurting people like this? I need to apologize to her… No, that would make her even angrier… I should do something to show her that I like her… That I love her…'
Shinji remained pinned to the wall and he hit himself on the head. "What the heck am I going to do?" he whispered.
Another bout of sobbing assaulted Shinji's ears through the walls. With each tear that Asuka shed, it felt like a punch in the gut to Shinji.
"What have I done?" he whispered.
Author's Notes: Well, it's that time again. Yep, I ended it kinda like a cliffhanger or something. Oh well, I can only hope you guys like it. Please, review for me.
Outtakes
-
Kensuke Aida, Mr. Popularity
Asuka tucked some loose strands of hair behind her ear and said, "Oh man! That was too easy! I'm just kidding, you dorks! Shinji and his best friend, me, are just going out for a day of fun!"
Toji stood back up and cried, "But I'm Shinji's best friend! Right, Pal?"
Asuka flicked Shinji in the head and said, "What about me, hm?"
Shinji shook his head and said, "You're both wrong. Kensuke is my best friend!"
Kensuke's eyes lit up from behind his thick rimmed glasses.
Shinji cut him off before he could speak, "Just kidding! Silly Kensuke! Nobody likes you! You're so easy to fool."
The geek's eyes fell and he seized a gun from one of the shooting games, "I hate my life!" With that said, he proceeded in pulling the trigger as the gun was aimed at his head.
Gendo's Last Stand
Gendo sat in his regular position, hands under the chin. The darkness seemed to shroud the man as if it were his realm
He slumped forward and a gleaming silver object protruded from his back
It was his realm no longer
"SQUAAAAAAWK!" Pen-Pen hopped up on the desk and retrieved his trusty switchblade. In that moment, his sideburns seemed to grow, and his chin seemed to sprout a beard.
The fallen glasses of Gendo Ikari were enveloped in the flippers of the murderous bird.
Thus ended the reign of Commander Ikari
The new age of Emperor Pen-Pen was now opening...
