A New Life Chapter 3: A Body Not My Own, an evangelion fanfic

A New Life (LD Edition)

Chapter 3: A Body Not My Own

By: Lord Legato Deathscythe

"What was it like?"

A simple question. One of the first questions a person asks in their life after why. It is a simple, four word question asking someone to define an experience that you never had before. A question you ask when you don't have anything to compare something to in your own day-to-day monotony.

Yui and Misato Ikari had asked that question of their parents many times when they were growing up. They'd ask when they didn't understand something Dad would tell them about when he was fighting during the Angel War, when Mom would tell them about piloting an Evangelion. As they grew older, they asked the question wanting to know how it had felt to fall in love, to graduate school and college, to get married.

Things they had expected to do themselves one day.

Now, for the first time in a long time, Yui asked her father the same question. Not out of curiosity or an interest in the future, but instead to try to make some sense out of this story she had heard. To try to put some of the pieces together.

To understand the implication of the first photograph she had been shown.

Shinji sat there, choosing his next words very carefully. He looked in to the half-empty teacup as if the tealeaves would hold his answer.

The tealeaves however refused to speak to him.

"It's impossible to describe something like that. Even to this day I can't come up with a good way of putting those first few days into words. It was beyond anything I could say. All I can tell you is that I barely held onto what was already a thin rope,' Shinji said, his voice starting to shake some as a lone tear fell from his eyes.

Shinji sat on her hospital bed, the same way she had for the past three days. After her awakening, she just stopped talking and did nothing but stare at the wall. The doctors were worried about her health, as the young girl hadn't eaten anything in that time. Nor had she even gotten out of bed, only moved to sit up or lay down depending on if she were sleeping or not.

It was on the fourth day Shinji moved.

She slowly got out of her bed, shivering as her bare feet touched the cold tile of the hospital floor. Slowly Shinji shifted her weight on to her legs, and almost fell to the ground. She quickly grabbed hold of the rail of the bed to steady herself, and then started to walk to the bathroom.

It was slow going. Every step Shinji took was uncertain, and the poor girl felt as if she would fall over at any minute. Shinji's entire body continued to feel alien to her, even though she'd had four days to adapt to being female. Shinji did eventually make it to the bathroom door, grabbing hold of the knob to steady herself. Shinji opened the door and entered, turning the light on almost on instinct.

Shinji went to the sink and ran some cool water over her hands. She splashed some of the water on her face to help cement herself in reality. The cool water bit into her skin.

Shinji hadn't taken a good look at herself, and the first thing Shinji took into account was that her hands looked more delicate. The fingers had grown longer and slimmer than before.

Shinji gasped in surprise as she looked up into the mirror.

The face there was still the face of Shinji Ikari, but it had changed as well. While the changes were very subtle, and almost unnoticeable, it was their subtlety that made them all the more magnified. There was a slight heightening of the cheekbones and a softening of his jaw line. Her skin had taken on a creamier color and it was softer and smoother to the touch. Other than that, it was almost like nothing had happened to Shinji Ikari.

Looking further south however proved differently.

Four days had passed, and the changes in Shinji's body had continued unabated. Shinji could tell her figure had filled out some more from when she had awoken. While it wasn't near Asuka's yet, the modest curves of her body proved that this hadn't been some horrible nightmare.

Shinji was a girl.

"Great, I bet Kensuke is going to try to sell pictures of me now as soon as he finds out what happened."

For a moment Shinji couldn't understand why the thought of Kensuke's picture business came to mind. Maybe it was just something to take her mind off the fact that she was a she? A way of protecting herself from the truth of the matter.

Of course if the growth of her body didn't stop soon, there would probably be several boys wanting to get their hands on those pictures.

Whether it was the stress, mental fatigue, or just the idea that she'd end up being the young equivalent of Misato, Shinji didn't know.

But that didn't stop her from laughing for the first time in a long time.

One room over, things were not as calm. Asuka had already gotten used to the change in his center of balance, and could walk just fine. This also meant he could get up and chase or attack the hospital staff that tried to poke and prod him. They kept insisting this was for Asuka's own good, but Asuka didn't believe one word of it. He knew what they wanted.

Look at the freak. Look at what's happened the Second Child, once the most beautiful and talented girl in school. Now she's nothing but an unremarkable, incompetent, scrawny little boy. Asuka isn't a she anymore; she's a he.

"DAMNIT! HOW could they DO this to me? I bet Shinji came out just fine, same boring little boy as always. Of course the great Third Child's luck would never run out!"

Asuka prowled around the room like a caged animal. The constant movement had helped him get used to this new form, and he could see the changes becoming more pronounced with each passing day. The hardening of the edges around his face was the most telling of the change. Whenever Asuka looked into the mirror, he could see signs of what had once been the face of a beautiful young woman.

Truly, now Asuka Langley Sohryu wasn't a little girl anymore.

Two weeks passed by almost too quickly, and from what Ritsuko could tell the external changes to Shinji and Asuka had been completed. It was odd how the change had taken half the time the doctor had expected, but things happen as they happen. The Children's physical check-ups showed no ailments, or anything out of the ordinary…

At least anything not more out of the ordinary than the situation already was.

Ritsuko had already reported to Commanders Ikari and Fuyutsuki concerning the eminent release of the Children. They had been less than responsive, as usual. As long as she had scheduled synchronization tests for the Children than they were unconcerned. Typical.

Misato and Kaji however were a different matter.

They had been informed of the Children's release as well, and now all three were in Ritsuko's office trying to figure out their next course of action.

Getting Shinji and Asuka home, and reintroducing them to each other.

This was going to be fun… like taking Unit-01 to the dentist, or trying to tell Commander Ikari he owed late fees to an adult movie store.

Misato sat across from Ritsuko while Kaji stood leaning his back against the wall.

Misato was pretty clear on what she thought should happen.

"They're coming home of course!" she shouted.

"I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Shinji and Asuka are still in very unstable psychological conditions. I still think we should keep them within the Geofront until we render the changes back. It's best for their security and their health," said Ritsuko.

"Yeah, leave them in the hospital for 6 months when there isn't anything really wrong with them now. That will help, having them poked at like lab rats. You do that enough to them when they're in the Evas. They need time away from all that if they're going to be able to function at all. Let alone when we need them to pilot in a serious combat situation."

Kaji listened to the two women go back and fourth about the situation. He knew Misato's blatant concern for the Second and Third's combat readiness was a simple ploy she was using against Ritsuko. It was a classic battle, one where the combatants both had the same goal in mind. The best interests of Shinji and Asuka were central to both their positions. They just disagreed as to what those best interests were.

Kaji decided it was time for him to step in.

"Now ladies, we should think of this rationally. Now, the children are going to be stuck like this for some time. And we don't even know if we can change them back at all, let alone when we'll be able to. So I think it's best if we try to keep things as normal as possible. If only just sending them back home so they can be a bit more comfortable. Don't you think Ritsuko?"

Ritsuko didn't like it when he was right. Section 1 had been having troubles growing the new batch of nano-probes from the start. For some reason the nano-probes kept coming up malformed or too big. Either way they weren't going to be doing anything if these problems kept up. Keeping the Second and Third in the Geofront for an extended period of time without a guarantee of success would make things much more difficult in the long run.

They had planned this, Ritsuko was certain of it.

"All right, we'll send them home. But I don't want them making any unnecessary trips outside the apartment. This includes school, especially. We don't want them having to answer any questions from anyone about this." Ritsuko said.

"And what about their classmates, what are they going to think after a prolonged absence? I know their friends are at least going to try to find out what's happened," Misato replied.

Ritsuko countered, "Look, if you have to tell anyone keep it to an absolute minimum. See if you can get Rei to help you out with that. Just keep things controlled and stable as much as possible. Oh, and I'm going to have some extra funds deposited to your account Misato."

This confused Misato. Why was Ritsuko giving her more money?

Knowing the question before it was asked, Ritsuko answered, "You're going to have to do some clothes shopping. I doubt that either of those two have anything they can wear. I suppose Asuka could use some of Shinji's school uniforms but you know she… he won't want Shinji anywhere near… HIS wardrobe."

This was going to be interesting, and not in the "ooh and ahh" way.

Interesting in the "this is totally fucked up" way.

Kaji and Misato had once again decided to split up and take the two home; separately. They figured that with everything that had happened it was best to hold off their meeting as long as possible. They both felt it was best to prepare them for what they would be seeing when the other entered the same room.

Kaji wondered to himself, just exactly how extreme this change was. If it was simply the body or if other…traits had changed accordingly. He grinned as he thought of the possibilities. One of which came to mind, causing the agent to shudder. He certainly hoped this change was extremely thorough.

Otherwise he'd be in a very ugly situation.

He walked to Asuka's room, and steeled himself towards the possibility. He prayed to the Almighty that this wouldn't happen. He didn't enjoy fending off Asuka as a girl. Fending Asuka off now as a boy would just be too freaky for him.

If all was going according to plan, Misato should be half way to the apartment right now with Shinji. The Purple haired goddess of Kaji's life would have enough to deal with when it came time for certain details of Shinji's new life.

One of those "details" that all men feared most above all others: probably the only thing that could scare Gendo Ikari and all of Seele.

The blue Alpine Renault pulled into the parking lot of Misato's apartment building slowly, coming to a stop with its two travelers. Shinji and Misato didn't get out of the car immediately, they just sat there for a moment as the engine cooled. Shinji sat there with her hands in her lap staring at the fabric of the pants she was wearing. Fortunately Shinji didn't need to worry too much about clothing yet. The school uniform the Third Child had been wearing the day of the accident was good enough to get her home, but the underwear Misato had brought felt odd.

Or perhaps it was the absence of a certain part down below Shinji was noticing.

Misato looked at the forlorn expression on Shinji's face, and placed her hand on top of the young girls. She gave it a soft squeeze as Shinji looked up at her. Misato couldn't read the mind of the young boy turned girl, but in this case she didn't need to. It was all written on Shinji's face. The uncertainty of the moment, the confusion, and fear just beneath the surface could all been seen in the eyes of Shinji Ikari.

"Come on, let's get you in the apartment. You'll feel better after a bath and a change of clothes. I think I have some sweatpants that are just your size. After that we can talk about what we're going to do okay?" Misato said.

Shinji looked at her, nodding weakly as they got out of the car. When they had entered the elevator to go up to their floor Shinji asked, "Where's Asuka?"

It had been something that for some reason had been tugging at the back of her mind. The Second Child hadn't so much as come to laugh at the Third Child's plight. This could have been something that Ritsuko had a part in. Since Asuka had also been a part of the experiment it was safe to say she had also been under observation.

Of course, knowing Shinji's luck Asuka was in fact still a she.

"Uh, Shinji, we're going to need to talk about that. Asuka, well you'll get the idea when you see him."

HIM?!

"Asuka got switched too… didn't she?" Shinji asked. She didn't need an answer. It seemed pretty obvious by Misato's slip of the tongue, if it had been such.

"…Yes." Misato answered. Maybe it would do Shinji some good to know that she wasn't alone in this little bizarre nightmare. But then again, whose sick mind could come up with such a scenario? Even for a dream?

They got to the apartment and Misato let Shinji go get in the shower while she got together some clothing for the lass. Misato had found a pair of sweat pants, a loose fitting shirt that wouldn't show too much, and raided Asuka's underwear drawer for a pair of cotton panties and a plain white bra Asuka wasn't bound to miss.

She thought twice about the bra. Shinji probably wouldn't be the same sizes as Asuka, but it was best to let her have some practice putting the supporting wears on. That could be a little fun.

For Misato that is.

Shinji lay back as the hot water eased some of the tension out of her muscles. Bad memories always followed Shinji to the bath, but this time none came. Shinji was living one right now. However Shinji did feel a bit better after finishing the bath.

She put on a soft robe Misato had given her and went to her room. Misato stood there holding the clothes she had managed to find, hoping they were the right size. The sweatpants from her closet though were going to be a bit baggy on Shinji. Not that Misato was fat or anything, but she was older and had grown more then Shinji had. So it was to be expected that her hips were slightly wider then the any girl of fourteen years old.

As expected though, it was all easy until Shinji called through her door.

"Uh, Misato, I don't know how to put this bra on," Shinji timidly called out.

Let the games begin…

Asuka sat quietly in the passenger seat of Kaji's car. It was similar to Misato's but in a black color. Asuka hadn't said much since Kaji had entered his hospital room, and had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the entire trip. Kaji was concerned that Asuka maybe falling into a depressed state. And with Asuka, that was like a volcano sleeping until it one day explodes in an impressive and deadly display of lava and ash.

Something that would be the worst possible event for everyone involved, especially Asuka.

"So, how do you like being a boy so far?" Kaji asked with a hint of his usual merriment in his voice.

"It sucks. I'm all scrawny and boney. I don't look as good as I used to. I'm not even much to look AT!" Asuka replied. He was aggravated all the more by the fact that being a boy would make getting Kaji to understand her… HIS love for him was truly impossible.

Kaji didn't swing that way.

"Shinji probably came out the same wimpy little boy he went in as. At least the apartment will be able to support normal living beings. I'd hate to see that place if Misato was left on her own for more then three days."

Kaji decided to lighten the atmosphere of the car a little. Misato would understand. "You didn't live with her back in college. She couldn't be bothered to clean to save her life. Ritsuko always complained about the chaos Misato surrounded her self with. Ritsuko once told me that if left to her own devices Misato could destroy an entire city just by living in it and not cleaning up after herself."

Asuka chuckled a bit; not a out and out laugh but it was still something.

"Maybe I can at least get Shinji to cook up something good tonight. He maybe housebroken, but he's a damned good chef," Asuka said.

"Might as well tell him now," Kaji thought.

"Yes, SHE is a better cook then Misato ever was."

Asuka stared ahead. "SHE?!"

"Shinji also has to deal with a few problems now. But at least you both get to find out how the other half really lives."

"SHINJI'S A GIRL?!" Asuka screamed out in shock, than broke down into laughter for the first time in a long time.

Kaji let Asuka laugh at Shinji's misfortune. It was a way to get Asuka to accept his own situation.

"You laugh now, but just wait," Kaji said with a big grin.

"What do you mean?"

"You know all those jokes men make about a woman's time of the month? Well you're going to learn first hand WHY we make those jokes," Kaji said, his grin growing even bigger.

Asuka didn't understand… yet.

The two males arrived at Misato's apartment without incident and let themselves in. Kaji wanted to talk to Misato before leaving to discuss some things and coordinate anything Shinji and Asuka may need. What they walked into however was peculiar to say the least.

And since they couldn't actually SEE what was happening, could have been taken the wrong way.

"Ouch, Misato I'm telling you this is too tight!" came Shinji's voice.

"I don't get it, this should be much looser then this," this time Misato's voice.

"Well it's not, it feels like your trying to crush me to death."

"Oh it's not that bad."

"Says you, and stop touching me there, he he, I'm ticklish."

Kaji and Asuka blushed, profusely.

They wouldn't be… doing THAT now would they?

Just then Misato and Shinji stepped out, with a white cotton bra in Misato's hands and Shinji wearing a loose shirt that left most everything to the imagination.

"I swear, it's not possible for you to have bigger breasts than Asuka. There is just no way," Misato, said confounded.

"I'm sorry, but I don't even know what goes into figuring out sizes for these… things," Shinji said, pointing to her breasts as Misato and she stepped into the living room where Kaji and Asuka were waiting. Kaji let out a nervous laugh as Misato glared at him. She didn't need to ask; she knew exactly what he had been thinking.

Shinji and Asuka however ignored the two. They just stared at each other trying to find a hold on the moment. Here they were, two people who had been so use to the way the other looked, moved, sounded, maybe even thought now changed on such a fundamental level.

Asuka's face had hardened with more masculine features. His eyes and cheekbone had lowered slightly and all the appearances of the young woman Asuka had been growing into had vanished.

Shinji also had changed, from the scrawny young man he had been into a developing thin young woman. Most noticeable were the facial features having smoothed out more, and the addition of the breasts of course.

It was like seeing the other for the first time all over again.

Minus the windy flight deck and unscheduled peep show of course.

"Let's go to the kitchen, I need a beer," Misato said, breaking the quite accord the two children had.

"So we're stuck like this for the next six months?" Shinji asked quietly.

"More or less, it all depends on how fast Ritsuko can make more of those nano-probes. And even if she can get them ready faster, she still needs to figure out if they can even reverse this. It was a possibility that no one even looked into before. Now that they are they need to see if they can repeat it without hurting the two of you." Misato answered.

They had all sat at the kitchen table, a beer in Misato's hand, and tea for the other three. Shinji and Asuka were still quiet, save for Shinji's question.

"But the good thing is, for now you don't have to go to school. I'll be speaking with your principal tomorrow about the whole thing. For the most part I want you two to avoid going outside except when necessary. Pretty much just when an Angel attacks or to do some light grocery shopping."

"So we're stuck here under house arrest too?!" Asuka said.

"Not so much. I just figure it'll be easier for you two to deal with things if you don't have to worry about being seen in public. But if it makes you feel better I could always invite your friends to come over and keep you company." Misato replied, knowing Asuka's reaction.

"YOU THINK I WANT THEM SEEING ME LIKE THIS?!"

That was what Misato expected.

"It's going to come out anyways Asuka. They are going to start worrying when you two don't show up for school soon. Hikari called twice yesterday asking about you and Touji and Kensuke have been coming by the apartment for the past five days trying to find Shinji. You can't keep this from them for long."

"She's right Asuka," Shinji's quiet voice said.

Asuka knew it too, but didn't like the idea of his best friend coming here to find the great Asuka Langley Sohryu little more then a perverted male.

But Asuka didn't know if he could go too long without seeing his friend.

"There is some good news though. I'll be taking you two shopping this weekend!" came Misato's enthusiastic sound.

"Shopping?" Shinji responded with some trepidation. The urge to shop it seemed was NOT part of the female genetic makeup. This was proven when Asuka brightened up and went on about finding the right type of cloths and shoes to wear.

Shinji felt like hiding for a month right then.

It was late, very late. Shinji had been lying in her bed for hours just staring at the ceiling.

Her bed, not his bed. Not anymore.

Shinji had gone to bed wearing the clothes Misato had given her earlier. They were very comfortable and in a way helped calm Shinji down. But it didn't do much to keep her mind calm. Even with the soothing music of Beethoven floating through the ear buds did little to push back the sickening reality that she may be forever stuck as a she.

Granted, Shinji had more pressing things to worry about and have nightmares over, but this was just one more bad turn on a horrible ride.

Eventually, Shinji could probably come to accept it.

But for the time being it was impossible to fathom being a female for the rest of her life. It just wasn't something Shinji had ever considered. Now the Third Child had to face the now overwhelming possibility of being a female and all the things that involved.

Shinji looked at her clock, and saw that it was already six o'clock in the morning. She decided to get an early start on the day and went to the kitchen to make some tea.

Asuka was already at the table, a cup of tea in his hand as well.

Neither spoke as Shinji made her way to the stove to prepare her tea. Asuka turned his head to watch Shinji as she stood there. Shinji didn't notice Asuka looking at her, and tried hard not to look back at the red headed boy at the table. Asuka looked on, taking in every feature of the new Shinji Ikari before him. The Shinji Ikari that now had a female's body as he now had a male's body. Asuka knew Shinji was trying to avoid looking at him.

If only to pretend for a moment that they were both normal.

Shinji sat at the table across from Asuka. Asuka adjusted his line of sight from Shinji's head down to her chest. That had been a shock for him, to find out that Shinji had been gifted with a larger bust then he had had. But there was something else behind the young boys look.

Longing some would say. Longing for this whole nightmare to be over soon and a return to what passed for normality for the two. But there was something else.

"I don't get it," Asuka finally said.

"Get what?" Shinji asked, blushing when she noticed Asuka's line of sight.

"I don't get why boys are always staring at my chest. I'm a boy now, shouldn't I be noticing something?"

"I don't know. I honestly never thought much about it. I've only really looked at Misato's, and it's not like I had much of an option at times."

Asuka smiled lightly, "She doesn't exactly hide it does she?"

"No, now I have to figure out everything. It's not easy."

"I've got it just as bad as you. I can't stand this body, and that damned penis of mine does as it pleases. It can get very uncomfortable at times," Asuka said.

"I know. But I think you'll have a bit of an easier time getting used to that then I will."

"Oh and how do you figure that?"

"Remember the bra?"

They both had a small laugh at that.

"Yeah, I remember."

They fell into a comfortable silence. Neither had much too really say.

They just fell into the moment and for a time were two normal (relatively speaking) children.

And that was just fine with them.

"It was the first really peaceful time we had ever had together. Ever since I had met her we had never really gotten along. She'd be constantly upset over everything I did and I'd just back down and close up. That first night home though, we had enough pressing down on us. It was a chance for the both of us to just gain a handle on the moment. And it was that night that I thought for a moment, maybe there had been something there before between us."

Yui sat before her father, the shock being replaced by rapt fascination. Some where down the line she had left her amazed speculation go and had become so intently wrapped up in her father's story, she craved to know more.

In a way, it was like hearing the story of how Shinji and Asuka had fallen in love all over again. Yui had always loved to hear about the courtship of her parents. But that now was known to be slightly false. The first time she had asked her father about it, she felt as if she were actually watching her parents as young adults fighting and falling in love.

This story was just as captivating to her.

"It must have been weird," Yui said.

"It was. We stayed home for the next couple of days, just trying to get used to living like that. It was… interesting."

Misato was passing by Asuka's room on her way to the kitchen, when all of the sudden she heard the oddest exchange coming from behind Asuka's door.

"Listen, I don't like you, and you don't like me. But we're gonna have to find some way to get along if we're gonna make it through this alive," Said Asuka's voice

"Asuka, are you talking to your penis again?" Misato said in a teasing tone, and then ran as Asuka came barreling out of his room intent on doing physical harm to the Major.

"She said that?" Yui said through the laughter she had been consumed by.

"Yup, it was as if she were at war with it. It was a great source of amusement for Misato. You wouldn't believe the 'Little Asuka' jokes she came up with," Shinji answered, a grin on his face.

"I can't even imagine the look on Mom's face when she heard that."

"Well, it was something she learned to laugh at when she got older. That weekend however…" Shinji trailed off at that.

"What happened that weekend?"

"Our friends were introduced to Ms. Shinji Ikari and Mr. Asuka Langley Sohryu. If you thought that last bit was funny, you're going to die laughing when you hear this."

They had just gotten back from the mall, and Shinji was tired. Misato had taken her all over the place having her try on outfit after outfit. It had gotten especially embarrassing when Misato insisted Shinji needed some items from Victoria's Secret.

Shinji felt that some normal underwear was just fine, but Misato would not be stopped.

Then had come the makeup.

It had felt that they covered her face in goop.

Misato had sent Asuka out on his own to shop. As Misato had said, "Asuka knows how to shop for clothes. You need my help."

Help? More like Misato enjoying the chance to go on a shopping binge even if the clothes were all for Shinji. But she had to admit; some of those outfits did look pretty on her. And after a while she had actually started to enjoy herself.

"Shinji, come with me," Misato said as she dragged Shinji and some of their packages back into the bathroom. Asuka just went in and put his new clothes away. As he did he saw the yellow sundress he had worn as a girl. In almost every picture where they had been having some fun Asuka had been wearing that dress.

He ran his fingers along the fabric in silent reflection.

Time to move on… but how?

Asuka was pulled from his thoughts by a knocking at the door.

Kensuke, Touji, Hikari, and Rei had somehow met at the front of the apartment. Misato had called each the day before, but she hadn't told them anything about Shinji and Asuka. Rei already knew but said nothing. She had been asked numerous times over the past two weeks, but had not said. She was unaware if the Second and Third Children's condition was classified or not so she had erred on the side of caution.

"So what do you think Misato wanted to talk to us about?" Hikari asked.

"It has to be about Shinji and Asuka. Maybe they were injured in an experiment or something," Kensuke replied.

"But wouldn't she tell us if something had happened to them? They're our friends!"

"Not if it were classified."

"I don't think it's anything that serious. She sounded pretty happy on the phone when she called. If something had happened she would have been more serious," Touji said.

The four children arrived at their destination, M. Katsuragi staring at them from its humble nameplate. Touji knocked on the door as the four stood there, three of them pondering what awaited them on the other side.

They had not expected two long arms to reach out and drag Hikari and Rei into the apartment. To the boys it was reminiscent of several tentacle hentai movies they had seen. Had they not been certain the arms that had grabbed the girls were human Touji and Kensuke would have expected to see shreds of cloth beginning to fly.

It turned out that the arms had belonged to the very much human Misato Katsuragi.

As Misato dragged the girls off to the bathroom she shouted back at the stooges, "Come on in and make yourselves comfortable."

Touji and Kensuke just stared for a moment then stepped in, removing their shoes.

"What do you think that was all about?" Kensuke asked. Little did the duo know that they were being spied on: by the soon to be revealed male Asuka.

Asuka didn't know exactly how to approach this situation. On the one part she could have just hid and then waited for them to leave. But… the possibility of causing severe mental trauma to two of the Three Stooges had its claws in his mind.

Hikari's shocked scream from the bathroom gave Asuka his cue.

Touji and Kensuke were just about to run for the bathroom when a red headed man stepped out in front of them. The boy had blue eyes.

"Hello boys," said the new comer.

In a German accent:

No way. No way in HELL!

There WAS a resemblance but could it be…?

Nah, probably just Asuka's brother visiting.

But she didn't have a brother, not one that she talked about anyways.

Touji decided to ask the question after his jaw was pulled back into is hinge, "Are you Asuka's brother?"

Asuka chuckled, that had been the most logical assumption Touji had ever really made in front of the Second Child. In fact, it could have been a great cover.

Had Asuka not blown it.

"Sorry, but I don't have a brother," Asuka replied.

Touji and Kensuke moved towards the Second Child. Morbid curiosity and shock had briefly overrode their learned response to getting anywhere within striking range of Asuka. Touji even went as far as to poke at Asuka's forehead to make sure that what they were seeing was in fact real.

Asuka for his part just chuckled as the two befuddled boys continued their inspection. Were Asuka still female he would have already attacked them? It was taking an enormous amount of will not too right then. In the long term though, it would be something for him to laugh about after it was over.

If it ever WAS over.

Kensuke and Touji moved back and turned around, huddling together.

"So?" Touji asked.

"It could be a really good disguise. Some make up and a few prosthetics and Asuka could be made up to look like a guy. There's only one certain way to know," Kensuke answered.

Touji's blood ran cold. He could figure out pretty easily what Kensuke was thinking, and even as strong as he was the taller boy would never have dared try it. Kensuke was giving Touji a look that just screamed something dangerous that he had been volunteered for.

"NO WAY!"

"Come on Touji, if you do it then you have a higher chance for survival then I do. Also, if this is a guy then you don't have to hold back. If not, then I'll be sure to lay flowers at your grave every month."

There was no getting out of it for the athletically gifted lad. Kensuke was going to use every piece of logic and cajoling in his arsenal until Touji backed down, and Touji didn't have the brains to last long.

Touji would have to grope Asuka to confirm what they were really seeing.

Touji turned around and faced Asuka, but if you asked him he was facing death itself. He extended his arms and turned his head slightly, then started what could have been his final walk.

It was a long walk.

"He's going to try to grab my breast! OH THIS WILL BE WORTH IT!" Asuka thought.

Asuka wasn't going to attack Touji at all, and if you looked at his face you could see the red headed boy trying to restrain himself from breaking down in laughter.

Touji got within groping range of Asuka, and so far hadn't felt anything. All it would take was one step and then it would all be over.

"If I'm going to die, at least I'm going to die with something soft in my hands." Touji said. This was it.

Touji took a step forward, and his hands ended up FLAT against Asuka's chest. No bulging, nothing being held down. FLAT as a board.

Touji turned his head and looked at where his hands were. Upon confirming not only the fact he wasn't grabbing anything, but that he was in fact still breathing Touji jumped back as if he had been hit. His eyes had grown huge and some would say he had gone a shade paler then even Rei had accomplished.

It was true.

"ASUKA'S A GUY!" Touji screamed in shock and terror.

Kensuke joined Touji in shock and horror while Asuka began rolling on the ground laughing his ass off.

But if Asuka was a guy, that meant…

SHINJI HAD…

In the bathroom, Hikari had been considerably less touchy feely then the boys. She didn't need to. Shinji was sitting in the middle of the bathroom in her undergarments as Misato moved around her like a bee. Hikari took a moment and pinched herself to see if this hadn't been some sort of dream, or hallucination.

When that was confirmed her brain decided a nap was in order, and Hikari fell in a dead faint.

Hikari slowly came to consciousness, her faint not having been too severe with a bad headache. She just blinked as Rei started down at her.

"Rei… did you see what I saw?" Hikari asked in a whisper.

"What did you see?"

"I'm saw a girl in front of me that looks like Shinji in bra and panties and Misato doing a makeover."

"Then you are seeing the same thing I am."

Hikari was shocked. Rei hadn't been surprised at all. But that didn't surprise Hikari as much considering that Rei would have already known.

"Hikari, give me some help here. Shinji's hair is not cooperating," Misato called to the teenaged girl.

After finally getting over her shock and off the floor Hikari slowly went into "Makeover Mode" as she liked to think of it and took some hair curlers.

Shinji could only hope Hikari would have a calming influence on Misato. She didn't want to end up a victim of her guardian's fashion sense.

Rei continued to stare.

It had been maybe an hour after the four young people had arrived at the apartment before Misato and Hikari introduced the fruits of their labor.

Had they not know it was their best friend under there Touji and Kensuke may have started drooling right there on the spot. Asuka had already told them most of the happenings and why they hadn't been seen: The unclassified version at least.

Now Shinji stood before them, in a conservative white button up blouse and a blue skirt that went down to just above her knees. Her hair had been styled short, but framed the young woman's face nicely. The slight makeup also had brought out a little more of the exquisite beauty that Misato and Hikari had crafted like sculptors.

And Shinji did have a very nice rack too.

They had all sat down and discussed things. How they would work out school and the like with finals fast approaching. And of course how they would try to keep as few people from finding out as possible.

It had degraded from serious discussion to another get together party of Misato's after that. The major had started drinking and getting a chuckle out of teasing the boys.

Misato had a lot of fun trying to tease Asuka.

But at some point during the evening, Shinji had made her way out to the balcony. Even now she didn't like being around crowds of people.

Shinji stood out on the balcony looking at the city before her. While she was glad her friends had come to see her, Shinji didn't know how to act around them now. Before, they had talked about things that she didn't quite understand. Touji and Kensuke teasing her about staring at parts of Ayanami when she was still a he. How would they be able to talk that freely about such things again? How could Shinji hope to understand what they thought, now that he had become the group that was a topic of some conversations?

Shinji sighed, feeling even worse then when she had come out before. She didn't even notice the balcony door slide open then closed, or the steps behind her until Touji settled down against the bar to her left.

"So, how's it feel?" Touji asked.

"Weird. I can't really describe it; I just don't know the words. Two weeks ago everything was normal. I put on my pants and went to school. Now, now everything I feel feels amplified a bit. It feels like I'm being pulled in ten different directions and I don't know which way to go. I get the impulse to do one thing, but then I remember that I would never do that," Shinji said, desperation and sadness falling into her voice.

"Can't say I know what you mean, but then again who would. I don't think this has ever really happened to someone before, at least not like this."

Shinji looked out across the landscape, her thoughts coming a bit easier for the moment.

"Then, there's when I look in the mirror. It's me, but it's not me. It's not the face of Shinji Ikari anymore. It's like I'm just his sister or a completely different person. The only thing that makes it easier is that I can try to think that my mother looked something like this when she was my age. As if I've gained a part of her back because of this."

"Maybe, but do you really want to stay a girl just for that?" Touji asked, curious to if this would be something Shinji would remain for the rest of his… her life.

"No, I want to switch back. It's just…"

"Just what?"

"Just that I feel more comfortable now. It could just be me getting use to the changes my body went through, but I feel better about it now then when it happened."

"Sounds 'bout right. This will make things a bit more difficult though. Me and Kensuke can't tell dirty jokes around you or tease you about the girls anymore until you switch back."

"Even if they can't pull it off, and I'm stuck like this forever, we're still friends right?"

"Damn straight. You may wear a skirt now, but you're still Shinji. Besides, I kinda thought of you and Kensuke as brothers I never had. Now I guess I have a new sister."

Now, while Shinji would have never done anything remotely close to what she did next before the accident, her emotions did feel a bit more intense then before. To hear such words from Touji, her best and first true friend, she couldn't help herself.

And so, Shinji hugged Touji. This took Touji off a bit, quite a bit actually as Touji had never really been embraced like this from any girl other then his sister. Not like he was going to complain though. While he didn't show it much in public, he still had a rather soft heart for people he liked. Touji wrapped his arms around the girl who had been one of his best friends protectively almost. There was nothing romantic about the embrace, nothing signaling any sort of wish from the other. It was like two members of a family exchanging their feelings for the other.

And Touji would be damned, if anyone hurt his family. He had gotten over what had happened to Mari a long time ago. While he knew Shinji would still be fighting the Angels to save all their lives, if anyone human tried to hurt her there would be Hell to pay.

Even if it was Asuka.

"After all was said and done, Touji was really my best friend. He never did think before he said anything, and even though at times it could get him trouble it also meant he was serious. He had meant what he said that night on the balcony, and after the Thirteenth Angel came it meant more to me then anything," Shinji said with a light smile. As he had gone on he had gained a sort of dream-like countenance Yui had never seen her father have before.

Yui sat there and watched her father, and hung there waiting for him to continue.

To Be Continued…

Authors Notes: ~Looks back over his writing~ O_O MY GOD IN HEAVEN! 20 PAGES! This must be the longest I've ever written for one chapter. But there was a ton of things I wanted to get into this to help move things along. Hopefully, after all is said and pre-read you'll all have a lot of fun reading it. I have to say, the entire process of thinking up and writing this thing is at times a nightmare. But when you get past things like pronouns and such, and focus in on the situations you want to present it starts coming out much more easily.

Thanks to my pre-readers: Ghola, Joedoebell, RagnarokZ, Myssa Elaine Rei, Angel 17, Random1377, and Rakna.

And remember, after the fic we will have a special OUTTAKE OMAKE CHAPTER!

But first… you didn't think I'd end the chapter without one did you?

OMAKE!

He hadn't intended for Touji to find out, but unfortunately Kensuke's luck just wasn't that good today. Usually he let the taller boy in on his schemes, and of course on any chance they'd get to sell pictures of the girls. But not this time. This time if Kensuke had let Touji know the pain would have been extreme.

Like the pain he was feeling right now due to the right hook Touji had just let loose on him.

"I can't believe you were selling pictures of Shinji! If I don't stop you now, soon you'll be fantasizing about her... I mean him!" Touji cried, indignation that Kensuke would sell pictures of the young… girl he considered a sister pulsing through his voice.

The silence and guilty look from Kensuke told Touji all he needed to know.

"Sweet Mother of God!!!" Touji screamed and then let loose another hard punch to poor poor Kensuke's gut.