Author's Note: So here's chapter three, I would have gotten it up sooner, actually, but some things came up. In response to an e-mail I received, yes, I have decided to post all of my works over at Google Docs, and I will be leaving a link to it on my profile page, and I suggest, that if you like this piece, read some of my others, especially Sanctuary Within Red Oblivion. Also, I'll be leaving a link on my profile to view tidbits of upcoming chapters, before I post them here. I am also in great need of a Beta, if interested, send me a message.


After finishing his toast, which tasted slightly burnt, perhaps a sly payback from Asuka, Shinji showered, washing away the muck, grime, and smell from the rain before dressing himself in clean clothing, and finally tidying up the house absently. Asuka had wantonly thrown pillows here and there, the television set was left on, and a weird stain on the carpet, which smelled oddly like soda had Shinji on his knee's with a small brush pad and several chemicals at his side in a vain attempt to scrub it out.

Pushing himself up off the floor, satisfied with his work, he deposited the brush into the sink, yawned once for good measure, and stared blankly around the house, unsure of what to do.

Unbidden, the image of a blue haired and red eyed female came to mind as he stood in the center of the living room, a rather acute and intense sense of remembrance overtaking him, the soft press of her head on his chest, the way her finger tips had curled on his back, the smell of her hair.. Shinji forcibly pushed back the occurrence into the far recesses of his mind, determined to go about his day without certain thoughts intruding on it, and that day was going to start with a walk.

To clear his mind, at the very least.

Gathering his mind he exited the apartment, making his way down the stairs and onto the busy streets of Tokyo-3, the normal hustle and bustle of a new day greeting him with blaring horns and screeching tires.

Lovely, he thought, jostled as several adults brushed past him, seemingly intent as to stepping on him, nearly tripping as he slid to the side to avoid the confrontation. Without realizing it, his feet moving on their own accord, he found himself across the street from a certain park, a certain bench, the umbrella still laying broken on the hard ground several feet from him.

Rei!

The sudden thought burst into his mind, he hadn't even checked on her to make sure she had reached home safely, turning his attention around him, he finally settled on a nearby payphone, walking over to it and slipping several quarters into the machine.

The soft sound of ringing greeted his ears, following by a click and then silence.

"This is Rei Ayanami."

Shinji reminded himself after a moment to breathe.

"Rei? This is Shinji."

A moment of silence.

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if you made it home safely, I meant to call last night to make sure you were okay but I forgot.." Shinji trailed off lamely, annoyed that he had always felt he had to explain himself to the red eyed girl.

"All is well, I arrived safely. There is no need to worry."

Shinji may have simply imagined it, but for several seconds he thought he heard Rei's voice crack slightly.

"Hey, Rei? Is everything okay?" Shinji tested gently.

"All is well, Ikari-kun, I will see you later today for the synchronization test." Another sharp click greeted him before silence, he hung the phone back onto it's receiver, sighing deeply as he leaned against the telephone box.

Back in her apartment, a slender hand still rested on the phone as Rei Ayanami blinked once, shifting uncomfortably as a finger tip traveled along the length of the phone, surprising herself with the thought of picking it back up and calling Shinji back.

Pulling her hand away she sighed and went back to her bed, curling up under the blankets, shivering once in the dark, dank room. Idly she rolled over, turning her crimson gazed to a pair of glasses sitting on a desk, the lenses cracked. The Commander's glasses.

The normal increment of peace that usually enveloped her whenever her eyes laid on her treasure did not come this time, the feeling of loneliness remaining, as well as a tender ache in the regions of her chest she couldn't describe.

She closed her eyes firmly, bringing her chin up to her knees and lay huddled beneath the covers, a single tear fell from her eyelash and vanished, soaked into the soft down of her pillow beneath her head.

"Ikari-kun..."