Cliché the third. The kiss.
As he laid with his back against the wall, his head resting on his knees, relaying the events that had passed, Shinji was sure that somewhere along the line he had been engulfed again, his physical self dissolved into the LCL of his entry plug on the last batch of tests.
That was the only explanation for the series of rather bizarre and strange events that had been happening in the last few days. Either that or he was hallucinating again, and the harmonics-synch training exercise wasn't over yet.
He felt the warm liquid in the tight confines he was brushing against him, and he was sure that once he opened his eyes, he would see no light, and if he squinted and forced his sight, he will then see the orange tint of the LCL all around him.
That Asuka had intruded on the men's shower room, and walked up to him while he was in the middle of the fourth lathering, rinsing and repeat was, although not something normal, neither out of character for the girl that had made an entrance in his quiet, unassuming life quite a while ago (sometimes it felt like years) in the same way she kept a strange hold on it.
Like a gust of wind on a hot summer day.
And every time he thought of that comparison, he though of that gust of wind on that hot summer day.
So when she marched straight to him, her face the plain image of the verb "to fume" along with another choice adjectives, he was sure any time now the members of Section-whatever would find him turned into a bloodied pulp.
For whatever reason, he felt the need to protect himself by cupping his crotch with both hands while looking frantically for a towel to cover himself.
What happened afterwards was what made him question the reality of it all.
Asuka had stopped and fidgeted with herself, apparently noticing that he was in the middle of taking a shower until the moment she opened the door of the stall he was using. Somehow it felt like she was checking him out, and if he squinted a bit, he might have been able to catch the faintest of blushes in his roommate's face.
Nah! It must have been all the steam in the showers.
That was it! He was tired, exhausted and confused, that was the only explanation on why he had been having such a strange dream while in the middle of the training.
So as he lay within the liquid, trying to sort out the feeling and the actions, to find a link between them, he sighed tiredly. After hours of solo sync testing in Unit 01, the young pilot had already been mentally exhausted and just about close to collapse, and the little scene on the shower room hadn't helped at all.
He prayed once he got out Misato wouldn't be tied down with anything pressing, just so he could go home and get some sleep. Sighing, he opened his eyes, only to be greeted with Misato's steamy bathroom, the water, once hot now merely luke-warm. He got up, making sure the door was locked closed, before tying the towel to his hips, letting the water go down the drain.
He finished brushing his teeth, and stiffing a yawn, he dressed into his shorts and t-shirt, ready to go to sleep. As he was toweling his hair dry, his shirt thrown on to his shoulder, he opened the door, surprising Asuka in the process, her hand still poised on the place where the doorknob used to be.
They regarded each other for a second; Asuka was dressed in her usual yellow tank top and navy blue terry cloth shorts, shorts she now felt were so short, they could be booty shorts instead, while the tank top felt ridiculously short and tight, stretched up to the point where she felt the cloth rubbing against her skin.
Or maybe it was because she suddenly felt so…naked as she saw Shinji in the middle of dressing, his hands mussing his hair.
Again, an awkward silence fell into the apartment, and it just felt like they were having a lot of those recently. Asuka looked at Shinji's mused hair, the bangs falling onto his eyes, and she just felt compelled to draw them away with her fingers from his eyes. She could feel her hand twitching, almost as if it had a mind of her own, and it took all of her will power to force it to remain at her side, crossing her left arm over her chest protectively, almost reflexively, while her left one tugged at the him of her shirt, trying to pull it lower, filling it more like a piece of clothing than actual clothing.
Shinji stood transfixed, his hands absently patting his hair for fear that he might do something…rash. He had seen Asuka in the same clothes before, in fact he had seen her using the same combination just last night, but some how they seemed today that much more enticing, they felt that much more short and constricting, he couldn't help but stare at her with slightly opened mouth, trying desperately to say something incredibly suave, or remotely intelligent.
"Uh…" He stammered.
Of course he failed on both accounts.
----- -----
"So…"
Asuka sighed and closed her eyes, tilting her head lazily to her right to make Shinji know she was acknowledging his attempt to start a conversation. She opened her eyes and saw his smiling face, and asked herself again why was she doing this.
"Ah…D-did you…I mean was it good?"
Asuka smiled softly at the flustered attempts of Shinji, and decided to cut him some slack instead of blowing over his choice of words, even as the annoying voice inside her head was telling her to make him apologize for making it sound like they had done something perverted.
"Yeah…" She answered back, looking again at the moon high above their head. She remembered this one time they had been in the same position; they had just battled Matarael, and the three pilots had decided to enjoy the relative calmness and stillness of the night. After Rei had decided to leave them, Shinji and Asuka had stayed a bit more before calling it a night.
For Shinji, that was, perhaps the time he officially fell for Asuka; he had gotten up, and had already patted the grass of his plug suit, ready to walk back to the apartment when Asuka had called for him. Shinji had turned over to her and she had simply stretched her hand, wordlessly telling him to help her up, a playful smile and twinkle in her eye.
Asuka still wondered if Shinji had done it on purpose; she had given him her arm to trick him, and while pushing her up, she would pull him down to race him to the apartment, but somewhere along the line, she had pulled at him to hard, and he had pushed much to harder to avoid falling; the end result had been both of them tumbling down, her on top of him, and he was too surprised to try and get up; they were both leaning towards the other, looking straight into their eyes for what seemed like an eternity.
In the end, the stillness had been shattered by the passage of time, Asuka had gotten up with an anger that even for her seemed too forced to be true, while Shinji couldn't forget the look of her eyes, as he saw his own reflection on her blue orbs.
"Remember the time we were here?"
Shinji blushed and looked down, nodding with a small smile. "Y-yeah it was fun ba-"
"Of course it was fun, third…" Asuka said with a soft smile that took away the bite of her calling Shinji by his designation instead of his name. "You got to see me up close and personal and even hold me…" She stood up and stretched herself. "Any man in this city would have killed to be in your shoes."
She patted her skirt down and glanced at him. "I had fun today too…"
"Yeah, who would have thought dinner and a movie would be that fun?"
Asuka smirked. "Oh please…you have to give me some credit…"
Shinji simply said nothing, but got up as well, not noticing, or perhaps ignoring the fact that he was too close into Asuka's personal space.
"Of course I had to salvage the whole date from your being you." She crossed her arms before adding with a hint of mischief. "What possessed you to think that was a decent restaurant to take a lady?"
----- -----
The weather was nice; not really sunny, not overtly cloudy.
Simply nice.
"Shinji are you ready yet?"
Asuka studied her reflection on the full-length mirror in front of her and smiled. She was, as always beautiful in every way; her long red hair was up in her usual half pigtails, her A-10's acting as berets.
Of course she was dressed in a sundress, she knew he liked it when she wore them, he had never said so out loud, but his wandering eyes had proved it time and again that he really really did love the way those simple dresses brought out her beauty and how they clung to her frame.
That hentai.
Instead of her usual yellow this one was a dark pink one, hugging her frame enticingly. She had debated between outfits (not that it had anything to do with trying to dazzle the third) and since this was going to be an adult date, the type where you realize once and for all if what you feel for another person is true or simple raving hormone-induced madness, she decided for the sophisticated-young adult approach.
The dark pink dress had been the latest one she had bought noticing it had been one that Shinji had spent some more minutes looking at while waiting for her to finish trying on clothes. The squared top, tight enough to accent her figure, but not tight enough to be deemed slutty, flowing into a skirt several tasteful inches over her knees, made a stark contrast against her pale skin and reddish brown hair, the white sandals she held in her hand ready to be slipped on once the idiot had finished getting ready completed her look. The faint traces of makeup, consisting mainly of lip-gloss and eye shadow, accentuated rather than masked her features. And to top it off, the faint smell of lavander wafted from her delicate skin.
She smiled and winked at her own reflection. Just because this was supposed to be a get-it-over-with date didn't mean she wouldn't put her best effort behind it; at least, that way when they both realized that what they felt for the other (or in Asuka's case, once it became obvious her so-called friends and foes they were simply grasping at straws) the blame wouldn't be on her side because she let herself go.
But deep within her, a little voice piped up, saying that perhaps she was putting too much effort into it.
Asuka looked at her twin in the mirror, and frowned. She looked at her wristwatch again, and muttered a curse in German.
"Shinji Ikari, you better be out here in 3 minutes or less, or So help me-"
"I'm ready." Shinji answered, opening the door.
Silence fell as both took into their respective outfit, not able to say a word.
"What is that?" Asuka asked with a shocked expression on her face, while pointing to Shinji's outfit.
"Ah…I didn't know what to wear so…"
Asuka stared at him for another second. This isn't happening she thought to herself. He can't be THAT big of an idiot.
She really had expected him to show up using the same school outfit; black slacks, white shirt, blue undershirt and white tennis shoes, and that somehow, her mind reminded her that, much like Shinji, Rei too appeared to have that as the only available option of clothing outside of a plug suit.
Hmm…Maybe they are related after all. Asuka shook her head, in part to forget the ridiculous notion that Shinji and Rei were somehow connected, in part to force herself to actually believe Shinji had chosen such an outfit for a date.
She blinked, Shinji was still buttoning down his shirt and putting on his shoes.
The same outfit was there.
"What the hell are you wearing?"
Shinji looked down at his jeans and white button down shirt. "Uhhh you said to dress for going out so I th-"
"Shinji, for you dressing up normally means to put on the freshest set of black slacks and white button down." She eyes him with appreciation. "I never thought you had something other than the school uniform."
"I could say the same thing." He said while they walked towards the door with their shoes in hands. "What is it with you and sundresses?"
"They're nice and comfortable and cool." Asuka stuck out her tongue. "Which is more than I can say for your boring shirt." She smiled. "The blue undershirt at least brought out your eyes." She frowned.
"Wh-what?"
"You look like a bum."
Asuka closed into him, invading his personal space; Shinji could smell the faint scent of her body wash; a combination of honeydew and cantaloupe. Her hair smelled of her usual shampoo; fresh and sweet, like fresh ripped strawberries. All in all, when combined with her lavender perfume was a smell that Shinji quickly committed to his memory.
Sweet, but not overbearingly sweet. That's when Shinji realized something; Asuka smelled like a girl; feminine and playful. It was one of those things you never notice, but when you finally realize it, it turns your whole world upside down.
"I swear Shinji, your collar is all crooked, anyone who sees you will think you're homeless or something…"
Shinji had always known Asuka was a girl, she was careful to remind him at every waking hour, be it by accusing him of being a hentai, or by walking around the apartment in teasingly short clothes, very much like Misato, but with a huge difference:
Asuka was of his same age.
Any following logical thought was derailed as Shinji felt Asuka's slender fingers come in contact with the nape of his neck, feeling a soft, almost invisible pull towards her.
He couldn't help but, once again become bewitched by her blue eyes.
Asuka stepped away, feeling a little self conscious. She immediately began to tell herself she had only done it in that I am doing you a favor by going out with you so you should look your best way, but somehow, on a subconscious level, she knew something had irrevocably changed.
"So, shall we?"
She swallowed the big lump in her throat, showing Shinji her open hand.
"Yeah." Shinji smiled. "Let's…"
The train ride had been filled with inane conversation; stuff at school, Hikari and Toji's antics, upcoming tests. All of this amongst the plans concerning the current outing for both teens.
"So what do you think? Food first or movie?" Shinji asked as they exited the train walking with the rest of the people into the shopping district.
"I want to do some window shopping first." Asuka answered, dragging a half unwilling, half very willing Shinji towards the stores, stopping before the big windowpanes and gawking at the various dresses and outfits in display.
Shinji could only groan in dismay as he saw that Asuka had chosen the street that housed the most shops, as well as the most people crowding it's boardwalks.
"C'mon Shinji, at least try to look like you're having fun." Asuka pulled him behind hear, smiling good-naturedly.
And Shinji couldn't think that maybe it was because she was still holding his hand.
Shinji and Asuka smiled to themselves, thinking the same thing.
This is going to be great.
----- -----
"C'mon Asuka you don't need to be so angry about it."
Pleading with Asuka often had two and only two outcomes for Shinji; she would turn to him and shout that it was his fault for being a stupid idiot, or a pervert, or some sort of obscure combination of both.
Or…
No, wait…it was only that outcome for Shinji.
"Shut up idiot…it's your fault I didn't bring any money, if I had known you were planning on taking me to the shopping district…"
Shinji would have loved to interject and let Asuka know that it had been actually her the one who had masterminded the whole outing, her the one who had chosen the destination, and therefore her the one who was at blame.
But contrary to popular belief, Shinji, while being wimpy and whiny, was also smart where it counted, although in all fairness one didn't needed to be a rocket scientist to know that telling Asuka she was wrong in any way, especially after she had been unable to make any purchases was the quickest way to end up bruised.
Or in a ditch someplace, while Section 2 looked aimlessly for his body.
So instead, Shinji did what any male did in cases such as this, he kept quiet, and hoped for a miracle of any kind to divert the Red head's attention.
An uneasy silence filled the room as the two pilots eyes wandered about the room, taking in the vast intricacies of such items as the clock, the coffee maker, the floor pattern...everything but one another. Both Children fought hard to avoid being caught in the others gaze.
He didn't have to wait for long, as those words spoken by a still sulking Asuka broke the uneasy silence that had replaced the Red head's aggravated mumbles after several minutes.
"Ice cream." She said, her mood souring at an increasingly alarming rate. Shinji then proceeded to execute his plan for self preservation.
"Ice…cream?" Shinji hesitantly asked, already looking at the ice cream parlor he had seen before.
"Yeah, ice cream. You can buy me some ice cream to make up for the fact that thanks to you I wasn't able to get those shoes." She added magnanimously.
"B-but…I-" Shinji was about to walk right into it, but stopped, knowing he had lost the argument even before it had started. "Sure…I know just the place." Shinji let out a sigh. "C'mon, let's get you your ice cream…"
So now they were currently sitting in one of the tables, Asuka picking at her hot fudge Sunday while Shinji ate his banana split, enjoying the silence.
"Well, it certainly is not a Golden Opulence Sundae…" Asuka said trying to jump-start the conversation again. "But it'll do for now…" She finished the sentences, turning towards Shinji the pink tip of her tongue dancing lightly atop the sundae she was eating, smiling lightly as she noticed Shinji noticing her, and she put s bit more of teasing on eating the cone, enjoying his reaction, how his throat visibly stiffened, how his eyes went wide, how his hand began to clench and un-
God. She thought as realization hit her. I'm flirting with the baka.
She turned towards Shinji who had decided to stare at his shoes after he had seen the indescribable look that had passed thru Asuka's face moments ago. "Just don't think for a second that this will count as the eating part." Asuka said with a fierce voice but a different expression on her face.
"N-no…I…"
"Shinji…" Asuka sighed, making the boy instantly shut up. "I'm kidding."
Shinji relaxed visibly at that. They began to talk aimlessly again, drifting form topic to topic, staying on safe ground, avoiding mentions of mothers and past lives.
"Hey Shinji…" Asuka smiled at him, picking the last remnants of her sundae on her spoon. "Ahhh…"
Shinji was caught off guard, not really expecting her to do something like that. Deciding to shut the annoying voice in his head, and enjoy it for once, he closed his eyes and opened his mouth.
Asuka had actually planned to tempt him, teasing him with a taste to, in the last moment, end up eating the last spoonful herself, leaving Shinji's mouth wide open.
She hadn't thought, however of the possibilities, of the chances.
Of being caught by a group of gossiping girls.
She felt being pushed forward, and saw Shinji's face coming closer and closer, and she was unable to stop herself, and now she could see the pores of his skin and…
Asuka reacted in freight at being caught by surprise by jamming the ice cream in Shinji's nose, making him gasp in surprise at the sense of wetness and numbness and coldness in his nose.
----- -----
"Ny noose is sdill numm…"
Shinji could still feel his nose cold, and wet after the fiasco of the ice cream.
"Stop being such a baby." Asuka grumbled, rolling her eyes. "Now let's get something to eat…" She smiled as his face lit up.
"I dow de pefedt pdace."
----- -----
"You're kidding me…" Asuka's aggravated voice felt strained against her throat, almost as if she were constricting the murderous intent that was plainly written on her face, before turning over to Shinji.
"This is where you expect me to eat?"
Shinji looked again at the restaurant; the happy, bright lights, with the big, attention grabbing red and yellow store signs, the white kanji against the red background for everyone to see, the hard to miss metal frames of the clock tower on top...
"What's wrong with th-"
"Listen here third child." Asuka cut him off before he even had a chance to ask. "I am not some two bit floozy you can take to a fast food joint to get the food part out of the way; I will not go to a ramen stand, nor to a McDonald's…" She paused, taking a big gulp of air before screaming at him.
"AND I WILL SURE AS HELL NOT SET FOOT INSIDE THIS PARTICULAR DUMP."
Shinji looked at the beloved restaurant. "W-well how about some ra-"
Asuka held up her hand, closing her eyes in annoyance. "Shinji…if you finish that sentence I will be forced to hurt you; you are unbelievable…taking a nice girl to eat a beef bowl or ramen…" She admonished him. "Come on…"
She caught hold of his arm and linked her own arm underneath it. Shinji stiffened as Asuka pulled him forward.
"Uh…b-but…"
Shinji, I am going to do you a favor…" Asuka ignored the panicked attempts of Shinji to stand his ground, fearing a pummeling from the red head was coming. "I'm gonna show you to properly wine and dine a girl on a date."
"Uh…"
"That way, if I decide to grant you a next time, you will be able to do it correctly."
Shinji could only sigh dejectedly as the pictured leaving a fancy restaurant, his wallet considerably lighter than when they would enter first.
Of course Asuka would wish to go one such restaurant.
"H-hey...B-but that's one of my favorites..."
"Shinji…" Asuka explained patiently as both children walked passing the various fast food restaurants and ramen carts. "Just for future references, a yoshi gyū might be a good place for you and your stooge friends, but I wouldn't be caught dead in a restaurant whose motto is save time and money."
----- -----
True to his thoughts, Asuka left the restaurant with a happy, stuffed face, while Shinji's bank account was a couple thousand yen lighter.
"That was a nice dinner." Asuka said as she sat on a bench, Shinji simply grumbled, trying to come up with how much he had spent and how much he had left. Asuka saw the change in his behavior and leaned towards him, smiling.
"Hey, you know some pretty good places, let's keep going." She said, getting up and giving him her hand. "Now, as payment for an excellent dinner, I will be entertaining you."
Shinji's mind went blank with the implications.
Asuka shoved him playfully. "Ewww, not that way pervert." She smiled. "I will lend you the money to go to the movies."
"Why don't you just pay for it?"
"Idiot!" Asuka admonished Shinji. "A girl never pays for a date; it's unseemly." She turned towards the movie theater. "Of course you're gonna have to pick the tab for the refreshments…"
"Hey! But we just ate…"
"Shinji!" Asuka whined his voice like a petulant child being denied a toy. "Everybody knows that a movie isn't a movie without popcorn and drinks." She pulled him towards the theater.
"Now hurry, I want to see this one." She motioned to the poster for one of the feature films.
"Uhhh…Asuka…" Shinji began as he saw the red letters flashing on the screen. "That one is sold out…"
----- -----
Both children made their way cautiously thru the screening room. Shinji had decided to buy Asuka as many sweets and candies as necessary to avoid incurring in her wrath.
"Hurry up, third." Asuka whispered. "This movie better be good." She grumbled as she saw the screen showing the title.
Space cowboys.
Already Asuka felt like throwing up.
"What is it about?"
"Uh…some space cow-"
Asuka turned to Shinji, her eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "I know how to read the stupid title, idiot. I meant what is the story."
Shinji read from the program aloud. "It follows the adventures of four futuristic cowboys in the year 2071."
"Sounds boring." Asuka grumbled as she plopped down. "Let me see that." She took the program from Shinji's hand, while simultaneously pushing him down next to her.
"I really wanted to see the one with Yuji Ueda." Asuka pouted. "He is so cute…no Kaji cute of course…"
"Of course…" The dejection in Shinji's voice was crystal clear, making Asuka take a look at his frowning face.
"Hey c'mon, I know you wanted to see that movie too…" She began teasingly. "Just imagine it…a loser who suddenly finds himself surrounded by beautiful, available babes…that's every hentai's dream…"
"I know, I know…" Shinji nodded. "Besides Yui Horie is also cute…." He added in a low voice.
"Oh so you are in love with an idol, then?" Asuka replied already in teasing mode. Before she could press for more details, however, the lights dimmed and the movie began.
----- -----
"Kick ass!" Asuka roared exiting the theater, mimicking some karate chop and sock into the helpless thin air. "That was one helluva movie…"
"Easy for you to say…" Shinji grumbled nursing his head after Asuka had, inadvertedly of course, punched him while following thru one of the fighting scenes.
"Koichi Yamadera is soo dreamy, and has such a sexy voice…" Asuka sighed for the nth time. "He can sure give Kaji a run for his money. And the movie was sooo cool!!"
"I guess…"
"What do you mean you guess?" Asuka turned smiling. "You loved that movie and you know it…I saw you more than once faking the punches and kicks."
"No…that was you." Shinji said, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
"Oh…" Asuka had the decency to look embarrassed before teasing Shinji again. "But I saw your eyes wandering onto those two bimbos on screen."
"Wh-what..?" Shinji was caught of guard by the playful accusation and wagging of Asuka's finger in his face, feeling like a child caught by an older sibling trying to sneak something he shouldn't into the house.
"Don't try to deny it…I can't understand why you would gawk at that Gara Takashima…"
"Well…" Shinji scratched the back of his head. "She did look good in that full leather cat suit."
"Y-you pervert…she is old enough to be your mother…" Asua punched him playfully in the shoulder.
"You're right…" Shinji smiled. "But Megumi Hayashibara is cute and she has a very nice voice as well…and the outfit…" He sighed dreamingly.
"Oh so you like that one better?" Asuka pouted. "Figures you would go for the one dressed as a tramp." She crossed her arms.
"Besides her voice is stupid." She grumbled softly, but Shinji did manage to hear her, smiling at Asuka's irrational jealousy.
"C'mon Asuka now when would I get to meet someone even remotely resembling her?" He shrugged. "The only women in my life are you, Misato and Rei."
"Now that you mention it, that is sad." She added as they kept walking at a leisure pace, not really wanting to arrive too soon to the train station to head back.
"Besides I prefer Miyamura…" Shinji added after a minute or so of silence.
"Who?"
"Yuko Miyamura…"
"Which one was she?"
"Ahh she didn't appeared in this one, but was Chun-Li in the new Street fighter movie and was also Kazuha Toyama in the new Detective Conan version."
Asuka remembered her, but didn't feel like adding anything new.
"So you prefer the Tsundere?" Damn! Where did that come from?
"Beats the boring Nadesico." Shinji shrugged.
Asuka eyed him cautiously. What are you trying to say?
"I thought that was the ideal beauty for Japanese…"
Shinji shrugged again. "I guess after all the time spent with you and Misato, living with some one as…bland… " He stopped, thinking what he was trying to say. Unbeknownst to him, Asuka was hanging to his every word, was well.
"I would be bored…" He said after a beat of silence. "I'd miss you both."
----- -----
The ride back home was made in total silence, both Shinji and Asuka sat next to the other on the otherwise empty train, not because they wanted.
Shinji had at first sat at the farthest end of the row of seats, with Asuka sitting down right across from him.
Eventually, one a particular turn, she had slipped from her seat with a surprised yelp, landing in front of Shinji with her legs akimbo, her feet sprawled in a rather unlady like fashion.
Shinji was immediately besides her, his extended hand waiting to be taken, to help her to her feet.
Asuka blushed when she realized the way she was, and took her hand, her other hand hiking the skirt down. As he helped her to her feet, another turn made them stumble into the other; Shinji holding on to the overhead bars for dear life, Asuka grabbing from his neck, steadying herself.
They both looked at each other, fully aware of their closeness, but not having enough presence of mind to jump away.
And eventually, almost as if she was the moon and he was the sea, both caught up in the moment as the train kept going forward, the fresh night breeze coming in thru the windows, the soft, calm soothing music heard on the loudspeakers, the both fell into the other.
And they kissed.
Somehow Asuka had envisioned her first kiss, her first romantic kiss, her first romantic willingly given kiss would be different.
For starters, she had always envisioned the gentle roughness of Kajis 5'oclock shadow scratching softly against her chin, the scent pf his cologne filling her sense of smell, her eyes drawn into Kaji's own chocolate brown pools.
She would be playing with that ponytail of his, playfully tugging at the nape on the base of his neck, her finger intertwining onto his hair to pull him closer, as the kiss deepened, a sense of hunger unlike anyone she had ever felt permeating her every cells.
He would taste of old spice and sea, the essence of a man not tied down by conventionalities; he would cup her face, running his thumb and forefinger on her engorged lips, teasing her lightly as she leaned forward to capture his lips again, a deep laugh rumbling in his chest, echoing in her ears.
In essence Kaji would definitely send all of her senses into overload on her first kiss. It would be perfect; dinner and a movie and a moonwalk stroll, following by a kiss that would make the world come to a stop, waves crashing against a seashore, fireworks in the distance as the moon and the starts and the sun stopped their constant revolution to make her savor the moment even more.
Shinji had probably fantasized about this kiss more than anything in his whole life. He could still feel the pinch in his nose and the soft pressure of Asuka's lips against his. His own mouth had been partially opened, surprise still etched in his face even if he had known he was going to kiss her.
He could feel the soft brush of Asukas skin against his, he could still feel his hand out of it's own volition strained, clenching and unclenching trying to grasp her, to meld, to push to combine at a more basic level, to held her close and never let go. But the intensity of the moment, the pain from Asuka's grip on his nose the shortness of breath and being unable to focus on anything more than the gulp of air that seemed so far and how he felt so light headed and Asuka's lips felt like a barrier against his and how he needed to breath…
Yes, first kisses never happen the way they are portrayed in many romantic movies. In most cases they actually are quite the opposite in fact; awkward, clumsy, uncomfortable, and sometimes, even painful. The one giving is to eager, the one receiving is unprepared. They are still unsure about their own feelings and then start to question themselves if this was correct, if this was right, if they coulda-shoulda-woulda.
But this one was not.
An echo of their synch training, they moved as one, softly, inexorably, both keeping their eyes on the other's eyes, stealing a glimpse at the other's lips as they came in contact, a soft, gentle and pleasurable pressure coming forth.
For Shinji it felt like everything he had hopped had it not been for Asuka pinching his nose. He was able to breath and his senses felt so alive because he was able to breath her, to drink and taste her.
He was able to watch as her eyes closed slowly as her eyelids fluttered, he was able to feel the light teasing of her breath against his skin, and how it suddenly stopped, almost like a gasp before it resumed at a more calmer pace.
Asuka felt like everything she had thought about was becoming true, save for the fact that he was not Kaji, a fact that, strangely, her brain no longer seemed to care about, it felt like everything she had thought it would feel, his tongue was shy, but eager, probing with caution thru the confines of her mouth, it was not a hungry kiss, but it felt like it could deepen at any time, making it become more anxious, threatening her breath with hitching up, going up a notch, feeling like hyperventilating and she knew the lack of oxygen was something that would definitely kill brain cells and why the hell was she thinking about this now when Shinji Ikari was kissing the life out of her like something out of a perfect story that no one had bothered telling her she would eventually star in as his tongue kept dancing insde her mouth, leaning against and pulling towards and suckling and teasing and running across and below and towards and WHERE THE HELL DID HE LEARNED TO KISS LIKE THAT WHO WAS THE LITTLE SLUT THAT HAD TOLEN SHINJI'S FIRST ADULT KISS AND-
Eventually Asuka's brain decided to stop thinking, considering such higher brain functions would only get in the way of this kiss. It shut down and threw her mind into silence, making the whole presence of Shinji's lips and kiss and tongue and eager hands and nimble finger feel even more.
It wasn't until they realized the train had stopped at the end of the line, conveniently a 5 minute walk to their apartment that they finally remembered the other needed their lips and tongue intact.
And in silence, the exited, smiling lightly and slightly flushed with trembling lips and shy hands walking hand in hand towards their apartment.
----- -----
As he laid in bed, watching intently the ceiling above him, Shinji couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
For his part, Shinji had also changed, besides the changes puberty was doing to his body and voice, he had began to see the changes within as well; Although he still had unresolved issues with his father and his past, and was, according the the latest psych-evaluation that he had happened to just find lying around in Misato's room, plagued by self-doubt and feelings of worthlessness, he was considerably more temperamental, even violent at times; more apathetic and angry than nervous and withdrawn.
Misato had said he was behaving like a normal adolescent child, the first time, before grounding him like a kid when she considered his latest outburst was more willing to burst out angrily in protest and voice his opinion.
He had also began to be less submissive around Asuka, their snap-crackle-and pop routine now falling in the realm of friendly banter, his responds to her insults a smart-alec comment or sarcastic retort rather than what had been his typical responses of Sorry... or the whinning Don't talk to me like that!
The exchange that had happened however had made something stir inside of him.
He would never delude himself into negating an attraction to Asuka. How could he?
The passing moths and years had affected them both, physically an emotionally, gone was the lithe, thin figure of a 14 year old Asuka, instead replaced by a more womanly shape, filling out in all the right places (He should really thank the bas-his father for enforcing the use of the plug suits after all). Her dark brownish-red tresses only added to contrast her more noticeable features; tall slender frame, long legs that seemed to never stop, thin but defined arms with delicate fingers, all of it encased in fair white skin.
While her overtly physical features were nothing to scoff at, Shinji himself preferred her face; a cute pointed nose, which in itself was a continuous concavity from the eyes to its tip, framed by the perfect oval of her face. The big blue eyes that would at times show the deepest of contempt, but sometimes would show the true vulnerability brimming underneath.
And those soft, luscious lips that forever plagued his dreams with the teasing kiss they both shared.
Even if she is still overbearing, egoistic and even physically violent at times, she IS cute.
Tired, slow breaths turned into soft, deep breaths, and just as he was about to drift into sleep. He could not deny how nice and soft and warm and right Asuka's body felt pressed against his.
And even if he tried, the goofy smile in his face would give his true feelings away.
And so, thinking of her face, the way her smile lit up her eyes, and the cute dimples that formed on her cheeks, The mind shattering, ground breaking reality shifting kiss she had given him, Shinji slowly went to sleep, an equally contended sigh and smile on his face.
He couldn't help but brush his fingers against his lips one last time before allowing sleep to gain control of him.
----- -----
Asuka was smiling to herself.
That had been one hell of a kiss.
Smacking her lips, and wondering how long till they kissed gain, she drifted back to sleep.
----- -----
Asuka was humming cheerfully.
That should have been a red flag.
Hikari watched her in surprise, as Asuka went for her textbook, taking out her neatly wrapped bento, while throwing her book inside her locker, not caring about the love letters spilling into the floor.
She had been happy since she arrived to school early.
That should have been Hikari's second clue.
"What are you so happy about?"
Asuka turned to see Hikari standing next to her. "Remember those idiotic ideas you had about romantic comedies and Shinji and me and how we were just right for each other?" She smiled.
"Uh…yes…"
"You mentioned 10 clichés…why don't you run them again by me and I'll tell you if you're right?"
"Why? You have a check list or a score card or something." Hikari teased gently.
"Actually Shinji just kissed the living daylights of my last night and I wanted to see if there was anything about that in your list." Asuka deadpanned, waving her hand dismissingly. Hikari stopped short, playing with one of her pigtails without realizing she was doing so, not really sure if she should believe the German girl or not. Asuka's smile never left her face. Hiari touched her neck unconsciously, remembering that night in Misato's apartment.
Again.
----- -----
"Hikari…" Asuka interrupted her. "What's on the list?"
"How about he's a Hikikomori and she's a Gaijin who will never be more than a Henna Gaijin."
"Ridiculous and romantic, check."
"Yes, you also get your Quirky Friends, an Older Perverted Relative and your assorted Pets."
"I know who you are thinking about when you say older perverted relative." Asuka grumbled. "But explain to me the quirky friends part…"
"Asuka!!" Hikari said in mock shock. "Quirky friends are a must."
"I don't see what for." Asuka grumbled plopping down on her back.
"Well, for starters for comic relief, snide advice, or inserting some necessary doubt into the blossoming romance." Hikari dived towards the red head, falling next to her amids a sea of futons.
"I still can't believe I'm listening to this."
"Oh shush…" Hikari admonished without taking her eyes of what she was reading. "Archetypes are gay fashion designers with crazy wardrobes, brooding goth girls with an 80s vibe, or insane, shifty roommates with insatiable libidos and perverted underwear."
"Well, the last one is definitely Misato, and the gays…well…have you ever wonder if Toji and Kensuke are not bishi?" Asuka said, enjoying as Hikari paled with that particular imagery. "As for the 80 goth…I'll keep the brooding goth, change the hair into blue and make her apathic and socially inept."
"You're talking about Rei, right?" Asuka simply smirked and looked at the magazine.
"What else?"
"Older Perverted Relative."
"That's Misato. Let's move on."
"Wait, wait…let me read this thru…" Hikari waved her hand. "At some point an older relative must make an appearance and shoot off a few skanky metaphors for some cheap laughs, usually in the form of advice to girl."
"Sex and relationships advice from Misato." Asuka pondered for a second, before a cold shiver ran thru her spine.
"Oooh…scary! I can just picture her…" Asuka mimicked the tone of the major with an alarming success, jutting her breast forward to accentuate her figure like Misato would. "What are you waiting for, get a taste of the sweet peach when it's ripe, or Nothin' like the old horizontal mambo to keep the melons from sagging!"
Once the laughter had died and Hiakri was sure her sides would not burst, she continued reading.
"One Hit Wonders. A nostalgic, sappy soundtrack is a must. +1 if sang by the hot idol of the week+2 if sang by the hot couple of the moment. +3 if it turns out to be made for an animated film that is turned into a live version, and then comes back in the form of a Christmas special. Or Spring. Or Summer. +4 if the song gets it's own single release, but it doesn't count if it gets downloaded from the 'net. +5 if said song becomes such a hit it evolves into different versions like techno, Lounge, Bossa Nova."
"great now we have to have a theme song…"
"Next up…assorted pets. Boy and/or girl has to have a dog or cat that they confide in."
"that one's easy…" Asuka said, getting into the game once the initial shock had died. "Change the four legged mammal for a two legged drunk bird and you hit it dead on."
"Pets are cute." Hikari said as she reached for a waddling Pen-pen to sit him between her legs, petting his head. "Everyone loves pets. They can be used to evaluate the new love interest by purring or biting them in the crotch."
"Yes stupid bird…" Asuka reached for the penguin and latched onto his beak, closing it forceful, making Pen-pen smother a Wark!
"Next time idiot Shinji comes in, ram your beak up his-"
"ASUKA!"
Kidding…sheesh…"
"Wedding/Dance/Party scene. There's always some big social event with food, music, and dancing, where the girl gets to dress up, as boy stands around looking stunned and worried he's out of his league."
"Tha's going to be any other day…" Asuka smile dproudly. "I look ravishing even in that stupid school uniform."
"Boy and Girl Break Up. Boy and girl must part, otherwise how will they ever get back together?"
"That's idiotic." Asuka yawned. "Why would they break up if they are obviously in love with each other?"
"Previous differences threaten to overwhelm the relationship. An old flame returns and proposes marriage. Nazis threaten to take over the nightclub. Boy reveals his true profession as a time traveler from the future and girl just can't see raising their children, who will be older than boy come 2057."
"Or maybe Boy blurts out he has a deep Oedipal complex and is in love with his mother's clone who behaves like a little automaton. That could work."
At this point Hikari had chosen to ignore Asuka's attempt at humor.
"Boy and Girl Are In Love."
"No…really?" the forced surprise made Hikari look at Asuka over the edge of the magazine and give her aglare.
"No matter how ridiculous or insurmountable last cliché is, somehow space and time are transcended to reunite boy and girl. Insert a crazy car chase, sorority sisters racing to stop boy from boarding a plane, the realization that boy's telekenetic ability to hear chimpanzees speak is cured by kissing girl, or a love-confessional speech in front of a crowd of people, hopefully televised and with a priest conveniently available to marry the couple. +2 if the priest is elderly, perverted, and shorter than girl."
"How about a forced world wide cataclysm is stopped by the idiot boy and he ends up with the bimbo girl on a deserted beach, the waves crashing against them?"
----- -----
Asuka smiled to herself a she saw Hikari open and close her mouth repeatedly, mimicking a gold fish.
"I thought you said he was a pervert." Hikari said after she found her voice.
"Yeah, so?"
""What happened to All boys are perverts!" Asked Hikari, still not believing Asuka and Shinji-.
"Well, Shinji is nice to have around, you did make some excellent points." She continued walking towards the lonely classroom not noticing or caring about Hikari's shocked expression mixed with relief, pride and a tinge of jealousy.
"It's nice to have somebody to talk to. At home, about school and daily stuff and piloting, and stuff that I can't discuss with non-NERV personnel...you know; stuff like that."
"Riiight..." Hikari nodded with a knowing smile and listened to her friend. "Is that why you have been glancing at him all throughout classes and why he has been blushing every time he turns to see you?"
"Why?" Asuka smirked. "Jealous your big dumb jock won't step up to the plate?" She punched her fist into her open palm while chanting "Here batterbatterbatter batterbatterbatter…"
Hikari blushed and looked at her shoes.
"I-"
"Now let's talk about your crush with the school jock…"
----- -----
AN. That's it, the end. I never promised a long story; I don't have the talent, nor the disposition for it. This was mainly a quick little fic, simple funny and lightweight, if you want something poignant, deep and with complex human relationships and development, keep looking…I heard Rakna will eventually upload the newest Chosen, Ld has been updating his stories, Random is still alive and kicking and there is a new batch of brilliant and talented writers around that will eventually do it good.
As for me? Well…one of this days I might get around to finishing 10 things and 30 kisses, and maybe sometime I will be able to upload more chapters for Love and Hate. Right now I'm letting the angst within flow with a proposed 4 part of one hour oneshots (hint, they're in latin.)
No body beta'ed, pre-read this crap. Any and all life threats psych bills and the like should be addressed at yours truly. It doesn't really mean I will read them, just that you should send them to me.
That's it…credit rolls, cue music and sun set. Move along people nothing to see, vacate the premises and go on with your life.
-click!-