Chapter 6

Hello again, quick wasn't I? Here's number 6 for your viewing pleasure

Disclaimer: I do not own NGE, Gainax does

Preread by YouarenotasrandomasI

Now, on with the show!

Asuka and Hikari were out in the shopping district, out shopping for a kimono for the red-head to wear at the festival. The girls were doing a bit of window shopping as Asuka told her friend about the new developments with Shinji.

"He still doesn't have any recollection of anything more than a blur," the red-head was telling Hikari

"I see. Maybe his mind is forcing him to forget. I've read that sometimes if something traumatic happens, the mind will force some memories to be suppressed," the brunette suggested

Shrugging, Asuka peered into a store display, "I can't say for sure. Let's not dwell on that and focus on shopping"

Hikari led the red-head towards some displays, "Here are a couple of examples"

Looking at the dressed up dummies, the German girl frowned in thought, "They seem pretty big and hard to move in"

In a reassuring tone, the brunette told her, "They are, but you will look fabulous in one"

A sales clerk came up and asked, "May I help you ladies?"

"Hai, my friend here needs a kimono for the festival," Hikari explained

"Well then, if you will follow me we'll set her up," the clerk told them with a gesture towards a rack of kimonos

Within no time, Asuka was given a stack of clothes to try on. She went into the dressing room multiple times to try on different kimonos. After trying on what seemed to be a hundred kimonos, they finally decided on one.

"It's perfect," the clerk complimented, "It suits you perfectly"

The red-head was dressed in a pretty red kimono. Embroidered onto the cloth was a lovely design of waves crashing against rocks along the hem of the kimono. Asuka twirled around, showing off.

"It's like I thought," the red-head told them, "It's kind of hard to move around in this"

Tapping a finger on her chin, Hikari suggested, "We might be able to modify it a little so it won't feel so awkward"

Changing back into her regular clothes, the two girls placed their purchase. When they left the store, Hikari began to explain what happens at the festivals.

"They'll set up all sorts of games and food stands. Everyone will be having fun, and when night comes there'll be a fireworks show"

Turning to the brunette, Asuka told her, "That sounds like a perfect place for one to go on a date"

"It is," Hikari responded, "are you going with Shinji?"

Snorting, the red-head said, "That baka wouldn't know what a date was unless someone came up and told him to go on one with them"

"Oh, so you're going to with him as friends?"

Nodding, Asuka told her friend, "He wanted to know if we could all go together as a group"

"All?"

"Us, him, and his friends Suzuhara and Aida"

"Sure," Hikari replied, "it'll be fun"

The two girls passed the park where the festival was to be set up. All over the place, stalls were being set up. There was a great deal of noise as people shouted to be heard over one another.

"It looks like a lot of effort for them to set up a festival," the red-head commented, "I wonder what it'll be like when it's all set up"

"It'll be great," the brunette said, "The summer and fall festivals are also nice, but if you want something really nice, it has to be watching fireworks under a blossoming tree in spring"

"Sounds romantic"

Nodding in agreement, Hikari asked, "Is there someone special you'd like to go with?"

Snorting, Asuka replied, "Nope, there isn't any boy out there who isn't hentai"

"What about Shinji?" her friend asked, "From what you've told me, he doesn't understand what it means to be hentai"

Frowning a bit, Asuka said, "Alright, so Shinji's not hentai, but that doesn't mean I like the baka like that"

Sighing, Hikari said, "Alright then, I'm just saying that the festival is a nice time to be with the one you love"

Looking over her shoulder at her friend, the German girl noticed a smile and a light flush on the brunette's face.

Smirking, Asuka asked, "Is there someone special you'd like to go with?"

A deep red appeared on Hikari's face as she stammered, "W-what? I-I don't kn-know what-"

"It's written all over your face," Asuka interrupted, "I know that you have someone you like, so spill the beans"

Although still red-faced, Hikari was able to retort, "Only if you tell me if there's someone you'd like to go with"

Snorting, the German girl replied, "That's easy, there's no one, so fess up already"

Sighing, the brunette decided to tell her hot-headed friend, "Alright, but don't tell anyone"

Eagerly waiting, Asuka leaned in for Hikari to whisper into her ear. When the brunette had finished, the red-head snorted and jumped with a complete look of disbelief.

"No way, you're kidding!"

The red hue that dominated Hikari's face told the truth, "Remember, don't tell anyone"

Sighing, the red-head reassured the girl, "I promise, but I still can't believe that you actually like that loser"

Park

Shinji and Touji were playing some basketball as Kensuke fiddled with his camera. Both boys on the court were having fun as they played one on one

"Yo, Shinji," the jock said, "You're good"

Sidestepping him, Shinji launched the, catching the rim before it fell through, "Domo, this game's easy once you know the rules"

Picking up the ball, Touji replied, "Sure is, you should try out for the basketball team. They could use a good player like you"

"Oh?"

Spinning the ball on his finger, he continued, "Oh yeah, the team's been doing poorly last season, we haven't won once in who knows how many games"

"Really?" Shinji asked incredulity, "I can't believe it"

"I know, and I'm the best player on the team"

Snorting, Kensuke interjected, "You know the team's pathetic if their lead player admits that it's pathetic"

Dodging the tossed ball, Kensuke chuckled as he continued, "Added to the fact that he actually prays before each games means that things are really bad"

The four-eyed boy got up and ran as Touji chased him, shouting all sorts of threats. Watching all this, Shinji couldn't help but laugh at their antics. Wiping tears of mirth from his eyes, he spotted Asuka and Hikari across the street.

"Hey," he called out, waving his arm in the air, "Sohryu-san, Horaki-san!"

Looking up, the red-head spotted Shinji waving to her from the basketball court, "Its Shinji"

Also looking, Hikari waved back, "Hey Shinji-kun"

It was then that Touji and Kensuke noticed the girls across the street. Stopping in mid step, the jock stood there watching the brunette waving. Seeing that his pursuer had stopped, the four-eyed boy turned around to see that Touji was staring at Hikari. Sighing, Kensuke went over and brought him back to reality with a slap on the back.

"Yo, lover boy," he said in a sardonic tone, "be careful, you might lose your eyes"

Gulping, the dark haired jock said, "Yeah, I'm alright"

Rolling his eyes, Kensuke dragged Touji toward Shinji and the girls, who had crossed the street. The three were talking about the festival this coming weekend

"I can't wait," Shinji said with child-like excitement

Chuckling, Asuka patted him on the head, "Easy there, it's still a few days off"

Frowning, the boy muttered, "I can't wait that long"

The girls couldn't help laughing at the forlorn look on his face. When Touji and Kensuke came up, the brunette quieted down and flushed a little. Nudging the jock, Kensuke told him to wake up.

Jerking upright, Touji said nervously, "Hey Horaki-san"

Also nervously, the brunette replied, "Hey"

Rolling her eyes, Asuka took charge of the situation, "We were talking about the festival, and we thought we should all go together"

"A day with you and the class rep," Kensuke said in a pensive tone, "That'll do wonders to our reputations"

Snorting, the red-head retorted, "Like you had any reputation to begin with"

"So we're going together?" Shinji asked in a curious tone

In synchronization, Hikari and Touji replied, "Sure, why not"

Both blushed when they realized that they had spoken at the same time.

Sighing, Kensuke then said, "Alright, I guess we'll all go together"

Jumping up into the air, Shinji whooped as he put an arm around Asuka's and Kensuke's shoulders, "This'll be great"

Chuckling at the boy's enthusiasm, the German girl said, "Genug bereits, ruhiger Abstieg vor dir verletzten sich" (Enough already, calm down before you hurt yourself)

"Ich kann es helfen nicht, ich bin also aufgeregt," Shinji replied (I can't help it, I'm so excited)

Shaking her head with a rueful smile, Asuka said, "Gekommen auf Shinji, ist es Zeit, nach Hause zu gehen" (Come on Shinji, it's time to go home)

"Hai," the boy said, "Hey guys, I have to go now, see you tomorrow"

Waving, the two then walked out of the park, leaving a trio of confused kids. The first to recover was Hikari who also realized the late hour

"I have to pick up my sister from daycare," she said, "Gomen, I have to go"

A weak smile, Touji waved back to the brunette as walked away. Rolling his eyes, Kensuke grabbed the back of the jock's shirt and pulled him back into reality.

"Come on, wake up"

Katsuragi Residence

Asuka and Shinji arrived to find that Misato had not yet returned from work. Putting her kimono in her room, the red-head joined Shinji in the living room

"Was ist eingeschaltet?" (What's on?)

Shrugging, Shinji handed her the remote. After a few minutes of channel surfing, the red-head sighed in boredom.

"Es gibt nichts, das an gut ist" (There's nothing good on) Asuka growled in frustration

Turning off the TV, the red-head got an idea in her head

"Lassen Sie uns ein Spiel spielen," (Let's play a game) the girl said

"What game?" Shinji asked curiously

Turning so that she faced him, Asuka explained, "I'll say something, and you will have to try and make a sentence using it"

Tapping his finger on his chin, the dark-haired boy said, "That sounds a lot like what Ritsuko-san did with me on the first day"

"I'm bored," she lamented, "and besides, it'll allow me to get to know you better"

Nodding, Shinji retorted, "I'll play, but we take turns, okay?"

Smirking, Asuka said, "Sounds good, ladies first"

Clearing her throat, she said, "Car ride"

Thinking a bit, Shinji came up with an idea, "It's a nice way to get around, but never travel with Misato at the wheel"

Both of them laughed a bit over this before he spoke up, "My turn; Letters"

Scratching the back of her head, Asuka replied, "So many boys send them to me that if I were to recycle them, I'd have an enough for an entire encyclopedia set"

"That's a lot of letters, but I didn't know they sent that much"

Snorting, the red-head explained, "A lot of boys leave their letters in my desk or on it"

Recalling the number of letters in her shoe locker, Shinji could easily imagine how much Asuka would get in her desk.

"My turn," the German girl said, interrupting his musings, "Friends"

This went on for some time, both of them having fun and not noticing the time passing. During Asuka's turn, she thought hard about what she would say. Finally, the red-head thought of something that might spark Shinji's memory a bit.

"Family"

Smiling, Shinji answered, "You and Misato are the family that I can't remember"

Rolling her eyes at her dismal failure, she watched as he thought of something

"Time of month"

Spluttering, Asuka demanded, "Where did you here that?"

Gulping a little, Shinji answered, "Touji and Kensuke talked about it a bit when a girl snarled at them. They said, 'Must be that time of month for her'"

Flushing a little, Asuka said, "That's personal girl stuff"

Sliding down his seat, the boy muttered, "Gomen"

Huffing, the red-head let him off and said, "Alright, let's move along; Bad weather"

"Hard to make maneuvers in, but provides excellent cover"

Nodding a minute before turning in surprise, Asuka asked, "What does that mean?"

Looking back in confusion, Shinji said, "I'm not entirely sure. It's something that seems necessary to remember"

Wondering what he means, the red-head thought, That sounds like something from a military trainer

"Alright," she said, trying to pry more from the boy, "How about forests?"

The boy thought hard, but came up with, "Lots of trees and plants where animals live in"

Apparently, if he thinks about it he can't recall anything, Asuka thought to herself

"Forget it," she said as she looked up, "Scheiße (Shit, as if everyone didn't already know) it's late, we better get started with dinner"

Both of them got up at the same time. In doing so, Asuka stepped on and slipped off a bunch of papers that Shinji moved earlier in his search of the remote. Falling forward, she knocked the boy over and landed on top of him. Lifting her head, Asuka bumped the top of her head against Shinji's chin when he looked down at her to see if she was alright

It was at that time that Misato returned to the apartment, "Tadai-"

She stopped at the sight of Asuka lying on top of Shinji. A wicked grin grew on her face as the two looked up at her

"I can go if I'm interrupting," she teased

Rubbing her head, the German girl wondered what Misato was talking about when she realized that she was on top of Shinji. Scrambling off, accidentally kicking the boy in the shin, Asuka was red-faced as she smoothed her clothes.

"No Misato," she said in a strained tone, "you didn't interrupt anything because there was nothing going on"

Continuing to smirk, the purple-haired buxom turned to Shinji and asked, "What have you two been doing?"

Rubbing his chin and shin, the boy replied, "We were playing a game"

"Oh?" Misato asked, "I hope this game was appropriate for people your age"

Flushing the red-head shouted, "Misato!"

Looking up, Shinji tilted his head and watched as Misato teased Asuka and the red-head denying everything.

"Ano, Misato-san," he said, interrupting the pair, "I don't know what's going on, but me and Asuka were just doing something like what Ritsuko did with me during our first session"

Finding some new teasing material, the elder woman said, "Really? So who is better, Ritsuko or Asuka?"

"Misato!"

Later that night, Asuka was brushing her hair as she hummed. Once she smoothed her hair out, she turned to get into bed. A knock on the door made her pause as Misato stepped inside.

"Hey Asuka," she said, "Mind if I join you for a moment"

Sitting on the bed, Asuka asked, "What do you want?"

"Shinji told me about the game, and how he subconsciously remembered something," Misato began, "I just wanted your opinion, should we tell him what we think?"

Looking up, the red-head thought for a moment before saying, "I guess we should, he's going to remember sometime"

Sighing, the woman replied, "I think so, but I'm afraid that when we tell him he'd be traumatized even worse"

"I don't think that it'd be that bad," Asuka said, "he looks like a scrawny child, but he seems pretty tough"

Shaking her head, Misato replied in a tired tone, "I'm just not sure, on the one hand I want to protect him from harm, on the other I might be hurting him more later on"

Putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder, the red-head said in a consoling tone, "We'll take care of him together. The two of us can work together to help him"

"Arigato," the woman said, "that's sweet coming from you"

Flushing, Asuka replied, "I felt that you trying to do too much is all"

Smirking, Misato teased her, "And what was that about taking care of him?"

"Misato!"

Thanks for stopping by. Alright, you know the drill, R&R and I'll get back as soon as possible

Later