NOTE: Evangelion is the property of Gainax (Thank you, you wonderful people)

ADV Films has the rights to the English translation. Thus, I am only

borrowing the characters to write a story for entertainment, thus it is

non-profit.

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Finding One in Many

Chapter 7

Asuka picked up the lunch that she had just prepared. Stepping out of the

doorway, she called out to Shinji, who looked up at her. He was repairing the

fence, of what was now becoming their new home. After nearly two weeks of

driving and looking at different places, they finally found one that was in

halfway decent shape. Their new home consisted of a farmhouse just outside of

what was once a seaside fishing town. Shinji found a small fishing boat docked

to the lone fishing pier- which would help to provide a source of fresh meat for

their diet. In the back of the farmhouse, a small stream that ran beside the

house turned a waterwheel. Immediately both of them realized the value of the

waterwheel- it had the ability to help ground corn into flour.



The farmhouse itself seemed to be ideal, but it had some problems. The roof was

in need of repair and most of the fences had be blown down. Even though there

was a lot of work to be done with the house and the crops, it was a form of

salvation.

"Ah, thanks Asuka. I really needed that drink."

"I'm not surprised, it's turning into another hot day. Just when are you

exactly are you going to put in a shower?"

"It's not exactly high on the priority list. We've got to finish repair all of

the fences. Once that's done we've got to start planting crops."

A look of disappointment crossed Asuka's face because she knew Shinji was right.

She would have loved, however, to have a nice shower right about now. Her

patience was growing thin- washing her hair out of a bucket was really starting

to get to her. Watching Asuka's response, Shinji could see that this was

important to her. Even if it was such a simple request, and he would admit it

too, that a shower would be just magical, especially on a hot day like this.

After that thought raced across Shinji's mind, another one followed right behind

it... "Crops need to get planted right away, otherwise, what will we eat during

the winter?"

"I'm sorry Asuka. Come on, let's try and get this row of fencing done."

"What I wouldn't give to go on a shopping trip with Hikari right now"

"Well, you can have a date with this plank of wood"

"It's just what I've always wanted" Asuka sarcastically replied as she began

to assist Shinji with the repair of the fence.

The punishing sun burned down on them all day, making the work twice as hard. In

a small way, it reminded them of the physical fitness tests, that they took

once a month. However, as punishing as the tests were, they still didn't compare

to this...

"This is the last one" Shinji said as he held the last plank in place.

"At last. Hold it steady" Asuka said as she struck the last nail into the

post. A sigh of relief escaped from her lips. Shinji stood back and looked at

what Asuka and him achieved. For once in his life, he felt a sense of pride, a

sense of success. Shinji felt something leaning on his shoulder. Turning his

head, he could see Asuka leaning on him, one of her arms resting on his very

brown bare shoulder.

"Not bad Shinji, it doesn't look bad at all"

"It does look pretty damn good, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, but how long is it going to remain standing?"

Shinji walked up to the fence and tested it's strength. The fence hardly moved,

it had some give, which was needed to stand-up to strong winds. He thought to

himself... "It'll do fine..."

"It's got strength, looks like it's built good and strong, Asuka"

"Yeah, well, it better be. I don't want to spend another hot day fixing the

damn fence..."

A moment later, Asuka heard her stomach growl, it had been hours since she

last ate. All of the hard work that she had put into the making of the fence had

made her very hungry and...

"Eewww, I'm all sweaty" Shinji turned to see what Asuka was complaining

about now.

"What are you complaining about?"

"I'm not complaining, I'm just stating a fact. Thanks to this fence,

and the scorching hot day, I'm all hot and sweaty"



Shinji could see that Asuka was very sweaty indeed. Tiny drops of sweat were

visible on her skin. Shinji also realized that Asuka had a point. He was hot and

sweaty too. Earlier in the day, it had gotten so hot that he was forced to

take off his shirt to get some relief...

"I'll tell you what. You go and wash-up and I'll make something for

dinner. The rest of the work can wait until tomorrow."

"That's the best idea you've had all day" Asuka turned around and headed

towards the house...

"Oh and Asuka, I must say your tan is looking great"

She didn't even turn around, but kept walking. Shinji had given her a

compliment, and it had embarrassed her. Once Asuka had disappeared into the

house, Shinji smiled, then headed inside after her...

The cool water brought relief to the very hot Asuka. A tantalizing smell

drifted into what had become their bathroom. Asuka was in her small heaven,

though it wasn't much. She was washing herself out of an old fashioned

washbasin, with no modern facilities around her. What made this house her heaven

was the smell of Shinji's cooking drifting through the curtain door.

Shinji was putting the last few bits on the wooden table while the dinner

finished cooking. Shinji decided to take a little bit of time and effort and put

some fresh flowers in a glass bottle, which was placed in the middle of the

table. It was nothing compared to what he could of done before Third Impact, but

in the time they were living in now, it was the best he could do. Certainly

Asuka would appreciate it...

Asuka found herself humming as she walked into the kitchen. Obviously in a

better mood, she was now refreshed from the days work.

"Take a seat, dinner won't be more than a couple of minutes..."

As Asuka sat down, she noticed the flowers that were on the table. They were her

second favorite color, yellow. She took one out, smelt it, then placed it

in her hair. Shinji couldn't help but smile when he saw the flower he had

picked, sitting in her hair. It amazed him to see the contrast of the bright

yellow flower against the fiery red-ness of her hair.

"Smells delicious, what is it?"

"Some of that fish that we caught yesterday and salted, with rice and herds"

Taking a bite of her food, Asuka felt it melt on her tongue. It was like

eating chocolate of the fish world.

"Shinji, you're a master cook, you can make anything taste like heaven!"

"That's not true Asuka..."

"Shinji, it's a complement, just accept it"

"Okay... then accept this one. That flower in your hair really suits you..."

"Thank you Shinji. I just can't seem to do anything with it. I would love

to be able to blow dry it just once..."

Shinji looked down at his plate and began thinking to himself. There were so

many things that he would love to do again, like going down the arcades with

Toji and Kensuke, checking out the latest releases...

"Asuka, there are things that I would love to do again, but we can't dwell

on the past. Look at what we've done today, look what we accomplished together.

If we can do that, then just think of the possibilities..."

"I know you're right, just forget I said it"

Shinji studied her closely, before deciding to let the subject drop- pressing

Asuka further wouldn't be any use.

"Okay, eat up. I want to see if tomorrow we can get the planting underway."

"Well I want to personally do some decorating in here. I'll go mad if I

look at these wooden walls and shutters for much longer."

"Just exactly what are you going to decorate with?"

"I packed some fabric when we left. So I could do curtains or something..."

Shinji just couldn't understand why Asuka needed to add her touch to the place

and just looked at her...

"Shinji I want to make this home, our home"

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Author's note: I'm sorry these last two chapters have taken so long but I've

been busy, with one thing and another. I thank you for sticking with me.

I'll try and write quicker but sometimes it takes time to get things right

but I'll do my best. Don't worry I've still got things instore for these two.

Thanks to my pre-reader ST Pika

All comments welcome.

E-mail me at Asuka_uk@hotmail.com