Chapter 10

As I jogged around town, I tried to block out my anxiety. To a lesser degree, it worked. By concentrating as hard as I could on running, I not only managed to shut out the worst of my fears of confronting Rei again, I was able to nearly double my run distance and time before heading to the train station to go to the Geofront. Sitting on the empty train, I caught my breath and waited for the cars to come to a stop. As they did, I wished that I could turn invisible; Rei was waiting on the train platform for me. Anyone that I might have said that to would have probably argued: "Well, how can you be so sure she's waiting for you?" to which I would have replied: "Hello? Telepath here; able to read people thoughts and intentions…DUH!" However, I stepped out of the train car and found myself face-to-face with the girl who was both my pursuer and quarry. As we stood there, an awkward silence permeating the air around us, Rei cocked a curious eyebrow at me.

"How was your breakfast with Ikari, Soryu, and Major Katsuragi?" she asked.

"I'm not even going to ask how you knew that," I replied.

"You do not wish to tell me?" Rei asked.

"Breakfast was fine, if you're really that interested," I said, somewhat tensely, "But what I'm more curious about is how the hell you knew about it already."

"We share a telepathic rapport, do we not?" Rei asked, "Through it, I have learned to read your thoughts when you are not shutting yourself away, as you did when you returned to your apartment yesterday. Why were you so frightened?"

"Uh…"

"Are you frightened of me?" she asked, "If you are, your fear has been slow to manifest itself, as we have known each other for over a month."

"I'm not afraid," I said defensively, "I'm just…nervous."

"Why?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly, "I just don't know, and I've been pondering that very question all morning long."

"Are you nervous around me because you have something you wish to ask me?" Rei asked.

I sighed deeply. My cowardice got the better of me and I started to walk away from Rei towards NERV HQ. However, as I expected would happen, Rei caught up with me and walked with me.

Is it something that you do not wish to say out loud? Rei asked through our rapport.

It's…something that's hard for me to say, Rei, I replied, And I don't know why it's so hard for me to say it. I mean, all I want to do is to ask you out on that date we talked about and--

I froze. I couldn't believe that my own mind had betrayed me like that. I had just gotten so frustrated with myself that I allowed those thoughts to be broadcast over our rapport; no matter how rapidly my mind had spoken. Rei stopped next to me and looked me squarely in the eyes. An eternal moment passed.

I accept.

You…what? I asked, hardly believing what I was hearing.

I accept your invitation, Andrew, Rei repeated, When would you like to go on this…date?

Um…how about…tonight, if you've got nothing else planned, I said, still trying to get my mind wrapped around the idea that Rei actually accepted.

There is little reason for me to refuse a social relationship with you, Rei thought in response to my thoughts, You are a pleasant person to be around and your conversations are equally as pleasant.

Would you quit responding to my rhetorical thoughts, please? I asked, feeling amused, and slightly annoyed at Rei's constant responses to thoughts that I thought were private.

I'm sorry, Rei thought, feeling hurt, Tonight would be acceptable for our date.

What time would you like me to pick you up?

That would depend on what you have planned, Rei replied, If your plans include something that takes up an evening, such as a traditional dinner date, it would probably be wise of you to meet me around 1630 hours.

I've never been one to rely on tradition, I said, I thought we might go for a walk around the city and see what strikes us as interesting. I'll come and pick you up at 4 o'clock, all right?

Very well.

Rei and I started walking again. Surprisingly, I felt immensely relieved at having finally confronted my nemesis; that is, the possibility of taking Rei out on a date. I headed straight for the weight room, expecting Rei to stop when we reached the pool. She didn't. Rei walked into the weight room with me and settled herself onto one of the abdominal machines. I set myself up on a seated row machine and watched her while we worked out. I was surprised. Rei's thin build hid a very fit, muscular body; she was doing ab crunches with almost as much resistance as I used. However, after a short rep of crunches, Rei stopped and walked over to where I was still rowing.

"Would you be willing to be my sparring partner for a few minutes?" she asked.

"You do martial arts?" I asked, fully surprised.

"I do," Rei replied, "I am currently a black belt in Jeet Kune Do as well as Aikido. I am sure you will find me a suitable challenge. I can only hope that you will provide me with suitable challenge, as well."

I chuckled disbelievingly. This quiet girl was following in the footsteps of martial arts greats like the Dragon himself; Bruce Lee. I was also, at the same time, rather concerned. All I knew about Jeet Kune Do and Aikido were theory and textbook information. While Aikido was merely a defensive discipline, Jeet Kune Do was a decidedly offensive form. I marveled at how Rei had selected two opposite disciplines to compliment each other perfectly. The only martial arts I had ever learned were some Karate as well as some Jujitsu. I liked my Jujitsu training because, as big as I was, I could put some real power behind the submission holds and joint locks that I had mastered. I hoped that my training would be sufficient to allow me to put up a good fight.

Rei and I went to the locker rooms and changed into sparring uniforms. These uniforms consisted of a pair of polyester athletic pants and a tear-resistant T-shirt. I got changed first and returned to the weight room. I walked to the far back of the room where I found a large padded mat on the floor. I sat down on the mat and began to stretch and warm up. Rei walked in a minute later and started her own stretches. It amazed me how flexible this girl was. I stood up and started to warm up my reflexes. I did a little bit of Tai Chi Chuan and tried to focus. Rei stood up and started an elaborate-looking series of spins, kicks and katas.

"Are you ready, then?" I asked after Rei finally stopped moving.

"I think so," she replied, "Are you?"

"About as great as I'll ever be," I said. Rei walked out to the middle of the mat and motioned me to join her. Once we were facing each other, we bowed and struck up our stances. I made a feinting swing towards Rei's head, trying to draw her off balance. Instead, Rei ducked and jabbed up into my chin with the heel of her hand, making a loud kiai. I reeled, stunned by not only the force of the blow, but the speed with which it struck. I didn't even see her move! While I was stunned, Rei grabbed my arm and dragged me to the mat, pinning me in a hammer lock. I tapped the mat twice with my free hand, the signal for "I surrender". Rei let me up.

"You're quick," I observed.

"Then read my thoughts to anticipate my actions," said Rei.

"Is that fair?"

"In a fight for your life, you cannot worry about so-called 'fairness'," said Rei, "You must do whatever it takes to preserve your own life."

"I will not take another person's life if it can be avoided," I said resolutely.

"Pilot Ikari has the same ideals," said Rei, "Now, prepare yourself and win this next match."

Rei moved forward to attack. This time, I allowed my mind and body to move as one, anticipating Rei's movements and countering them as they occurred. Despite seeing the moves coming, I was still barely able to counter them. Rei kept me on the defensive until I noticed a flaw in her form. I suspected that she was doing it deliberately. After all, how could she have made the rank of Dan if she had flawed form? I pressed in, striking at the side that she was leaving unguarded. As soon as I moved, though, I changed my strike, as I sensed Rei planning a trap grapple, using her exposed side as bait. Rei moved again, flowing from one move right into the next. Finally, though, I struck Rei's chest, knocking her to the mat. Rei did a kip-up and spun back to face me. With a loud yell, she aimed a kick at my head; I sensed it coming and brought my arm up to block. Before Rei had a chance to withdraw her foot, I caught her ankle, twisted it, and swept her other leg, bringing her down to the mat. With a feinted punch to her throat, simulating a killing strike, I cemented my victory. This match had lasted for nearly three minutes.

"Very good," said Rei, breathing heavily, yet calmly, "Now you are starting to fight correctly."

"Yeah," I panted, "Thanks. Listen, we've got a team-synch test in another half an hour. How about we swim a couple of laps, then get cleaned up and head for the lab?"

"I would like to stay and continue weight training," said Rei, "I am supposed to come in here twice a week and do moderate resistance training to maintain my physique."

"Then why did you want to spar with me?" I asked, confused, "Sparring doesn't exactly fall into the category--,"

"It sounded like…fun," Rei interrupted, "I thought that perhaps you might like to give it a try. We do not have to do it often if you do not wish to."

"No, that's fine, we can… wait, did you just use the word 'fun'?" I asked, shocked.

"Yes, I did," said Rei, "Did I use it incorrectly?"

"No, not at all," I replied, "I've just…never heard you use that particular adjective before. It's nice."

"Thank you," said Rei.

A half-hour later, Rei and I joined Shinji and Asuka in the testing lab, preparing for our team-synch test. Misato and Dr. Akagi walked in a few moments later and looked us over.

"All right, everyone," Misato said, "We're going to try a slightly different approach to today's test. It's going to be a sort of race. Andrew, you and Rei are going to pair off against Shinji and Asuka and run through identical courses at the same time. The pair that makes it through with the fastest time and fewest errors will win."

"Will win what?" Asuka asked eagerly.

"Bragging rights," Akagi said shortly, "It doesn't really matter, Asuka. Just try not to take it too seriously. Remember, it's just a test."

"Whatever," said Asuka.

"Anyone else have any questions?" Misato asked.

"No ma'am," I said. Shinji shook his head, so did Rei.

"All right, then," Misato said, clapping her hands together, "Mount up and show us what you've got."

"Sounds like fun," I said, glancing over at Rei. Rei caught my eye and gave me a small smile.

A short time later, all of the Eva pilots, myself included, were seated and waiting in our entry plugs. My view screen came to life with the simulator program. I saw another military-style obstacle course setting itself up before my eyes. I looked over to my right and saw Unit-00's blue armor crouched next to me. I looked to my left and saw Units 01 and 02 crouched on the starting line, watching the same obstacle course set itself up.

"Now," Akagi's voice said over our comm. lines, "The rules this time around are basically the same as the last team-synch test. No talking is allowed; only hand signals and body language. Andrew, after yours and Rei's last performance together, we're expecting great results from the two of you today. An additional rule for this test is: Neither team may interfere with the progress of the other team. The fastest time and fewest mistakes will win. Are you all ready?"

"Hai," said Rei in her usual "business" voice.

"Roger," said Shinji.

"Jawhol," said Asuka.

"Let's rock and roll!" I exclaimed.

"Begin!"

All audio feeds went dead. The four of us sprinted off of the start. After a few minutes of a dead-heat race, the four of us sprinted for the finish line. I sensed something:

Rei concentrate! I shouted mentally, You're about to--!

My warning came too late. Unit 00's feet became entangled with one another and she went flying face first into the ground. Having anticipated her tripping, I was ready to catch Rei before she hit the ground. As she fell into my arms, I boosted her across the finish line in front of Asuka and Shinji and pushed myself as hard as I could to follow her. By boosting Rei forward and running hard, I was able to make it so that we all finished together in a tie. Misato was impressed; Akagi wasn't.

"Andrew, Rei, what the hell happened?" she demanded, "The two of you worked much better than this the last time. What made such a difference this time?"

"I don't know," I lied, "Maybe we were just tired. Rei and I got done working out together not thirty minutes before we came down here for this."

"You did the last test with a pulled ligament in your right shoulder," Akagi said, sounding more bitchy than usual, "Or did you think I didn't know about your little weight room accident?"

"Oh, I figured you'd know," I said, "After all, you are a doctor, and do have access to all of our records, medical and otherwise."

"That's right," she said, "So the 'we were just tired' excuse isn't going to fly with me. I want you and Rei to go through it again, by yourselves and I want you to beat the time you just set this time through. Reset the course!"

Rei and I were put back at the starting line of the course. This time, when I looked to my left and right, I saw Rei to my right and duplicates of us to my left. I presumed that this was the "ghost-clock" program, set up so that we could race ourselves.

All right Rei, I thought, You heard Dr. Akagi. No holding back this time, all right? Full speed, no mistakes, maximum performance.

All right, Rei replied coolly. I sensed confidence in her words. She knew as well as I did that the only reason we had finished in a tie with Shinji and Asuka was because she and I had held back and deliberately made small errors in order to make the race closer and more interesting for us.

Rei and I finished the second run through the course so fast that we were able to look back across the finish line and watch our ghosts come sailing across the line. Misato could hardly contain her shock. Akagi came over the comm. line with a satisfied tone of voice:

"That's more like it. I don't want to see you two slacking off any more, is that understood?"

"Yes ma'am," I replied exasperatedly.

"Don't take that tone with me, Andrew," Akagi threatened, "Remember, I report directly to the Commander."

And you sleep with him, too, I thought.

She does what? Rei asked.

Oh, damn, those thoughts were supposed to be private, I thought, embarrassed by my carelessness. I had just broadcast my blackmail ammo to Rei over our rapport.

What you just heard stays between you and me, all right? I asked, If Akagi knew that you knew that she was having sex with the Commander, we'd both be in trouble.

I already knew of their sexual relationship, said Rei, The Commander informed me of her constant insistence that he make love to her. He finds her boring and annoying.

I laughed mentally.

How did you come to find out about the nature of their relationship? Rei asked curiously.

It was one of the first things I learned about Akagi back when I first came to this branch, I responded, Back when I was still an empath, I mentioned the Commander around her once and her body responses spiked through the roof.

Rei chuckled softly. I switched my attention back to the present surroundings. Misato and Dr. Akagi were finishing up a lecture on the importance of good teamwork on the battlefield. It was all very rehearsed, and all of us knew it, and I really don't think either one of the two women expected us to take their speech seriously. It was just something they were expected to say to us.

"All right, you guys," Misato said, "That's all for today."

"Cool," said Shinji, "Uh…Hey, Andrew?"

"What's up?" I asked.

"Would you mind coming with me to the gym? I want to talk to you about something privately," Shinji said cautiously.

"Yeah, sure," I responded, reaching out to read Shinji's mind. I wanted to know exactly what he was planning on asking me so that I knew how to respond to it. What I found was almost exactly what I was expecting.

The primary concern swirling around in Shinji's head was the memory of his time inside his Eva. He was wondering if it was a dream, and if it was, why he had dreamed about me and Rei coming to find him. He was also curious about the change in Asuka's behavior towards him. From what he remembered, Asuka was always a bitch. She hit him, she picked on him, and she constantly belittled him. Why, all of a sudden, was she being so nice to him?

The two of us walked down to the weight room and gym facility and settled in. Shinji started to run on a treadmill while I punched at a heavy bag. We went about our exercises in silence for nearly five minutes before Shinji spoke:

"I've been having a really strange dream," he said, between his running breaths, "In this dream, I thought I saw my mother. She and I were sitting in a green, grassy field together. Then, I saw you and Rei walk over to us, Andrew."

"Did we say anything?" I grunted between punches.

"I don't remember everything," said Shinji, "but I do remember you two were saying something about me having to go back somewhere. I can remember not wanting to go at first, but you said that I could come back and see my mom any time I wanted in my dreams."

I smiled as I punched and kicked. Shinji remembered well. He continued:

"I had a different dream about my mom last night, though," Shinji said, "She and I were just standing there, looking at each other and talking. It was nice. And speaking of nice, have you noticed how un-Asuka-like Asuka's been acting?"

"How do you mean?" I asked. Then, I gave a loud Karate yell and roundhouse kicked the bag.

"Well…she's being…nice to me," Shinji said, sounding somewhat awkward.

"How's that strange?" I asked.

"Well, for as long as I've known Asuka, she's been decidedly not nice to me," said Shinji, "She always called me a 'baka' and a pervert, and she's just not been nice. But, you saw her this morning. She's all smiles and affection towards me now. What's the deal?"

"Well Shinji," I said, circling the bag like an opponent, "While you were inside Unit-01—KYAH!—there was another Angel attack."

"What?!" Shinji gasped, "Was anyone--?"

"No one got hurt," I reassured him quickly, "Not seriously, anyway. Asuka's mind was partially invaded by the Angel's mind-beam attack. I think that it might have awakened and changed parts of her that she thought she had long-since gotten rid of. Since then, she's been much friendlier towards people. She's even stopped calling Rei names."

"Now that's amazing," Shinji agreed. He got down off of the treadmill and did some post-run stretches.

"You know," he remarked as he stretched, "You and Ayanami seem to have gotten really close. Are you two going out?"

"If you're going to start with the same kind of teasing that Asuka was this morning--," I started, automatically defensive.

"No, no, that's not it at all," Shinji said, throwing up his hands in mock-surrender, "I'm just curious about how you're able to relate to her. She's kind of a hard person to get close to."

"I don't know," I said. I had to think of a quick half-truth.

"I just…understand how she feels, I guess," I said, "She and I are more alike than you know. I've come out of it over the last few years, but when I was younger, right after my brother died, I sort of…withdrew from everyone; shut myself into my own thoughts. I didn't want anyone else to get close enough to—YAH!—hurt me. Once I started piloting Eva, though, things changed. I felt more—HYAH!—at ease. Eventually, I started to come out of the shell I had built around myself. I guess I sort of see my own situation in Rei, and I sort of hope that I can help her come out of her shell, too."

"Well, it would be great if you could," said Shinji.

"That's why I'm glad she agreed to go out with me tonight," I said.

"Oh, god, don't let Asuka know that the two of you are going on a date," Shinji chuckled, "You'll never hear the end of it if you do."

"Yeah," I laughed in agreement, "well… Can I make a suggestion?"

"What about?"

"About how to deal with Asuka," I replied.

"Oh, sure," Shinji said.

"You really want to know?" I asked tantalizingly.

"Yeah."

"You're sure you want to know?"

"Just tell me already!" Shinji snapped.

"Okay," I said briskly, "Here's your suggestion: take her out to dinner."

"Are you kidding me?" Shinji asked, a disbelieving look on his face, "You want me to take Asuka out on a date?"

"Why not?" I asked, "You're both young, single, and available. Why not give it a try? You might find that you like being out with her."

And I know that Asuka would love the alone time with you, Shinji, I finished mentally, subliminally inserting the thought under the surface of Shinji's mind. He would know it was there, but he would think that it was just a random intuition that he was having for himself. I laughed internally at my own shamelessness. Here I was, looking at my own potential relationship, and I was setting Shinji up with a girl who had a major-league crush on for him.

"You know," Shinji said, "I think I might just do that…The question becomes: Where do I want to take her?"

"Well, think about it a little bit," I said, "But don't wait too long, 'cause a hot dish like Asuka won't stay single for long."

I added the last mock-warning for dramatic effect. I knew for a fact that Asuka didn't want anyone but Shinji, and she would wait for him forever, if need be. But she was planning on making her own moves on starting a relationship, and I really wanted Shinji to make the first move; to build his own confidence and, subsequently, build Asuka's confidence in his confidence.