Chapter 10

Shinji hung up the phone, feeling immensely relieved. Rei was still coming over for dinner, and she was already on her way over. Shinji dashed out to the kitchen and started on dinner.

"Shinji, you still owe me an explanation."

"I know I do, Misato-san," Shinji said, not looking up from his work, "but if I'm going to get dinner ready, I can't stop to talk."

"Shinji," Misato said sternly, "you are going to tell me where you were last night, and you are going to tell me now, or I will place you under arrest myself for lying to a superior officer!"

"Misato," Shinji said, dropping the respectful title he had always tried to use with her, "my father tried this very same tactic earlier today, and it didn't work for him, either. When threats didn't work, he put a bullet past my head. If you don't believe me, ask him. I doubt he'll bother denying it."

"That's beside the point," Misato said, then, her tone changed to a much more serious one, "You know that I already know, don't you? You know that I'm only asking you because it's the polite thing to do. Because I'm your guardian and your commanding officer, the Intelligence Department keeps me briefed of all of your doings. I know you were at Rei's last night, but what I don't know is why, Shinji. Do you feel like sharing?"

"Rei…is my girlfriend, Misato," Shinji said, "I went to her house last night to be with her. Nothing happened between us, I swear. We just talked for a little while, and then I fell asleep because I was exhausted."

"Yeah," Misato said sarcastically, "sneaking out after curfew can really take its toll on you."

"Bite me," Shinji said. Throughout the entire exchange of words, Shinji hadn't once made eye contact with his guardian, or even looked up from the stove.

"You know it's up to me whether you do anything social any time soon," Misato said, glaring at Shinji's back.

"Since when do I do anything social?" Shinji asked, "I'm an Eva pilot, remember, the whole 'permanent stand-by' thing?"

"I can see to it that you and Rei never see each other except in passing," Misato threatened.

"Misato," Shinji said, finally rounding on her, "I've had it up to here with people threatening my relationship with Rei. The next time anyone makes a threat towards her, I'll shoot whoever made the threat. If that happens to be you, I'm sorry, but this is an iron-clad promise."

"To shoot me, you'd need a firearm," Misato said, "and to the best of my knowledge, you don't have one."

"Better check your room, Misato," Shinji said. Misato's eyes widened with shock.

"What, you think I don't know the combination to your gun-safe?" Shinji asked, "Even if you'd actually use it? You're not the only one with connections, Misato. I have my own sources."

Shinji turned back to the stove without another word. He hoped that Misato wouldn't call him on his bluff. Misato was silent. She wasn't sure whether to be angry or impressed that Shinji had evolved his own network of information in his short time at NERV. Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it, Misato-san," Shinji said, forgetting their previous conversation, "I think I know who it is."

Shinji walked to the door. Sure enough, when he opened it, there stood Rei, just as Shinji had expected. She was wearing her school uniform, as she always did, but somehow it seemed to suit her and made her seem not only more lovely, but incredibly elegant. The more Shinji thought about it, the more he realized that it wasn't her clothes that made her seem so elegant. It was the way she held herself up. She seemed to glide over the ground, instead of walking.

"Good evening, Shinji," she said.

"Evening, Rei," Shinji said, kissing her on the cheek, "Please, come in and make yourself comfortable. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."

"Thank you," said Rei. She glided into the apartment and sat down at the kitchen table, where Misato was downing her fifth beer of the evening.

"Rei?" Misato asked, looking up, "What are you doing here?"

"I invited her over for dinner," Shinji said, looking meaningfully over at Misato.

"I see," said Misato, "Well, it's nice that you came over, Rei. We're happy to have you."

"Thank you, Major," Rei said respectfully.

Without Asuka, who was in the hospital, the meal was a quiet one. It had been under the surface of her mind for quite some time, but in the aftermath of the attack of the Fifteenth Angel, Asuka had suffered a mental collapse. It started slowly at first, but the fight that she and Shinji had had the previous evening had accelerated the process, and she was now lying in a near-comatose state. Shinji and Misato each tried to initiate conversation, but their earlier row made the idea of conversation awkward. Rei sat, not understanding why Shinji and his guardian were not speaking to each other.

Did something happen? Rei thought, Shinji is not usually so quiet with Major Katsuragi. Perhaps I should try to initiate conversation.

"Shinji…" Rei said, "your cooking is…very good."

"Thanks, Rei," Shinji said, "I kept it vegetarian for you."

"It must have been a challenge for you to cook without using meat," Rei said.

"Yeah, a little bit," said Shinji, "It was a good challenge, though. I like being able to challenge myself and expand my horizons."

"I didn't know you enjoyed cooking so much," Misato said, "Maybe you should take over cooking for every night's dinner."

"Yeah," Shinji agreed, "Maybe I should. It would only be one day extra to when I already do the cooking. And we'd also stop eating all that instant junk that you call 'cooking'."

"Hey!" Misato protested drunkly, "My cooking's just fine!"

"Yeah, that's why Ritsuko gagged the last time she ate your cooking," Shinji said, "Just drink your beer, Misato-san, you will anyway."

"Well, fine!" said Misato indignantly. Then, she chugged the remaining half a can of her twelfth beer.

An hour, and uncounted beers later saw Misato nearly passing-out drunk.

"Shinji…" she slurred, "I'm…gonna go t'bed…now…"

Misato got up from the table shakily and wobbled into her bedroom. As soon as her door slid closed, Shinji and Rei heard a muffled "thud" as Misato flopped down onto her bed on the floor. Rei and Shinji looked at each other from opposite sides of the table.

"What…should we do…now?" Rei asked awkwardly.

"I…uh…" Shinji stammered, "Well…we could, um…"

Shinji indicated the doorway into the living room. Rei nodded and stood up. Shinji followed suit and the two of them moved into the living room together and sat on the couch.

Shinji reached for the remote and was about to turn on the TV when Rei stopped his hand and guided it down. Shinji set the remote down and turned to face Rei. Her eyes were sparkling, and Shinji felt himself being drawn into them. He ran his fingers into her hair again and drew her in close. Their lips made contact once, twice, three times, and then Rei pulled away.

"Rei, what's--?" Shinji started. He was immediately shushed by Rei. She put a finger to his lips, and then stood up in front of him.

Rei turned her back to Shinji and undid the front of her school dress. Shinji watched the suspenders and straps fall back over her shoulders. Next, Shinji saw Rei's school blouse open up and fall lightly to the floor, followed by an unhooked bra.

Rei turned back to face Shinji, her pale breasts standing out from her chest like two twin moons. Shinji's eyes were riveted on them, despite his attempts to avert his gaze. This was not the first time he had seen Rei's nude body. Shinji briefly remembered the time in Rei's apartment when he had fallen on her and had grabbed her breast by mistake. Shinji felt his eyes bugging out slightly, and shifted his gaze back up to Rei's eyes.

"Shinji…" Rei whispered lightly, "You have seen me nude once before, yet you fled from it. Now, I wish for you to see me nude again, and to touch me again, and to enjoy yourself."

Rei straddled Shinji's lap and took his hands in hers. She guided Shinji's hands up to her pale globes and placed Shinji's trembling hands against them. Instantly, her nipples became erect, and Shinji's hands instinctively tightened gently over the soft flesh.

They're just as soft as the first time, Shinji thought, his mind in a state of shock.

His hands tremble, yet they are strong, Rei thought, and the sensation that this contact creates is most…pleasant…

Shinji's hands began to knead and caress the soft flesh of Rei's breasts. Rei felt Shinji's member growing to hardness underneath her, but she didn't know exactly what to do with it. A soft moan of pleasure escaped Rei's lips as Shinji's caresses brought her blood to a boil and took her senses to a state that she had never experienced before.

Guided by a voice she didn't know, Rei hooked one of her delicate hands behind Shinji's head and drew his face towards her chest. Shinji didn't resist, but he did look shocked at Rei's seeming forwardness. Just as Shinji came into contact with the supple skin on Rei's chest, he breathed in a light scent that was so soothing to him that he could have drifted off into sleep had he not been so tremendously aroused.

His lips came into contact with Rei's left breast. The soft skin tasted smooth and sweet on Shinji's tongue as he gently traced it around Rei's nipple. He flicked his tongue against the hardened little bud, drawing a gasp of surprise and pleasure from Rei.

I had no idea it would be like this, Rei thought frantically, This is…overwhelming!