Disclaimer: I don't own, you don't sue, we live happily after. Got it?
SNOW
Chapter ten
Nearing the food plaza, Shinji greeted some girls from his classroom. And after a really long and boring waiting line, he got the two cokes for his friends and a soda for himself. Heading back to the arcades, the boy was boarded by one of the girls he greeted earlier. "Hi Shinji Kun."
"Err… Hi Kasumi…" Nervously said him. Why was the girl looking so weirdly at him? It looked almost as the look he received last night from… Misato!
"You know Shinji…" Fidgeted her. "Since you came to our school, a lot of the girls found you really cute." She paused some seconds to recover from a blush. "But no one never approached you because you always seemed so sad. I mean, ok, everyone flocked over you when we discovered that you were the pilot. But after that, every one only saw you as the boy inside his shell. But that was before you befriend Touji and Kensuke. Although I believe that you could have better taste for friends, it was after that that all we could see how you can be nice and friendly. And all that you have done to the rest of the class. We all think that you're a nice guy."
"Err…thanks?" THIS wasn't Shinji's terrain at all. Being complimented by some one out of the blue? Strange, very strange.
The girl continued to speak. "Well, Shinji. And because of that, I think it would be a nice idea to share time with you. I mean, would you… hum… would you go on a date with me?" She sighed in relief. "There, I said it."
"Oh my god! What am I gonna do now?" Shinji was panicking. Before yesterday, he would gladly go wit her. That is, if he could get over his shyness. But now things were different. He simply couldn't. But how to tell her that without hurting the girl?
"Ahn… err… well Kasumi you see… I would really like to go but… I… I am already seeing somebody else. Sorry."
Kasumi visibly darkened after hearing that. "It's Asuka isn't it? I knew you two fought like that because you were a couple."
"No… it's not her. Listen Kasumi I would rather…" But the boy was interrupted.
"So it's Rei! Everyone comments on how you look at each other. That is, when she looks at anyone."
"Kasumi please! I would rather not talk about this. And no, it's not Rei. The girl I'm seeing is not from school. But I would really appreciate if you do not insist in this matter. Look, I'm really flattened to know that you like me but, I can't. Sorry."
The girl stood still there for some seconds, which made Shinji feel worse after each one. Finally, she took off her eyes from the ground and looked at Shinji's eyes. "I see. Well, at least you were sincere. I… I see you later." Said her before running away.
"Oh boy… I've hurt someone again, way to go Shinji…" Darkly thought him as he grabbed the plastic cups and resumed his way to the arcades.
AVAVAVAV
Kensuke was running back to the arcades. After Shinji departed to retrieve the drinks, he and Touji stood at the arcade's line. After a while he grew inpatient and decided to check on Shinji. Nearing the boy, he stopped in mid track as a girl from their class approached Shinji. It was unintentional, but he couldn't help but hear all the exchange between those two. Not wanting to be spotted and labeled a eavesdropper, he decided to get a move and arrive at the arcades before Shinji. But that was rich. Shinji seeing someone from out of the school? Who could it be? The boy didn't have any social life besides school. Some girl from NERV? Probably not, after all the only children working there was him, Rei and the devil.
"Hey Touji, I've got a real blast to tell you after we are out of here!" Enthusiastically said him as he neared his companion.
"And why it has to wait until later?"
Kensuke pointed to the approaching Shinji. "Because the subject is right there."
"Ah." Touji didn't like gossips. Well, not that much. Especially if it was about some friend of his. But being Kensuke the gossiper, things must be really interesting.
"Hello guys, did I take too much time? What happened to you Kensuke? It seems like you've run the marathon!" Said our favorite wimp.
"And that's exactly why I want my drink right now, please!" Cut in the bespectacled boy.
Shinji thought that Kensuke was acting a little weird, but then again, this was Kensuke, the weird. Shrugging his shoulder, the boy handed his friend what he requested and patiently waited in the line as everyone else.
AVAVAVAV
Later at home, Shinji was feeding Pen Pen, and simply watched the bird as thoughts run inside his head. "You know Pen Pen? Your owner is such a major babe, not to mention one of the most incredible people in the world, and I'm the lucky mortal that is with her… "
From his place in the kitchen, the bird looked right at Shinji's eyes and blinked twice, before resuming his food. "He, look at me, now I'm talking with birds about my love life…" bemusedly exclaimed Shinji as he went away.
Finishing his food, the bird waddled back to his fridge. If a bird would be able think as human beings, this one would be thinking something in the lines of. "Man, the boy has got it really bad…" But as your average genetically enhanced bird, Pen Pen was thinking about his article about Einstein's relative theory that he had to deliver to a science magazine. (A/N: hehe… just kidding.)
"Tadaima!" Yelled the beautiful Katsuragi as she entered her apartment. Hearing a heartful reply from another room, she went over Shinji's bedroom and saw the boy sitting in a wooden chair, studying some musical partition. "Hey Shin-chan, what are you doing?"
Looking from his sheet of paper, the boy turned his head and smiled. "It's being a while since I studied some of my cello. I thought that it would be a nice idea to do so." Then both stared at each other for a while before he continued. "You know, have I ever played anything to you?"
Receiving a head's shake as negative reply, the boy asked his girlfriend if she wanted some and as a reply, she sat in Shinji's bed, and that was the cue for Shinji's first serenade.
"Wow Shinji, that was beautiful." Commented Misato. On true, she was more into more aggressive music, like heavy metal or even folk music. Classic was not her first choice. However, would I hurt to try and please your boyfriend?
A very interesting trait that Shinji inherited from Gendo was the ability to read people's true feelings. However, he never used it until now. His constant depression clouded this sense. However, since he had motives to see life as a good thing that had changed. "Ok, mental note: try to learn more recent music." If Misato could try to be nice to him, why couldn't he do the same? "Say Misato, what do you want to do now?" Yes, he was really a rookie in relationships and hadn't a clue on what to do.
Smiling broadly, the woman had an expression that frightened Shinji. It was like she was a lioness seeing a zebra in his place. "Well, I can imagine a thousand things to do…" Said her in a purr.
Shinji slumped his shoulders. Did Misato only think about that? Anyway, it would be really nice to make sex, but only when he felt that he was prepared. That still wasn't the moment. "Ano… Misato, I… I don't think that it would be a good idea right now… I…"
Ok, Misato was teasing Shinji this time. He let it very clear that he was not that ready yet. But she could always hope. What if he had said yes? Forcing a smile, se said. "I understand Shinji. It maybe hard on me, but I'll wait for your readiness."
Sighing, Shinji also put a smile and continued. "Thanks Misato."
However, things went back to the start line. What would they do? Trying to avoid the unsettling silence that fell in the room, Misato said something about refilling her fuel tank with more alcohol, and so she went in search of the holly beer.
Back in Shinji's room, the boy tried to think of a way to still please Misato tonight. When nothing came, he released a desperate sigh and went to the living room. Upon getting there, as if magically, his eyes fell on the TV's schedule magazine. With nothing better to do, he brushed trough it and inspiration hit him.
Knocking in the bathroom's door, he awaited Misato's reply, blushing because once again she teased him, and said. "It's not like that! Not that I wouldn't like to go inside with you but… I… well… ARGH! Listen here, I'm gonna get something in the city and will be back here in fifteen minutes. Don't go anywhere."
As Misato finished her soak, she got out of the tube and dried herself, before putting some house clothes, all the while curious on what Shinji would get.
AVAVAVAV
"What to get? What to get?..." Repeatedly thought Shinji as he looked over the Blockbuster's shelves. "Girls like romance movies, but I can't find anything that would take interest me in these. Action moves? Yeah, as if…" He searched some more before he saw a man in the counter taking with his female companion as the clerk checked the rent. "You know I get scarred with horror movies darling. Why do you always get them?" Said the woman.
The man broadly smiled and in a cocky voice replied. "Because whenever you are scarred you hug me for protection…"
"THAT"S IT!" Internally shouted Shinji. "We can stay cuddled all trough the movie if I take one that manages to scare Misato!" After he made his choice, the boy handed the DVD to the store's clerk. "Oh… Friday thirteen part 234234! This is very scary…" Commented the clerk. Then he looked Shinji with a smugly stare. "Say, aren't you trying to scare a girlfriend and fondle her all night, are you?"
Blushing like a tomato, Shinji tried to deny it but his body betrayed him. The clerk laughed some and said. "Way to go boy. But remember to respect her limits. Here it is, enjoy yourself."
Getting out of the rental shop, Shinji darkly thought. "Heh, if I would follow Misato's limits I would have rented a porn movie…"
AVAVAVAV
Misato was at her third beer when Shinji came back. Frowning at her, the boy complained. "Why do you always have to drink so much Misato?"
She blinked. "Hun? Drink so much? Who drunks too much? I only drank three beers!"
"That's the problem. I only stayed out for fifteen minutes. And in only that you drank three cans. Don't you fear for your liver?" Both argued some more but it was clear that a common sense would not be achieved. Deciding to drop the matter to later, Shinji Showed the DVD. "Hey Misato, look. A DVD, we could watch it together. What do you say?"
"I say that you'd better prepare the popcorn as I set the movie." Eagerly replied her snatching the case from Shinji's hands. As she looked at which film he chose, her face turned into a mischievously mask. "A horror movie… I see. Shinji is trying the old trick hun? Wow, who would say that he had it in him?"
AS Shinji returned with the popcorn, Misato started the film. While Shinji was enjoying Misato's sudden hugs, something was really wrong. She kept getting scared in the unscariest scenes. When a white fluffy bunny appeared in the screen, the purple haired beauty grabbed her boyfriend and faked a frightened voice. "Oh Shinji, why did you have to take a movie so scary?" All the while, she pressed his face into her boson.
Blushing more than EVA-02, Shinji was fighting off a nosebleed, not to prevent any sign that he was a pervert, but to not soil Misato's breasts. "Ok, now I know that she is not scared at all!" Thought him, but after some of Misato's especial hugging therapy, he grinned. "To hell with that. I could really get used to this…"
After the movie finished, they stood there for a while, making out. Trying something he read in a magazine, Shinji lightly sucked Misato's lower lip, which rewarded him with a pleasure moan. After the kiss finally finished, Misato looked Shinji in the eyes. "Where did you learn to do that Shinji?" She was curious, the shyness in earth being so bold was news.
"Err… I read some of Asuka's novels and… oh boy."
"What's wrong Shin-chan?"
"Asuka."
"What's wrong with her? Oh, I see. I'm not that good for you. You still have feelings for Asuka? Is that it?" Asked her in a mock hurt tone.
"Misato, please. This is serious. What are we gonna tell her about us?"
This time, there was no smile in Misato's face. "Err… will we tell her that we are sorry?"
"That's my line Misato." Deadpanned Shinji. Seeing her sheepish smile, the boy continued. "Anyway. I don't think that she will take it lightly that we are seeing each other in a more romantic way…"
Resting her head in Shinji's chest, Misato lifted her eyes to see his. "I really don't know. I don't think there's something that we could tell her aside from the true. After all, I'm an adult and by NERV standards, you also can do whatever you damn please with yourself."
"But she still will cause ruckus about it."
"Shinji, you talk too much sometimes you know?" Crawling over his chest, Misato positioned herself for a kiss. "Good night Shinji." And so, she went to her bedroom.
AVAVAVAV
Flight number 23445, Frankfurt – Tokyo III, arriving at gate three.
Hearing the intercom, a gathering of four, Shinji, Hikari, Touji, and Hikari's father went over said gate an awaited for the German redhead. As people started to get out from the gate, a rather famous teenager also came from it.
"Oh boy thanks the news broadcasting for this. If I didn't see in TV that it was snowing here in Japan, I would be freezing right now." Thought Asuka as she received an extremely cold chill when she got out of the plane. "Anyway, I guess now Japan is a more bearable place, I was missing this kind of weather. Talking about missing, are those Shinji and Hikari that I see there? YES THEY ARE!"
"ASUKA!" Exclaimed the normally very reserved Hikari. Seeing her best friend coming back after a vacation of some weeks was enough to make her run and hug the German girl, displaying a great deal of affection.
As both girls squealed in happiness, back where the guys stood, Shinji smiled. He sure enjoyed a lot his privacy while Asuka was absent. But he also confessed that all in all, the volatile redhead left a mark in his life that made itself know while she was away. Yeah, in other words, he also missed her.
"Hey, baka Shinji! Don't you feel so honored to know that my great person missed you, even if slightly?" Ok, so he didn't miss her insults and megalomania but, whatever. Looking at the approaching girl, he bowed. "Welcome back Asuka."
"You're really stupid aren't you? Why are you being so formal?" But still, her voice was in a playful tone.
"Sorry."
Now Asuka's voice and demeanor was not so playful anymore. "Already with apologies? You're really disgusting." Suddenly, the German seemed to realize Touji's presence. "Of all people to come here greet me, why did the jock?"
"Don't get too cocky devil, I'm here only to give support to Shinji and to escort my… hun… girlfriend?" Uncertainly finished Touji, with a questioning glance at Hikari and a nervous one at her father.
While the adult man just smiled and nodded his head at the unorthodox way in which Touji asked his daughter to be his girlfriend, Hikari blushed almost as Touji was, and shyly neared the boy. "I would like that… but could we talk about it later, in private?"
"Hun, yeah, sure. No problem." Exclaimed him with a goofy smile and a beet red face.
"Ah…love is in the air..." Cooed Asuka in mockery, joining her hands in front of her chest and blinking wishfully. But soon enough she was normal again. "Ok, let's cut off all this sugar before I get diabetes." Than, looking at Shinji. "Since love seems to be sprouting here in Tokyo III, have you arranged some one for yourself third child?"
"IT'S NOT LIKE THAT! I, err… I mean… what gives you the idea that I would have a girlfriend?" Ok, Shinji would tell her about Misato, but not in front of everyone.
"Wow Shinji, cool down, the way you spoke I would say that you're seeing Misato herself."
"Don't… don't talk nonsense Asuka." But that came out so strained that everyone found it odd. "God! Why is everyone so close to the mark these days? First Touji, now Asuka. What the hell is going on?"
"Whatever you say Shinji." Said Asuka waving a hand in a dismissive gesture. "I didn't com back to hear about your love life anyway." However, she was curious. Shinji's behavior was far more than suspect. She was teasing his as always, but these reactions were a little over extreme, even for him. That asked for further investigation.
"Well boys and girls, I can see that you're having a good time with each other, but I still have to go back to work. My day off is actually only a half day off. If you don't mind, I would like to take you all back to Katsuragi's apartment." Although it was funny to see the silliness of these kids, Mr. Horaki really needed to get back to work.
AVAVAVAV
Author's notes: Well, one more chapter, X more to go. Hehe… this chapter is a birthday gift for myself…