First thing's first… This, as I said in the preview, is the sequel to my previous story, "Humans weren't meant to float." I highly recommend you read my first story before reading this if you haven't already done so. Otherwise, the characters might seem a bit OOC to you, since I did a lot of development to them over the course of HWMTF. For everyone who already has read it (you know who you are), please read on!

So, yeah, back in business! It took me a while since my Eva buzz had died down for a while, but I'd put so much thought into what I want to do in this story and wanted to do it so much, I decided "Eva buzz or not, I'm going to do this." I'm glad to see that so many people enjoyed Humans Weren't Meant to Float, and I never would have dreamt I'd get over 200 reviews for it! Thank you to everyone who followed that project so faithfully and left all the great feedback! You are the guys who make this hobby worthwhile, and I'm glad to finally be giving you some more.

I'm not sure how long this story is going to be as of yet. I don't think it's going to be as long as HWMTF, but then again, my predictions for those sorts of things have a knack for being inaccurate, so I'll make no assumptions.

Now, it's one year later, and the two will be starting their freshman year of college at Kyoto University. So, what's in store for Shinji and Asuka now that they're heading out on their own? Read on to find out…

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My mother's cello

By GeekViking86

Chapter 1: Prologue

As Shinji's eyes fluttered open, he was greeted with the sight of another un-familiar ceiling in an un-familiar room, and arranged around him were stack upon stack of moving boxes. When he groggily turned his head and saw Asuka's golden red locks cascading on his body, his memory came fumbling back into his mind. It was Saturday at about four thirty. They were in their new apartment in Kyoto, and they'd just gotten off of their flight about three hours ago. It would appear that the two of them had fallen asleep on the couch once they'd gotten into their new accommodations. All of a sudden, Shinji was struck with something he had not felt in years… Homesickness.

Shinji had been used to being shuffled from one home to another when he was younger, because that was the lifestyle of a boy who's only parent didn't want him. But that changed when Misato took him in…

It could have been weeks, or even months before he and Asuka would be able to see her again, and for a moment, he greatly longed to be back at their lake house outside of New Yokohama. As he twiddled with the cross pendant Misato had given him three years ago, he began wondering what kind of zany antics the lavender-haired woman might be up to at the moment… Like what kind of awful, unhealthy food she must have been eating now that he was no longer there to cook—a thought that made Shinji wince with concern.

Shinji reached his hand over to Asuka's face to gently brush her cheek with the backs of his fingers, and she let out a gentle sigh. She was so beautiful, it almost pained Shinji to awaken her, but they were going to have to get up at some point…

"Asuka, you know we're breaking 'rule number 3.'" Shinji teased sweetly as he nudged her gently.

Asuka's auburn-covered head moved gently from Shinji's shoulder, and she stretched her long limbs while yawning. She smiled at the Japanese boy next to her, and gazed into his eyes.

"Yeah, I remember… 'No sleeping together.'" She said as she rubbed her face. "But I don't think this counts. And besides, Misato's not here." She added with a chuckle.

"I know it's only been a few hours, but do you miss her yet?" asked Shinji.

"Yeah, I guess I do. But don't worry, she's probably having a lot of fun with us gone."

"But don't you remember the fuss she put up when she saw us off?" An image of a hung-over Misato crying un-controllably at the airport began to resurface in Shinji's mind.

"She was just being a drama queen. She's probably already invited Makoto over to celebrate by now."

Asuka reached into a box over the side of the couch, and pulled out a framed picture from a vacation to that the three of them had went on that summer. In it, Asuka and Misato were both wearing grass skirts over their swimsuits, while sandwiched between them was an embarrassed looking Shinji.

"Hehehe… Do you remember what the guy who took this picture said when he left?" Asuka asked, and Shinji turned his flustered face away. "'That lucky son of a…'"

"Okay, I remember! Jeez, it was only like a month ago!" Shinji said as he put his face in his hands, which Asuka followed with a playful kiss on his cheek.

"Well, he was at least half right." She teased while casually wrapping an arm around Shinji's shoulders, and then placed the photo on the end table next to the couch. "Next time you miss the ol' battle-axe, she'll be right here."

"So, I guess we should start unpacking…" Shinji sighed as he pointed to the heaps of boxes, most of which had Asuka's name on them. However, Asuka shook her head at the suggestion.

"No way, it's been hours since we last ate, and we have no groceries whatsoever. We should celebrate moving in with some pizza!"

"Okay, I'll order one with peanuts, eggs, and mayonnaise." Shinji said teasingly, knowing full well that Asuka despised Japanese-style pizza toppings with a passion.

"Ew, you're gonna make me sick!"

"Okay, pepperoni and sausage."

"That's better."

Shinji flipped open his cell-phone, and punched in a search for Pizza.

"Oh, and Shinji?" Asuka called.

"Yeah?" Shinji answered as he clicked the scroll buttons, finding a take-out place that would suit their needs.

"Tomorrow we're taking you to get a haircut."

"Why?"

"Because those bangs of yours have gotten too long."

Shinji growled as he formed a cup with his lower lip and blew some air upwards, temporarily displacing his bangs.

"I like it this length."

"Well we've got class on Monday, and I don't want people to think I'm dating an emo kid." Asuka frowned.

Shinji rolled his eyes and gave a groan.

"I hate getting them though. You always want me to get one as soon as my hair looks normal."

"Normal? I can barely see those pretty eyes of yours anymore!" Asuka said with a forced whimper.

Shinji pinched the end of one of his bangs with his fingers and gave it a slight tug, and realized that her complaint wasn't entirely without merit.

"Okay then. Whatever makes you happy, I guess."

Asuka smiled with delight and gave Shinji a squeeze.

"You'll be glad you did, trust me."

As Shinji went about ordering the pizza, Asuka started looking through the pictures in the box again, this time from a small book. As she looked at one group photo from back home with Toji, Hikari, and Kensuke, Asuka began to wonder when they might next see the three of them. Not that she was eager to see Shinji's two stooges, but she couldn't deny that some of the best times they'd had were when the five of them were all together.

Asuka finally stopped when she came across one last photograph in her little album… This was not a person that she'd ever seen in Japan, but she knew who it was… A whirling torrent of mixed emotions came over Asuka… And then she closed the book, realizing she didn't want to sort through them right now.

I know Shinji is going to start asking about you someday… And honestly, I really want to see you again too… But if I did, would you want me, or would you just send me away again? I don't want to give up, but I don't want to get hurt again…

As Asuka folded her hands on her lap, she felt her lips part, and the smallest of whispers escaped from her mouth, too quiet for Shinji's pre-occupied ears to detect.

"Papa…"

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Well, the next chapter been pretty much finished for a while now. I'll probably put it up in a day or two once I've gotten to go over it at least one more time, plus I'm trying to get a head start on Chapter 3. Fret not, for I AM working on it! I've also got a deadline this time, since at least one of the chapters is going to be carrying a fairly obvious Christmas theme, and I want to make sure it's out in a timely manner. So I'll see ya then!

Thanks for reading, please send your reviews, keep an eye out for the next chapter, and God bless!