Warning- much OOC. Also much cuteness(I think, anyway.)
It took a few moments for Unit 02 to recover it's balance- Asuka's sync ratio was still dangerously
low- but then it began its lumbering approach. The Angel didn't even appear to notice it; all of the
creature's concentration was focused on the extremely unfortunate Unit 00.
Asuka was still for a few precious seconds, amazed by the sight of the crumpled Eva moving directly
upwards- then drew her prog knife and charged at the beast.
It was amazingly easy. The Angel didn't even notice her until she was almost upon it, and in the second
that it took to drop Unit 00 and twist, Asuka had landed on its weirdly-jointed back and was probing
deeply with the shining blade. The Angel gave a thin piercing scream, flailing at her with its ineffectual
'arms', and her knife found its core.
Bright light filled everything.
When Rei was next aware of anything, she was lying in the familiar hospital bed. Her body ached dully
all over. She opened her eyes slowly.
Oddly enough, no one spoke when she did. Normally there would be someone in here, waiting to make
sure she woke up alright. Her throat closed up unexplainably at the thought that they might not do that
for her- perhaps because of her cowardice, they shunned her. She turned her head slightly to glance
about her.
Then a fond half-smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. No, she had not been forgotten; Shinji
slumped in sleep on the chair next to her bed, his head tipped back at an angle that meant he would
have a sore neck when he awoke.
Rei relaxed, even turning on her side to face him. She was becoming weak, dependant on emotions. If
only they knew how much this vigil had come to mean to her... one of the only ways she could be
reassured that she mattered to anybody. She closed her eyes, hoping that Gryffyn was alright, that she
could see him soon. She didn't know how long she'd been in here, but she knew that he'd fret.
There wasn't really that much damage done to her body, she realised. Mostly the residual pain that
caused that ache, and that would go away before too long. She'd probably be able to leave within the
hour.
She lay still for a few minutes, thinking disjointed thoughts, and then looked up at Shinji, wishing he
was awake. An unusual desire for her- she wanted to talk to someone.
"Shinji," she said softly, then repeated it slightly louder.
She thought she might have had to call him again, but he stirred, and then opened his eyes groggily.
"Ngh- Rei?"
"You'll hurt your neck, sleeping like that."
He rolled his head forward, winced, and put a hand to his neck. "Yeah, guess so."
She pulled her blankets a bit tighter around her neck, suddenly cold. Shyly, she said, "Thank you,
Shinji."
He blinked owlishly. "Why?"
Rei looked aside, her eyes beautifully luminous in the sunlight that slanted into the bleak little room.
"For being here. I was scared that no one would be."
Smiling, Shinji slipped out of his seat to kneel by the bed. "Why would you think that, Rei? You know
someone's always gonna be here."
She closed her eyes. "I'm a coward. I almost died, because I was too afraid to fight back. I thought..."
She swallowed to clear the lump in her throat. "I thought I would deserve it if no one cared whether I
woke up or not."
"Oh, Rei." Shinji bit his lip, feeling more than a little overcome. "That's happened to all of us. At least
you're all right, that's all that matters to me!"
Rei looked up at the tremble in his voice. Sure enough, his eyes were gleaming suspiciously. She felt a
strange tightness in her chest and throat, and then, suddenly, burning hot drops were spilling down her
cheeks. Surprised at herself, she turned away, burying her leaking face in her blankets.
Wiping at his face with the back of his arm, Shinji tried to decide if he was still dreaming. Was Rei
really crying? A quick pinch of his arm reassured him that he wasn't asleep. He leaned closer, wanting
to do something, wanting to hold her, but not sure what or how. "Rei..." he tried nervously, then,
warily, rested his hand on her shoulder through the thin blanket. She froze at his touch. "It's okay, Rei.
Everybody gets scared sometimes."
Scared and wet eyes met his. A whisper; "Hold me?"
At his slight nod, Rei sat up and Shinji hauled himself onto the side of the bed, wrapping his slim arms
around her with the inexpert touch that was nonetheless exactly what she needed. She settled gratefully
against him, tears slowly leaking onto his toast-rack chest, and he stroked her pale hair tenderly.
"Oh, Rei," he murmured lovingly, rocking her gently back and forth.
Neither was aware when a figure appeared at the doorway, paused in surprise, and stepped back.
Misato was deeply shocked at what she had just seen; Shinji hugging a crying Rei? Too weird for
words! But a tender smile crossed her lips. That would have to be good for both of them. She wouldn't
interrupt, not on her life.
Some time later, Rei's tears slowed, and stopped. She stayed pressed tightly against him for a few more
minutes, until she'd regathered her composure, then sat back with a shuddering sigh. Shinji let her sit
back, but kept his arms loosely around her. He knew without knowing how that she desperately needed
reassurance still, and this was the best way he could think of to give her that- and besides, it felt so
good! He lifted one hand from her waist to gently brush away the last of the tears from her smooth
face, his eyes warm and caring on hers.
Shinji's tenderness almost made Rei start over again. How had she earned this? "Thank you," she
breathed.
He didn't need to reply, just let her rest her head on his shoulder. That was enough.
"How long have I been in here?" Rei asked.
"Oh... not much more than a day. It's about 4."
"Gryffyn will be worried."
"Yeah... I fed him just before I heard the sirens, though, so he should be okay. I was gonna go check
on him, but everyone else was busy, and I didn't want to leave you alone."
Rei smiled secretly. "But I am well enough to leave. I should make sure he is alright. Will you come
with me?"
"Sure. Now?"
Nodding, she extracted herself from his embrace and stood shakily. As Shinji was standing, Misato
finally stepped in- and noted the boy's almost guilty start with a tiny smile. "Hi, Rei!" she said
cheerfully. "How are you feeling?"
Rei replied demurely, "I am well, Major. May I leave yet?"
"Well, sure, as soon as you feel ready to." Misato turned wicked eyes on Shinji. "Why Shinji, I do
believe you're blushing! What -have- you guys been up to?" It was true; he was bright red now that her
knowing gaze pinned him.
"N-nothing!" he stammered defensively.
"Suuure." Misato winked at him, surprising him hugely. And embarrassing him. "Well, we've been
through our first battle in months, and so few problems! I'm quite proud of you guys. Mostly Asuka, I
guess she really needed that, but everything worked out quite well. And honestly, Rei, there's no need
to worry about what happened. Everybody freezes at some stage in their life. You picked a good time
for it; no lasting harm was done to anything."
Rei looked away slightly. "It won't happen again, ma'am."
Ten minutes later, Rei opened the door to her apartment. She was instantly struck by a golden torpedo.
"Rei! Rei! Missed you, Rei."
Groaning at his weight, Rei rubbed the young gryphon's ears fondly before putting him down firmly.
The creature immediately stepped round to rub his beak against Shinji's leg. "Hello, Shinshi."
Rei stepped into her room while Shinji played with Gryffyn- and gasped out loud. Her clothes lay in a
shredded pile on the middle of her floor. Every school uniform in her cupboard had been pulled out and
torn into tiny strips of cloth. All of her clothes.
"Come here, Gryffyn," she said quietly.
Sensing the tone of her voice, Gryffyn slunk to her heel. "Here."
Shinji blinked when he saw the devastation. Oops, someone was in trouble!
"Did you do this?" Rei asked, pointing at the pile of shreds.
Gryffyn cringed against her leg, knowing she was unhappy. "Yes?"
She squatted down, turning to face him, and put a hand up under his beak, forcing him to meet her
eyes. She lifted her other hand and rapped him sharply across the ceres (you know, the little nostril-
things that birds have on the tops of their beaks).
The beast let out a loud yipe like a kicked dog and pulled his beak tight to his chest. Rei said sternly,
"That's bad. That was a bad thing to do, Gryffyn."
He whined miserably. "Rei!"
Feeling bad for having to punish him, but still determined to do so, Rei stepped away from him. He
whimpered and crawled towards her, beak still tucked in, but she didn't let him curl up against her leg
again. "No, Gryffyn. You've been bad." She saw Shinji still standing in the doorway, and met his eyes
apologetically. "Thank you for walking me home, Shinji- I'll see you at school tomorrow?"
He took the hint, nodding, and left. "See you."
Sighing, Rei turned back to her errant pet. "Why did you do that, Gryffyn?"
"Don't like them," he whimpered. "Nasty plumage."
Rei gave another sigh. He couldn't be allowed to do such things. But how was she to punish him?
Deprive him of something? Then she had it. "Gryffyn, you can't stay with me on the bed tonight. You
have to sleep on the floor."
Much later, Gryffyn lay on the cold floor, unable to sleep without his head snuggled between Rei's
warm, soft breasts (his favourite way of sleeping) and thoroughly miserable. Surely it hadn't been such
a bad thing that he'd done? He didn't like that plumage! If she could choose what plumage she wore,
surely she could find nicer things!
He stood, lithely stretching, and looked up at Rei. She had drawn the thin blanket up to her chin, and
shivered slightly in spite of it. She was probably as used to his heat as he was used to her coolness, and
freezing without him.
No! She had said he wasn't allowed to get on the bed! But she looked so cold... he wanted to warm her
up, but the only way he could think of was with his body as he usually did.
He hmphed. This was silly.
Lightly, he padded over to the bathroom, where he knew he'd seen more plumage after a fashion. But
what was there was wet. Instead, he walked to the other narrow cupboard, opening it deftly with his
beak, and pulled out as many towels as he could carry braced between his wings. It was a task to bear
them back to the bed, but he managed, and then managed (he congratulated himself on his cleverness)
to drape them over his beloved mistress. There, that should keep her warm!
When Rei woke, finding herself draped with towels was enough to dispel any traces of irritation she
bore towards Gryffyn- such a ridiculous, well-meant gift!- at least, until she saw again the piles of
shreds. Fortunately she'd washed out her uniform from yesterday, and it was now dry enough to wear
again, but she'd still have to buy a whole new set of clothes. Not that money was such a problem, but
the inconvenience of the thing was.
As she was sitting down to her modest breakfast, she called Gryffyn over. He bounded happily to her.
"Gryffyn, I will have to get new clothes today to replace the ones you destroyed. Will you try to do the
same to more clothes that I buy?"
He hung his head slightly. "Don't like those clothes. Nasty."
"Huh?" Rei touched the skirt of her school dress somewhat defensively. "What do you mean, Gryffyn-
kun?"
"When you and Shinshi gone, Shinshi say 'stay here', so I stay- stayed. No things to do. Bored. Climb
up on den-hole," he frowned, " 'window', look down. Many people walk-walk. Much-much bright
plumage! Much nicer than this..." he touched her skirt with his wingtip. "So Gryffyn think, why Rei
wear always same plumage? Clothes," he corrected himself. "Why Rei always wear same clothes?"
"I have to wear these clothes," she answered. "They're what we must wear to school. Where I go at
days, remember?"
"Not always at school," Gryffyn pointed out. "Lots of times, at den, walk with me and Shinshi, go to
nasty place underground. Need wear nasty clothes then?"
Rei stared at him. "Gryffyn, well, I suppose I don't. But it's easier to just have all my clothes the same.
There's no reason for me to buy different ones."
Violently beating a wing in negation, Gryffyn explained himself vehemently. "When my coat dirty,
plumage messy and with mud, I feel yuck. Don't want be near anyone, don't want do anything. When
coat clean and plumage bright, feel strong! Feel happy, confident! Same for you. You wear brighter
plumage- prettier clothes- and you feel strong and brave and pretty. People want to be near you." His
eyes sparkled. "Shinshi see how pretty you are," he added slyly.
Rei blinked. For a creature less than half a year old, who still had some trouble stringing together
proper sentences, he was awfully convincing. "Alright," she conceded. "I will buy some 'bright
plumage' today, but I must also buy more school clothes. You will leave them alone?"
"Yes!" he agreed, his beak gaping open in a delighted grin.
Walking to school, Rei had mixed feelings about this whole clothes-shopping idea. She could tolerate
the idea of wearing non-uniform clothes to make Gryffyn happy, but she knew that she had no idea
whatsoever of what sort of clothes to buy, what would look good and what would not. That vanity was
another strange thing for her, something that she hadn't experienced before. She had never before cared
what other people thought of her appearance.
-Gryffyn is changing me- she thought. -So very much. I am not the person that I was before I met him.
Perhaps this has interfered with my purpose.-
A leaf whirled down the street in a stray gust of wind; her eyes followed it idly. -But is not one of my
functions to help the understanding of Human Instrumentality? This, then, should be a good thing; to
show that the formation of my soul is indeed influenced by those I come into contact with.- She
frowned. -But, Gryffyn is not human. According to the Scrolls he should not have a soul, so should
not be able to influence mine. No, that is ridiculous. Of course he has a soul. He must. I know it. An it
is one that I am glad to hold near mine.-
These thoughts were strange enough for her that it completely escaped her attention that, for perhaps
the first time in her life, Rei Ayanami did not question the fact that she had a soul.
Yet her meditation was disrupted.
A loud voice preceded the appearance of other people; that of a certain redhead, singing loudly, "I am
the best! I am the best! Everybody loves me cos I am the best! I kicked your ass! I kicked its ass!
Wondergirl eat shit, cos Asuka is the best!"
Asuka twirled around the street corner and came abruptly face to face with her. "Hey, wondergirl," she
grinned viciously.
"That's not very nice, Asuka," came Shinji's mild voice, and then he saw her too. "Hi Rei," he greeted
politely. "Did you get Gryffyn sorted out?"
Rei nodded. "I punished him as was necessary." She turned to Asuka. "Why would I eat shit?"
Asuka planted her hands on her hips. "Cos you're useless. Can't even spread your friggin AT Field to
save your own scum-sucking life. I thought I was supposed to be the one who can't fight?"
Cerise eyes flashed dangerously. "One day soon, Asuka Langley Sohryu, you will choke to death on
your own upwelling bile."
Shinji gasped and staggered a few steps backward. Rei took great pleasure in watching Asuka's face as
she heard that comment- shock, disbelief, murderous rage and oddly enough a sparkle of life flashed
across it in swift succession.
Asuka turned to Shinji. "We'll see you at school, boy. Run along now!"
He stared, but after a quick glance at Rei, he took off. He wasn't quite as much of a fool as he looked!
"How convenient of you to dispose of the witnesses," Rei said sweetly. She didn't know what was
making her do this. Some strange force sang through her like a call to battle. All she wanted was to say
something of such hideous cruelty that it made her opponent shriek out anguished sobs.
Folding her arms, Asuka hissed, "How dare you say such things to me, you little bitch! You don't mean
anything! I don't know why I bothered to save your life."
"I'm sure you were merely returning my oft-repeated favour," Rei pointed out smoothly.
"You're just a doll," Asuka seethed. "A stupid doll with no parents and no friends."
"If I had a mother, I'm sure she would want me. I know how your mother felt though- if I had a child
like you, I'd want to kill myself too!"
The redhead physically reeled. "Bitch! You God-damned vicious sow. I hope you die. I hope you die
real soon. Cold and alone."
Rei smiled- a fearful sight. This feeling was incredible. She felt powerful, dangerous, intoxicated.
"And you back off of Shinji before I have to claw your eyes out of your head."
"Oh, so that's what this is actually about, isn't it?"
Asuka spat like an angry cat. "This is about everything! I hate everything about you, wondergirl!"
"Hmph." Rei looked down her nose at her opponent, knowing that high-handed behaviour would surely
anger her as much as most words. "You aren't significant enough to hate, Sohryu. You have your few
moments of glory, and you fade away again. That's all you are."
"At least I'm something!" Asuka raged. "Nobody even notices you. Not ever. You don't even have
moments of glory to fade away from. You're nothing. Nothing."
"Shinji notices me. And Gryffyn loves me very much. Do you even have that, Asuka? Have you ever
had anybody who loves you, just because of you?"
Rei felt vicious satisfaction to note a tear in Asuka's narrowed eye, to hear a tremor in her voice. "Of
course I do! Shinji cares about me! Misato cares about me! Hikari's a good friend to me! And Pen-Pen,
and Kaji wherever he is, and- and... Mama did love me. She did." Her voice sank to a whisper. "She
wasn't very good at it, but I know she loved me!!!"
Horrid replies burned in Rei's mouth, but not even feeling this way would she be so cruel. Instead she
decided to steer the fight in a different direction. "Shinji doesn't belong to you, Sohryu."
"Yes he does!" Asuka snarled. "He's mine! He may not realise it yet, but he belongs to me."
Rei shook her head fractionally.
"Have you even kissed him? I have."
Rei blinked at that news. She wasn't sure how she felt about Shinji, whether she wanted more than
friendship from him; she'd only suggested these things because of the effect they had on Asuka, but
that hurt. Was she jealous? Well, to reply in kind: "Has he ever touched you? Here?" She lifted a hand
to touch herself lightly, sensually, on the chest. "Or snuck in to see you unclothed?"
"SLUT!" Asuka shrieked. "How DARE you!"
"I dare, bitch." Her mouth fit uncomfortably around the crude word, giving her a little thrill of
excitement.
"F*** you, whore!"
"Burn in hell." Oh, she'd always wondered what it would feel like to say that to somebody!
"Flirtchen."
"Pig."
"Cow."
"Nothing."
"Rat-rapist!" With that ridiculous insult, Asuka's mouth twitched and she fought down a giggle.
Rei's own face softened slightly. "You smell like toenails," she replied almost gently.
Asuka burst out laughing.
Seeing her laugh, a genuine laugh of humour and happiness, Rei felt her mouth quirk into a quiet smile.
She didn't know exactly where she'd heard that last insult, but it was certainly the one she'd been
looking for.
Asuka laughed until her eyes teared up and she slumped onto her knees, slapping a palm heartily on the
ground. Rei just watched, leaning on the nearby wall, smiling softly. Feeling... good. Finally the other
girl subsided into chuckles, then into a good natured grin as she looked up at Rei.
"Come shopping with me," Rei asked.
Asuka gave a surprised laugh. "Why?"
"I need to buy new clothes. I'd like to have someone to tell me which clothes are good and which
aren't."
"Wow! Mein Gott in Himmel! Wondergirl's buying clothes! Casual?"
Rei nodded. "You can dress me up like your own little doll." She smiled fractionally.
"Sure!" Asuka agreed enthusiastically. Then, glancing at her watch, she proceeded to drag Rei towards
the school. Rei tolerated it with a sigh. At least her leg wasn't broken this time... "So anyway, who's
this guy Gryffyn? Is he cute?"
"..."
Asuka glanced back at her. "Spill!"
"I'll let you meet him after school. Will that suffice?"
"Looking forward to it!"
Oh My GOD! Asuka and Rei friends? Can this be real? To find out, stay tuned for the next exciting episode... I am trying to get these out every three days, I'll try my best, I really will. Did everybody pick the DBZ reference? Also I'll try to get things moving a lot faster, or this will really turn into an epic!
It took a few moments for Unit 02 to recover it's balance- Asuka's sync ratio was still dangerously
low- but then it began its lumbering approach. The Angel didn't even appear to notice it; all of the
creature's concentration was focused on the extremely unfortunate Unit 00.
Asuka was still for a few precious seconds, amazed by the sight of the crumpled Eva moving directly
upwards- then drew her prog knife and charged at the beast.
It was amazingly easy. The Angel didn't even notice her until she was almost upon it, and in the second
that it took to drop Unit 00 and twist, Asuka had landed on its weirdly-jointed back and was probing
deeply with the shining blade. The Angel gave a thin piercing scream, flailing at her with its ineffectual
'arms', and her knife found its core.
Bright light filled everything.
When Rei was next aware of anything, she was lying in the familiar hospital bed. Her body ached dully
all over. She opened her eyes slowly.
Oddly enough, no one spoke when she did. Normally there would be someone in here, waiting to make
sure she woke up alright. Her throat closed up unexplainably at the thought that they might not do that
for her- perhaps because of her cowardice, they shunned her. She turned her head slightly to glance
about her.
Then a fond half-smile twitched at the corner of her mouth. No, she had not been forgotten; Shinji
slumped in sleep on the chair next to her bed, his head tipped back at an angle that meant he would
have a sore neck when he awoke.
Rei relaxed, even turning on her side to face him. She was becoming weak, dependant on emotions. If
only they knew how much this vigil had come to mean to her... one of the only ways she could be
reassured that she mattered to anybody. She closed her eyes, hoping that Gryffyn was alright, that she
could see him soon. She didn't know how long she'd been in here, but she knew that he'd fret.
There wasn't really that much damage done to her body, she realised. Mostly the residual pain that
caused that ache, and that would go away before too long. She'd probably be able to leave within the
hour.
She lay still for a few minutes, thinking disjointed thoughts, and then looked up at Shinji, wishing he
was awake. An unusual desire for her- she wanted to talk to someone.
"Shinji," she said softly, then repeated it slightly louder.
She thought she might have had to call him again, but he stirred, and then opened his eyes groggily.
"Ngh- Rei?"
"You'll hurt your neck, sleeping like that."
He rolled his head forward, winced, and put a hand to his neck. "Yeah, guess so."
She pulled her blankets a bit tighter around her neck, suddenly cold. Shyly, she said, "Thank you,
Shinji."
He blinked owlishly. "Why?"
Rei looked aside, her eyes beautifully luminous in the sunlight that slanted into the bleak little room.
"For being here. I was scared that no one would be."
Smiling, Shinji slipped out of his seat to kneel by the bed. "Why would you think that, Rei? You know
someone's always gonna be here."
She closed her eyes. "I'm a coward. I almost died, because I was too afraid to fight back. I thought..."
She swallowed to clear the lump in her throat. "I thought I would deserve it if no one cared whether I
woke up or not."
"Oh, Rei." Shinji bit his lip, feeling more than a little overcome. "That's happened to all of us. At least
you're all right, that's all that matters to me!"
Rei looked up at the tremble in his voice. Sure enough, his eyes were gleaming suspiciously. She felt a
strange tightness in her chest and throat, and then, suddenly, burning hot drops were spilling down her
cheeks. Surprised at herself, she turned away, burying her leaking face in her blankets.
Wiping at his face with the back of his arm, Shinji tried to decide if he was still dreaming. Was Rei
really crying? A quick pinch of his arm reassured him that he wasn't asleep. He leaned closer, wanting
to do something, wanting to hold her, but not sure what or how. "Rei..." he tried nervously, then,
warily, rested his hand on her shoulder through the thin blanket. She froze at his touch. "It's okay, Rei.
Everybody gets scared sometimes."
Scared and wet eyes met his. A whisper; "Hold me?"
At his slight nod, Rei sat up and Shinji hauled himself onto the side of the bed, wrapping his slim arms
around her with the inexpert touch that was nonetheless exactly what she needed. She settled gratefully
against him, tears slowly leaking onto his toast-rack chest, and he stroked her pale hair tenderly.
"Oh, Rei," he murmured lovingly, rocking her gently back and forth.
Neither was aware when a figure appeared at the doorway, paused in surprise, and stepped back.
Misato was deeply shocked at what she had just seen; Shinji hugging a crying Rei? Too weird for
words! But a tender smile crossed her lips. That would have to be good for both of them. She wouldn't
interrupt, not on her life.
Some time later, Rei's tears slowed, and stopped. She stayed pressed tightly against him for a few more
minutes, until she'd regathered her composure, then sat back with a shuddering sigh. Shinji let her sit
back, but kept his arms loosely around her. He knew without knowing how that she desperately needed
reassurance still, and this was the best way he could think of to give her that- and besides, it felt so
good! He lifted one hand from her waist to gently brush away the last of the tears from her smooth
face, his eyes warm and caring on hers.
Shinji's tenderness almost made Rei start over again. How had she earned this? "Thank you," she
breathed.
He didn't need to reply, just let her rest her head on his shoulder. That was enough.
"How long have I been in here?" Rei asked.
"Oh... not much more than a day. It's about 4."
"Gryffyn will be worried."
"Yeah... I fed him just before I heard the sirens, though, so he should be okay. I was gonna go check
on him, but everyone else was busy, and I didn't want to leave you alone."
Rei smiled secretly. "But I am well enough to leave. I should make sure he is alright. Will you come
with me?"
"Sure. Now?"
Nodding, she extracted herself from his embrace and stood shakily. As Shinji was standing, Misato
finally stepped in- and noted the boy's almost guilty start with a tiny smile. "Hi, Rei!" she said
cheerfully. "How are you feeling?"
Rei replied demurely, "I am well, Major. May I leave yet?"
"Well, sure, as soon as you feel ready to." Misato turned wicked eyes on Shinji. "Why Shinji, I do
believe you're blushing! What -have- you guys been up to?" It was true; he was bright red now that her
knowing gaze pinned him.
"N-nothing!" he stammered defensively.
"Suuure." Misato winked at him, surprising him hugely. And embarrassing him. "Well, we've been
through our first battle in months, and so few problems! I'm quite proud of you guys. Mostly Asuka, I
guess she really needed that, but everything worked out quite well. And honestly, Rei, there's no need
to worry about what happened. Everybody freezes at some stage in their life. You picked a good time
for it; no lasting harm was done to anything."
Rei looked away slightly. "It won't happen again, ma'am."
Ten minutes later, Rei opened the door to her apartment. She was instantly struck by a golden torpedo.
"Rei! Rei! Missed you, Rei."
Groaning at his weight, Rei rubbed the young gryphon's ears fondly before putting him down firmly.
The creature immediately stepped round to rub his beak against Shinji's leg. "Hello, Shinshi."
Rei stepped into her room while Shinji played with Gryffyn- and gasped out loud. Her clothes lay in a
shredded pile on the middle of her floor. Every school uniform in her cupboard had been pulled out and
torn into tiny strips of cloth. All of her clothes.
"Come here, Gryffyn," she said quietly.
Sensing the tone of her voice, Gryffyn slunk to her heel. "Here."
Shinji blinked when he saw the devastation. Oops, someone was in trouble!
"Did you do this?" Rei asked, pointing at the pile of shreds.
Gryffyn cringed against her leg, knowing she was unhappy. "Yes?"
She squatted down, turning to face him, and put a hand up under his beak, forcing him to meet her
eyes. She lifted her other hand and rapped him sharply across the ceres (you know, the little nostril-
things that birds have on the tops of their beaks).
The beast let out a loud yipe like a kicked dog and pulled his beak tight to his chest. Rei said sternly,
"That's bad. That was a bad thing to do, Gryffyn."
He whined miserably. "Rei!"
Feeling bad for having to punish him, but still determined to do so, Rei stepped away from him. He
whimpered and crawled towards her, beak still tucked in, but she didn't let him curl up against her leg
again. "No, Gryffyn. You've been bad." She saw Shinji still standing in the doorway, and met his eyes
apologetically. "Thank you for walking me home, Shinji- I'll see you at school tomorrow?"
He took the hint, nodding, and left. "See you."
Sighing, Rei turned back to her errant pet. "Why did you do that, Gryffyn?"
"Don't like them," he whimpered. "Nasty plumage."
Rei gave another sigh. He couldn't be allowed to do such things. But how was she to punish him?
Deprive him of something? Then she had it. "Gryffyn, you can't stay with me on the bed tonight. You
have to sleep on the floor."
Much later, Gryffyn lay on the cold floor, unable to sleep without his head snuggled between Rei's
warm, soft breasts (his favourite way of sleeping) and thoroughly miserable. Surely it hadn't been such
a bad thing that he'd done? He didn't like that plumage! If she could choose what plumage she wore,
surely she could find nicer things!
He stood, lithely stretching, and looked up at Rei. She had drawn the thin blanket up to her chin, and
shivered slightly in spite of it. She was probably as used to his heat as he was used to her coolness, and
freezing without him.
No! She had said he wasn't allowed to get on the bed! But she looked so cold... he wanted to warm her
up, but the only way he could think of was with his body as he usually did.
He hmphed. This was silly.
Lightly, he padded over to the bathroom, where he knew he'd seen more plumage after a fashion. But
what was there was wet. Instead, he walked to the other narrow cupboard, opening it deftly with his
beak, and pulled out as many towels as he could carry braced between his wings. It was a task to bear
them back to the bed, but he managed, and then managed (he congratulated himself on his cleverness)
to drape them over his beloved mistress. There, that should keep her warm!
When Rei woke, finding herself draped with towels was enough to dispel any traces of irritation she
bore towards Gryffyn- such a ridiculous, well-meant gift!- at least, until she saw again the piles of
shreds. Fortunately she'd washed out her uniform from yesterday, and it was now dry enough to wear
again, but she'd still have to buy a whole new set of clothes. Not that money was such a problem, but
the inconvenience of the thing was.
As she was sitting down to her modest breakfast, she called Gryffyn over. He bounded happily to her.
"Gryffyn, I will have to get new clothes today to replace the ones you destroyed. Will you try to do the
same to more clothes that I buy?"
He hung his head slightly. "Don't like those clothes. Nasty."
"Huh?" Rei touched the skirt of her school dress somewhat defensively. "What do you mean, Gryffyn-
kun?"
"When you and Shinshi gone, Shinshi say 'stay here', so I stay- stayed. No things to do. Bored. Climb
up on den-hole," he frowned, " 'window', look down. Many people walk-walk. Much-much bright
plumage! Much nicer than this..." he touched her skirt with his wingtip. "So Gryffyn think, why Rei
wear always same plumage? Clothes," he corrected himself. "Why Rei always wear same clothes?"
"I have to wear these clothes," she answered. "They're what we must wear to school. Where I go at
days, remember?"
"Not always at school," Gryffyn pointed out. "Lots of times, at den, walk with me and Shinshi, go to
nasty place underground. Need wear nasty clothes then?"
Rei stared at him. "Gryffyn, well, I suppose I don't. But it's easier to just have all my clothes the same.
There's no reason for me to buy different ones."
Violently beating a wing in negation, Gryffyn explained himself vehemently. "When my coat dirty,
plumage messy and with mud, I feel yuck. Don't want be near anyone, don't want do anything. When
coat clean and plumage bright, feel strong! Feel happy, confident! Same for you. You wear brighter
plumage- prettier clothes- and you feel strong and brave and pretty. People want to be near you." His
eyes sparkled. "Shinshi see how pretty you are," he added slyly.
Rei blinked. For a creature less than half a year old, who still had some trouble stringing together
proper sentences, he was awfully convincing. "Alright," she conceded. "I will buy some 'bright
plumage' today, but I must also buy more school clothes. You will leave them alone?"
"Yes!" he agreed, his beak gaping open in a delighted grin.
Walking to school, Rei had mixed feelings about this whole clothes-shopping idea. She could tolerate
the idea of wearing non-uniform clothes to make Gryffyn happy, but she knew that she had no idea
whatsoever of what sort of clothes to buy, what would look good and what would not. That vanity was
another strange thing for her, something that she hadn't experienced before. She had never before cared
what other people thought of her appearance.
-Gryffyn is changing me- she thought. -So very much. I am not the person that I was before I met him.
Perhaps this has interfered with my purpose.-
A leaf whirled down the street in a stray gust of wind; her eyes followed it idly. -But is not one of my
functions to help the understanding of Human Instrumentality? This, then, should be a good thing; to
show that the formation of my soul is indeed influenced by those I come into contact with.- She
frowned. -But, Gryffyn is not human. According to the Scrolls he should not have a soul, so should
not be able to influence mine. No, that is ridiculous. Of course he has a soul. He must. I know it. An it
is one that I am glad to hold near mine.-
These thoughts were strange enough for her that it completely escaped her attention that, for perhaps
the first time in her life, Rei Ayanami did not question the fact that she had a soul.
Yet her meditation was disrupted.
A loud voice preceded the appearance of other people; that of a certain redhead, singing loudly, "I am
the best! I am the best! Everybody loves me cos I am the best! I kicked your ass! I kicked its ass!
Wondergirl eat shit, cos Asuka is the best!"
Asuka twirled around the street corner and came abruptly face to face with her. "Hey, wondergirl," she
grinned viciously.
"That's not very nice, Asuka," came Shinji's mild voice, and then he saw her too. "Hi Rei," he greeted
politely. "Did you get Gryffyn sorted out?"
Rei nodded. "I punished him as was necessary." She turned to Asuka. "Why would I eat shit?"
Asuka planted her hands on her hips. "Cos you're useless. Can't even spread your friggin AT Field to
save your own scum-sucking life. I thought I was supposed to be the one who can't fight?"
Cerise eyes flashed dangerously. "One day soon, Asuka Langley Sohryu, you will choke to death on
your own upwelling bile."
Shinji gasped and staggered a few steps backward. Rei took great pleasure in watching Asuka's face as
she heard that comment- shock, disbelief, murderous rage and oddly enough a sparkle of life flashed
across it in swift succession.
Asuka turned to Shinji. "We'll see you at school, boy. Run along now!"
He stared, but after a quick glance at Rei, he took off. He wasn't quite as much of a fool as he looked!
"How convenient of you to dispose of the witnesses," Rei said sweetly. She didn't know what was
making her do this. Some strange force sang through her like a call to battle. All she wanted was to say
something of such hideous cruelty that it made her opponent shriek out anguished sobs.
Folding her arms, Asuka hissed, "How dare you say such things to me, you little bitch! You don't mean
anything! I don't know why I bothered to save your life."
"I'm sure you were merely returning my oft-repeated favour," Rei pointed out smoothly.
"You're just a doll," Asuka seethed. "A stupid doll with no parents and no friends."
"If I had a mother, I'm sure she would want me. I know how your mother felt though- if I had a child
like you, I'd want to kill myself too!"
The redhead physically reeled. "Bitch! You God-damned vicious sow. I hope you die. I hope you die
real soon. Cold and alone."
Rei smiled- a fearful sight. This feeling was incredible. She felt powerful, dangerous, intoxicated.
"And you back off of Shinji before I have to claw your eyes out of your head."
"Oh, so that's what this is actually about, isn't it?"
Asuka spat like an angry cat. "This is about everything! I hate everything about you, wondergirl!"
"Hmph." Rei looked down her nose at her opponent, knowing that high-handed behaviour would surely
anger her as much as most words. "You aren't significant enough to hate, Sohryu. You have your few
moments of glory, and you fade away again. That's all you are."
"At least I'm something!" Asuka raged. "Nobody even notices you. Not ever. You don't even have
moments of glory to fade away from. You're nothing. Nothing."
"Shinji notices me. And Gryffyn loves me very much. Do you even have that, Asuka? Have you ever
had anybody who loves you, just because of you?"
Rei felt vicious satisfaction to note a tear in Asuka's narrowed eye, to hear a tremor in her voice. "Of
course I do! Shinji cares about me! Misato cares about me! Hikari's a good friend to me! And Pen-Pen,
and Kaji wherever he is, and- and... Mama did love me. She did." Her voice sank to a whisper. "She
wasn't very good at it, but I know she loved me!!!"
Horrid replies burned in Rei's mouth, but not even feeling this way would she be so cruel. Instead she
decided to steer the fight in a different direction. "Shinji doesn't belong to you, Sohryu."
"Yes he does!" Asuka snarled. "He's mine! He may not realise it yet, but he belongs to me."
Rei shook her head fractionally.
"Have you even kissed him? I have."
Rei blinked at that news. She wasn't sure how she felt about Shinji, whether she wanted more than
friendship from him; she'd only suggested these things because of the effect they had on Asuka, but
that hurt. Was she jealous? Well, to reply in kind: "Has he ever touched you? Here?" She lifted a hand
to touch herself lightly, sensually, on the chest. "Or snuck in to see you unclothed?"
"SLUT!" Asuka shrieked. "How DARE you!"
"I dare, bitch." Her mouth fit uncomfortably around the crude word, giving her a little thrill of
excitement.
"F*** you, whore!"
"Burn in hell." Oh, she'd always wondered what it would feel like to say that to somebody!
"Flirtchen."
"Pig."
"Cow."
"Nothing."
"Rat-rapist!" With that ridiculous insult, Asuka's mouth twitched and she fought down a giggle.
Rei's own face softened slightly. "You smell like toenails," she replied almost gently.
Asuka burst out laughing.
Seeing her laugh, a genuine laugh of humour and happiness, Rei felt her mouth quirk into a quiet smile.
She didn't know exactly where she'd heard that last insult, but it was certainly the one she'd been
looking for.
Asuka laughed until her eyes teared up and she slumped onto her knees, slapping a palm heartily on the
ground. Rei just watched, leaning on the nearby wall, smiling softly. Feeling... good. Finally the other
girl subsided into chuckles, then into a good natured grin as she looked up at Rei.
"Come shopping with me," Rei asked.
Asuka gave a surprised laugh. "Why?"
"I need to buy new clothes. I'd like to have someone to tell me which clothes are good and which
aren't."
"Wow! Mein Gott in Himmel! Wondergirl's buying clothes! Casual?"
Rei nodded. "You can dress me up like your own little doll." She smiled fractionally.
"Sure!" Asuka agreed enthusiastically. Then, glancing at her watch, she proceeded to drag Rei towards
the school. Rei tolerated it with a sigh. At least her leg wasn't broken this time... "So anyway, who's
this guy Gryffyn? Is he cute?"
"..."
Asuka glanced back at her. "Spill!"
"I'll let you meet him after school. Will that suffice?"
"Looking forward to it!"
Oh My GOD! Asuka and Rei friends? Can this be real? To find out, stay tuned for the next exciting episode... I am trying to get these out every three days, I'll try my best, I really will. Did everybody pick the DBZ reference? Also I'll try to get things moving a lot faster, or this will really turn into an epic!