Finally!!!!!!!
This isn't even my computer… but it will do for the time being. Chapters aren't going to be coming out
as fast as they originally were, due to Uni eating the vast majority of my time, but they will be
coming… I estimate about 15-20 overall.
Did you miss me? Or more accurately, these dudes? Damned well hope so! I've been writing all my
stories out –in a book- while I waited for a computer that would connect to the frikkin Internet so
there's a few different ones ready to go within the next few days, and I'm diversifying as well, moving
to the Buffyverse.
A few more notes: Warning for lots and lots and lots of OOC (or maybe IC, all things considered….
Chew on that) but… Trust me! Please, God, always trust me! I know what I'm doing and I love all
these guys very much. This is one of the funnest stories I've ever written, and half the reason for that is
that people tell me that they enjoy it too, so I intend to keep that up!
Enjoy.
Kaworu folded his arms, and wings, sternly. A fierce glare riveted the human boy where he stood. "Get
your damn hands off her!"
A second snarl joined his words. The golden-feathered gryphon lunged forward, aggressively pushing
aside the boy he had called 'denmate'. "Yes, Shinshi go away now!"
Shinji wrapped his arm defensively about Rei's slender waist. "She can't even stand up, guys, much
less walk home."
"I'm bigger and stronger than you," Gryffyn pointed out, nuzzling his head under Rei's arm. "I can
carry Rei better."
The Angel mantled his gorgeous silvery wings. "I insist on my right to aid the lady."
The watching doctor chuckled quietly, then called, "Boys, boys. You can –all- carry her home!"
Rei gave Ritsuko an odd look. Resting one hand on Gryffyn's shoulders, and most of her weight on
Shinji's arm, the pale girl once more tried to stand. She managed, barely… then stumbled as her legs
gave out beneath her. Shinji caught her.
Kaworu gave a sly grin. The sort of grin that made Shinji realise that he was holding the girl of his
dreams pressed, naked, tightly against him. "Hey," the Angel lowered his voice, "Give me five
minutes. My videocamera is in the flat. Please, please, -please- let me tape the two of you banging!"
In as much as she could, Rei drew herself up and replied coldly, "Mr Nagisa, there is as much chance
of you watching us 'bang' as there is of this 'banging' happening in the first place."
The Angel let out a whoop of joy, dancing around in happiness. He only stopped when Gryffyn tripped
him up and sat on him.
Meanwhile, Ritsuko had doffed her long labcoat and wrapped it around the girl's white, bandaid-
spotted shoulders. Rei settled it more firmly about herself, covering her nakedness.
Eventually, the problem was solved when Rei was carefully lifted onto Gryffyn's back, one young
male hominid on either side to steady her, Cedar happily prancing about. A reuse of Kaworu's trick
with his A T Field saw them out undetected, and after seeing them out, Ritsuko agreed to keep their
secret- even just the pets, if nothing else.
Rei wanted nothing more than to sit and bask in the warmth and reassurance of her companions, but
she was far too tired. After a few minutes, Gryffyn helped her to bed. The lion-sized juvenile climbed
happily onto the protesting bed, throwing a paw over her and nuzzling the labcoat open. For the first
time in weeks, Gryffyn slept with his head snuggled between Rei's breasts.
Shinji felt his mouth dry. He stood, frozen, in the doorway.
He pulled the door shut as quietly as he'd opened it.
"Is Rei-chan alright?" Kaworu asked from the kitchen over the hiss of the wok.
"Yeah…" Shinji sighed, "But I really envy that gryphon sometimes."
Rei woke to the sight of morning sunlight filtered through gold feathers. A wing had been draped over
her while she slept, but other than that, her sleeping companion was unmoved. Smiling, she stroked the
heavy head snuggled so comfortable against her, rubbing Gryffyn's long ears until he woke up.
He purred in slow happiness. "I love you, Rei."
"I love you too, Gryffyn-chan," she smiled; than pushed him off. Gathering a school uniform, she
hesitated when reaching for underwear. "Gryffyn!"
He cringed. "Yes, Rei-chan?"
She pulled the drawer open. The vast majority of her underwear had been shredded.
Gryffyn ducked his head between his paws, the perfect picture of shamed guilt.
"Where, oh where, did you see –this- kind of 'pretty plumage'?" An annoyed Rei directed her steady
gaze at her errant pet.
"Miss Ayanami!" gasped the astounded teacher. "I- I was informed…"
"What?" she asked softly, her hand resting on Gryffyn's head.
He cleared his throat nervously. "I was informed you had… you were..." He gave up, the word
'deceased' hanging in the air. "I must have been misinformed. Please take your seat. Nice to see you
too, Gryffyn-san, again."
"Hai, sensei," she nodded, taking her seat by the window. Gryffyn rilled a greeting to the other
students, before pulling Rei bodily from her seat and dragging her to one in the middle of the room.
She could feel desperately curious eyes on her.
Moments later, as Gryffyn lay down beside her desk, Shinji and Kaworu burst in, chuckling about
some joke or other. Kaworu spotted the empty seat next to Rei and leapt for it- but his leap was spoiled
when Shinji grabbed the back of his shirt, hauled him out of the way, and took the seat for himself.
Wings flailing indignantly, Kaworu sat next to Touji, not missing the opportunity to leer thoroughly at
him.
Almost instantly, four or five messages flashed onto her laptop. Surprised, she read the first.
Hikari: Good to see you're alright, Rei. We thought something awful had happened!
Carefully, she tapped a reply: I am well, Hikari, arigato.
The next, from Asuka: What the hell is with you, wondergirl? Are you immortal or something? I swear
I saw you dead.
Rei smiled to herself.
Rei: It seems I had one chance left, after all. Do you wish to help me shop after school?
Asuka: Hehe, sure, why not?
And messages from Touji and Kensuke, both of whom she reassured with a few words. Finally:
Kaworu: Hey, Rei, glad to see you're okay. What say we celebrate in the broom closet at lunchtime?
I'll bring the cream cheese, you bring your sexy little self. Are you wearing a G-string crotchless panty
and peephole bra? Please?
A tiny sigh of tolerance slipped past her lips. She replied.
Rei: Looking forward to it. Meet me in there.
Shinji bit his lip, trying to stop his smile, and Rei realised that he was reading her screen.
Shinji: Shall I lock him in there for you?
She smiled.
"Gryffyn-san," the teacher called respectfully, "May I ask your aid in this next exercise?"
The friendly beast hauled his impressive weight to his paws. "Of course, sensei. What would you have
me do?"
"Just come out here, please. And do I have a volunteer amongst our young gentlemen?"
"Sure." Kaworu sauntered forward.
Rei watched, curious as to what the teacher was doing.
"Now as we all know, we're taking a break from our history lessons to study biology, specifically
Animal Adaptations. We have here two juvenile males from very different species. Let us discuss
differences and similarities between them, and how these features relate to their environment and
lifestyle."
Kaworu's offer to strip so they could better study his physiology was not well received.
The class discussion actually maintained it's coherency through the structure of limbs as pertaining to
their function, the pentadactyl limb, and dentition, but lost it when the teacher tried to explain that
Gryffyn's genitalia looked so small because it was mostly internal, to streamline his body for flight at
maturity. The poor creature rolled back onto his feet in high embarrassment, crying, "Just you wait
until I'm finished growing up!"
Kaworu grinned wryly. "Hey, I'm a juvenile, too. I think we should have a size comparison."
From that point on, the lesson only went downhill.
A slightly more educated Rei let Gryffyn lead her out to recess.
"I can't believe he actually did it," she muttered, her cheeks as red as every other girl's. That boy had
no shame!
Shinji fell in step with her. "Hi, Rei, Gryffyn. Interesting class, ne?"
Raising an eyebrow, Rei commented, "You found it interesting? I would not care to see that again."
"Well, yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "You know Kaworu. Let's face it, it was only a matter
of time before he exposed himself in public."
Gryffyn rumbled a laugh. Then, lightning-quick, he slipped around Rei and tackled Shinji. The boy was
smacked loudly into the ground, he and the gryphon wrestling happily together. Watching them, Rei
felt like she wanted to keep living this day, forever and ever.
The blare of the siren continuing, Fuyutski demanded, his voice low but urgent; "Are you sure she's
ready for battle? It's only been two weeks."
"I know," Gendo replied impassively. "She is strong, Fuyutski. And growing stronger. Soon she will be
ready to fulfil her purpose." He raised his voice. "Rei, you will back Asuka up. Shinji, you are on
standby."
Two pairs of eyes watched the scramble to get all in place. The launching of the Evas.
"Is this really necessary, Ikari?"
"It is."
"Such a weight to place on such a young child."
"No longer truly a child."
"Ikari… you do know she is living proof of the Instrumentality process."
On the vast screen in front of them, the two Evangelions fought like dancers. The amoeboid Angel that
they battled extended pseudopods to flail at them, but they were far too swift. Progressive machetes
flashed, and chunks of steaming flesh the size of buses crashed wetly to the ground. "There are
indications."
"She has a soul."
A shining core was exposed. The creature let out a keening wail of an intensity almost painful to the
human ear when the twin shining blades split it asunder. "Perhaps."
Fuyutski sighed, as the screen burned white with the Angel's explosive death throes. "She was not
needed to battle this time. Is this a punishment?"
He did not need to clarify why Ikari might believe Rei was in need of punishment. She had come to
Nerv at the sirens dressed in casual clothes. Worse even- it had been a sheer silk nightie. Modest
enough, but the idea of her wearing it had greatly aggravated his fellow Commander. Himself, he
didn't care; she could wear whatever she wanted to at four o'clock in the morning. Even if that hadn't
been enough, Ikari had not by far forgiven her for disregarding his orders during the recovery of
Kaworu.
"Not punishment. A form of test, maybe."
"Ikari…"
For the first time since they'd entered the Command Box, Ikari directed his gaze at the other Nerv
officer. What Fuyutski saw there made him flinch and drop his eyes. Words dropped, cold as stone,
into the sudden frozen silence. "Don't question me."
Rei bid Shinji and Kaworu farewell at the school gate, wanting just to go home and curl up with her
two other denmates. She'd been up since four o'clock that morning, fighting Angels, showering,
dressing, going to school, enduring the intense questioning and conversation of her friends and
teachers. She was exhausted.
She made her slow way along the streets. As much as she enjoyed- nay, needed- the company of 'the
toms', as she'd come to think of them, Rei was somewhat relieved that they would be away tonight.
Touji was having a boys-only party of some kind, probably involving male bonding rituals she'd rather
not know about.
That was fine with her. Tonight she planned on lots of sleep, and a moderate amount of the wonderful
thing call 'triple-choc ice cream' that Asuka had introduced her to while helping her shop for new
underwear. She had a four-litre tub hidden behind the peas in the freezer that she'd barely made a dint
in. And a spoon.
Eventually she reached her home, unlocking the door and stepping inside.
As she put her books and bags down in her room, she heard the tentative thud of small hooves on
carpet. Rei turned with a smile to meet Cedar- but her face fell at the young unicorn's expression and
bearing.
Terrible, terrible sadness.
The gangly beast stepped forward on trembling legs. Clenched gently but firmly between his big,
square teeth was a roughly folded piece of paper.
Rei took it with a hesitant hand. Instantly Cedar fled, dashing out of the door and down the hall into
oblivion.
Shinji took another sip of forbidden sake, watching the computer game Kensuke and Kaworu were
playing. Touji, on the other lounge, was stuffing handfuls of chips into his mouth.
After an hour or so of this, when all four boys were pleasantly tipsy, Touji decided to get down to the
real purpose of this meeting.
The four not-yet-men were now seated close around the floor, sipping their sake (stolen from the
Suzaharo parents' liquor cabinet while they were away for a few days.)
"So," Touji said lazily, leaning into his cushion, "You know the girls spend all their lunchtimes talking
about us."
Kensuke chuckled. "You maybe Touji, and Rei for Shinji, but who for me?"
Shinji made a disparaging noise. "Rei doesn't like me, no way!"
"Hey, I'm for you, Kensuke. You're hot!" Kaworu lightly stroked Kensuke's leg, then chuckled at the
other boy's bemused expression. "Just kidding," he slurred.
Touji pushed Shinji's shoulder, disagreeing with him. "Rei drools after you, man! Really!"
"Naw." Shinji shook his head. "If she liked me… she'd've kissed me back."
Touji and Kensuke both echoed, "You kissed Rei?"
Kaworu reassured him, "Hey, Shinji-chan, that was a really weird time. Can't take that as any sort of
indication."
"Yeah, well, I want to talk about me!" Touji spoke up. "Guys, I am really, really in a bad way about
Hikari. What am I gonna do?"
"Grab her and give her a big fat kiss," Kaworu announced, and chuckled insanely.
At that point the phone rang. Touji cursed roughly and stumbled over, picking it up.
"Hello, Suzaharo residence… hello?… oh… You don't sound- are you okay?… uh, sure." He looked at
Shinji, covering the mouthpiece. "Rei wants to talk to you. She sounds really bad."
Shinji was on the phone in less than two seconds. "Rei?"
"Shinji?" There was a quaver in her voice that- oh god, she sobbed.
"Rei, oh, please, what's wrong?" He was clutching the phone tightly.
Another sob, and a long, shuddering breath. "I… Shinji… please come home."
"Of course," he answered instantly. "What's wrong? Please?"
A teary sigh. "Shinji… I need you to be here right now."
"I'll be there in ten minutes. It'll be okay." He hung up the phone gently. His glance at the other three
was a lot more sober. "Sorry guys. Really. I can't stay."
"What's up?" Kaworu asked, concerned.
Shinji picked up his bag. "She wouldn't say." He smiled, still wanting his friends to enjoy themselves.
"I'm sure it'll be fine. We'll get it sorted out."
Kensuke passed him his wallet. "Maybe she just- needs some loving," he joked badly, trying to
reassure him.
"Hope so," he shrugged. "I'll see you guys at school tomorrow."
He virtually ran, through the darkness as the stars came out, and reached the door exactly eight-and-a-
half minutes after she'd called. Not bothering to knock, Shinji let himself in, to find Rei curled up on
the lounge. The girl was a huddled ball of misery.
Unable to believe what he was seeing, he knelt on the floor before her, touching her arm to let her
know he was there.
It took her a moment to realise his presence. Then Rei uncurled enough to hand him the note that Cedar
had delivered to her. Five hiragana, in an unpractised hand. Well, not really a hand- more like a claw
dipped in ink.
Rei,
Arigato,
Aishiteru,
Sayonara.
Gryffyn.
Thank you, I love you, goodbye.
He didn't comprehend the meaning of the note for almost a full minute.
No," Shinji breathed. "He wouldn't. No, Rei, he loves you far too much." He got up on the lounge with
her, pulling her against him, wrapping his arms around her.
A low keening wail fell from Rei's lips. She gave herself up to the comfort of his embrace, letting him
hold her while she sobbed out her bitter loss. Felt his own quiet tears dampen her hair.
After an unmeasurable time, the urgency of Rei's tears lessened. She turned, her body still shaking and
shivering, lifting her tearstained face to his. Her beautiful cerise eyes were swollen, filled with strange
and dark things.
A slender hand curled uncertainly around Shinji's neck. Rei pulled him down, kissing him awkwardly
at first… then hungrily.
Without thinking, he kissed her back just as deeply. Raw need was sweeping over him. He pulled her
tight against him.
It was only when she took his hand and guided it to her breast that Shinji really understood what was
happening. He pulled back a little. "Rei!"
Rei looked up from under her lashes, her breathing quickened, her breast heaving into his hand.
"Shinji…" she gasped.
The boy was very tempted to ignore his premonitions at that point. But it felt wrong. "What are you
doing?"
"I… Shinji…" She tried to pull him back down to her, but he resisted. "Don't you want me, Shinji?
Don't you want to become one with me?"
Shinji gaped. "Oh, god, Rei, yes. I want that so badly. But…"
She drew back slightly- and unfastened her dress, pulling it over her head in one smooth movement.
Her hands went to the buttons of her shirt.
Shinji grabbed them before she could undo any buttons. "Rei! Stop it, Rei!"
She looked at him wordlessly, her eyes deep wells.
"Think about this for a second!"
"I have." Rei sat forward, loosening Shinji's school tie.
"I mean it!" He grabbed her hands again. "Rei, you don't know what you're doing."
Now her eyes bore fresh hurt. "You -don't- want me. Oh, Shinji, -please-!"
"Rei, I love you!" he cried. Then blinked, realising the truth of his words. "I love you," Shinji repeated
sincerely. "I really do."
Her pained voice rang out. "Gryffyn said that, and then he left!!!"
There. That was it. Shinji gently touched her face, wiping away the trickle of fresh tears with his
thumb. "I'm not going to go away."
"How do I know that?" Rei breathed intently. "I thought Gryffyn was going to be with me forever.
How do I know that you're not going to leave me just as quickly?"
Shinji cupped her face between his hands, kissing her mouth very softly and fleetingly. "I promise, Rei.
Forever, if you want me that long." He smiled tenderly. "You don't have to do this thing, to bind me to
you. I'm not going anywhere."
"But…" Rei hung her head, then looked up slowly. "Really?"
"Really!" Shinji laughed kindly. He pulled her close to him again, wrapping his arms about her, and
tucking her head under his chin. "Really, really, really. I love you, Rei. I love you." He planted a loving
kiss on her hair.
A slow sigh slipped from her. "Shinji?"
He stroked her arm gently. "Mmm?"
"I'm sorry."
"Hmm, will I ever forgive you? Let me think. Hmm… hmm…" The boy chuckled. "Let's just talk for a
while, huh?"
So they did. Sitting there, holding one another, Rei and Shinji let their words flow into the small hours
of the morning. They talked of Gryffyn. Of the things he said and did, his little habits, the reasons why
he was so special to them. They shared their memories and their feelings long into the night, until Rei
was dozing lightly against him.
Eventually, Shinji gathered her up and carried her to her bed. Laying her down, he smoothed the hair
away from Rei's face, and brushed his lips across her forehead. He tiptoed toward the door with a silent
smile.
"Shinji?" Rei called faintly.
He stopped. "I'm here."
Rei hadn't moved, and was talking with her eyes closed. "I… I'm not used to sleeping alone. I'm
cold."
"Uh…"
"Please?"
He crossed the floor quickly, stripping off his tie and kicking his shoes and socks away- under the bed,
with a grin- and clambered beneath the thin blanket.
Rei drew him close. "You'll be my gryphon for tonight, ne?"
He chuckled and threw an arm over her waist the same way that Gryffyn would drape his foreleg over
her. Yawning, Rei moved up the bed a little, pulling Shinji's head down over her heart, her fingers
toying with his short chocolate hair.
"Being a gryphon has its advantages," he mumbled.
A few moments later Rei started wriggling around, much to Shinji's bemusement- it didn't help when
she reached past him to drop her bra on the ground with a silky rustle. "I will not sleep whilst wearing
that," she explained softly.
"Oh. Okay then." Clinks and leathery hisses emerged from the bed as Shinji discarded his belt,
followed by a zzzip!
"What was that?"
Shinji pulled her close again. "I'm not sleeping with my zip done up. That's very uncomfortable."
"Oh."
Some moments later, one or the other decided it was too hot to sleep with a shirt on. In the midst of the
soft laughter as they fumbled with eachother's buttons, a timid exploration began, of gently loving
hands, and mouths, and bodies: and finally the two slept as one.
No lemons! Sorry, but I'm keeping my rating for this fic fairly constant.
I hear screams of horror from the 'Rei-is-a-clone-of-Yui' club, but I have my own theories on the issue
of Rei's origins, which I'll get further into within the next few chapters. Also I'm not sure whether
Shinji could possibly have been this mature at his tender age, even considering I've let a fair bit of time
slide… they should be around 16/17 now, but Shinji's always seemed fairly sweet and sensitive to
me… but wasn't it all just too sweet for words?
This isn't even my computer… but it will do for the time being. Chapters aren't going to be coming out
as fast as they originally were, due to Uni eating the vast majority of my time, but they will be
coming… I estimate about 15-20 overall.
Did you miss me? Or more accurately, these dudes? Damned well hope so! I've been writing all my
stories out –in a book- while I waited for a computer that would connect to the frikkin Internet so
there's a few different ones ready to go within the next few days, and I'm diversifying as well, moving
to the Buffyverse.
A few more notes: Warning for lots and lots and lots of OOC (or maybe IC, all things considered….
Chew on that) but… Trust me! Please, God, always trust me! I know what I'm doing and I love all
these guys very much. This is one of the funnest stories I've ever written, and half the reason for that is
that people tell me that they enjoy it too, so I intend to keep that up!
Enjoy.
Kaworu folded his arms, and wings, sternly. A fierce glare riveted the human boy where he stood. "Get
your damn hands off her!"
A second snarl joined his words. The golden-feathered gryphon lunged forward, aggressively pushing
aside the boy he had called 'denmate'. "Yes, Shinshi go away now!"
Shinji wrapped his arm defensively about Rei's slender waist. "She can't even stand up, guys, much
less walk home."
"I'm bigger and stronger than you," Gryffyn pointed out, nuzzling his head under Rei's arm. "I can
carry Rei better."
The Angel mantled his gorgeous silvery wings. "I insist on my right to aid the lady."
The watching doctor chuckled quietly, then called, "Boys, boys. You can –all- carry her home!"
Rei gave Ritsuko an odd look. Resting one hand on Gryffyn's shoulders, and most of her weight on
Shinji's arm, the pale girl once more tried to stand. She managed, barely… then stumbled as her legs
gave out beneath her. Shinji caught her.
Kaworu gave a sly grin. The sort of grin that made Shinji realise that he was holding the girl of his
dreams pressed, naked, tightly against him. "Hey," the Angel lowered his voice, "Give me five
minutes. My videocamera is in the flat. Please, please, -please- let me tape the two of you banging!"
In as much as she could, Rei drew herself up and replied coldly, "Mr Nagisa, there is as much chance
of you watching us 'bang' as there is of this 'banging' happening in the first place."
The Angel let out a whoop of joy, dancing around in happiness. He only stopped when Gryffyn tripped
him up and sat on him.
Meanwhile, Ritsuko had doffed her long labcoat and wrapped it around the girl's white, bandaid-
spotted shoulders. Rei settled it more firmly about herself, covering her nakedness.
Eventually, the problem was solved when Rei was carefully lifted onto Gryffyn's back, one young
male hominid on either side to steady her, Cedar happily prancing about. A reuse of Kaworu's trick
with his A T Field saw them out undetected, and after seeing them out, Ritsuko agreed to keep their
secret- even just the pets, if nothing else.
Rei wanted nothing more than to sit and bask in the warmth and reassurance of her companions, but
she was far too tired. After a few minutes, Gryffyn helped her to bed. The lion-sized juvenile climbed
happily onto the protesting bed, throwing a paw over her and nuzzling the labcoat open. For the first
time in weeks, Gryffyn slept with his head snuggled between Rei's breasts.
Shinji felt his mouth dry. He stood, frozen, in the doorway.
He pulled the door shut as quietly as he'd opened it.
"Is Rei-chan alright?" Kaworu asked from the kitchen over the hiss of the wok.
"Yeah…" Shinji sighed, "But I really envy that gryphon sometimes."
Rei woke to the sight of morning sunlight filtered through gold feathers. A wing had been draped over
her while she slept, but other than that, her sleeping companion was unmoved. Smiling, she stroked the
heavy head snuggled so comfortable against her, rubbing Gryffyn's long ears until he woke up.
He purred in slow happiness. "I love you, Rei."
"I love you too, Gryffyn-chan," she smiled; than pushed him off. Gathering a school uniform, she
hesitated when reaching for underwear. "Gryffyn!"
He cringed. "Yes, Rei-chan?"
She pulled the drawer open. The vast majority of her underwear had been shredded.
Gryffyn ducked his head between his paws, the perfect picture of shamed guilt.
"Where, oh where, did you see –this- kind of 'pretty plumage'?" An annoyed Rei directed her steady
gaze at her errant pet.
"Miss Ayanami!" gasped the astounded teacher. "I- I was informed…"
"What?" she asked softly, her hand resting on Gryffyn's head.
He cleared his throat nervously. "I was informed you had… you were..." He gave up, the word
'deceased' hanging in the air. "I must have been misinformed. Please take your seat. Nice to see you
too, Gryffyn-san, again."
"Hai, sensei," she nodded, taking her seat by the window. Gryffyn rilled a greeting to the other
students, before pulling Rei bodily from her seat and dragging her to one in the middle of the room.
She could feel desperately curious eyes on her.
Moments later, as Gryffyn lay down beside her desk, Shinji and Kaworu burst in, chuckling about
some joke or other. Kaworu spotted the empty seat next to Rei and leapt for it- but his leap was spoiled
when Shinji grabbed the back of his shirt, hauled him out of the way, and took the seat for himself.
Wings flailing indignantly, Kaworu sat next to Touji, not missing the opportunity to leer thoroughly at
him.
Almost instantly, four or five messages flashed onto her laptop. Surprised, she read the first.
Hikari: Good to see you're alright, Rei. We thought something awful had happened!
Carefully, she tapped a reply: I am well, Hikari, arigato.
The next, from Asuka: What the hell is with you, wondergirl? Are you immortal or something? I swear
I saw you dead.
Rei smiled to herself.
Rei: It seems I had one chance left, after all. Do you wish to help me shop after school?
Asuka: Hehe, sure, why not?
And messages from Touji and Kensuke, both of whom she reassured with a few words. Finally:
Kaworu: Hey, Rei, glad to see you're okay. What say we celebrate in the broom closet at lunchtime?
I'll bring the cream cheese, you bring your sexy little self. Are you wearing a G-string crotchless panty
and peephole bra? Please?
A tiny sigh of tolerance slipped past her lips. She replied.
Rei: Looking forward to it. Meet me in there.
Shinji bit his lip, trying to stop his smile, and Rei realised that he was reading her screen.
Shinji: Shall I lock him in there for you?
She smiled.
"Gryffyn-san," the teacher called respectfully, "May I ask your aid in this next exercise?"
The friendly beast hauled his impressive weight to his paws. "Of course, sensei. What would you have
me do?"
"Just come out here, please. And do I have a volunteer amongst our young gentlemen?"
"Sure." Kaworu sauntered forward.
Rei watched, curious as to what the teacher was doing.
"Now as we all know, we're taking a break from our history lessons to study biology, specifically
Animal Adaptations. We have here two juvenile males from very different species. Let us discuss
differences and similarities between them, and how these features relate to their environment and
lifestyle."
Kaworu's offer to strip so they could better study his physiology was not well received.
The class discussion actually maintained it's coherency through the structure of limbs as pertaining to
their function, the pentadactyl limb, and dentition, but lost it when the teacher tried to explain that
Gryffyn's genitalia looked so small because it was mostly internal, to streamline his body for flight at
maturity. The poor creature rolled back onto his feet in high embarrassment, crying, "Just you wait
until I'm finished growing up!"
Kaworu grinned wryly. "Hey, I'm a juvenile, too. I think we should have a size comparison."
From that point on, the lesson only went downhill.
A slightly more educated Rei let Gryffyn lead her out to recess.
"I can't believe he actually did it," she muttered, her cheeks as red as every other girl's. That boy had
no shame!
Shinji fell in step with her. "Hi, Rei, Gryffyn. Interesting class, ne?"
Raising an eyebrow, Rei commented, "You found it interesting? I would not care to see that again."
"Well, yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "You know Kaworu. Let's face it, it was only a matter
of time before he exposed himself in public."
Gryffyn rumbled a laugh. Then, lightning-quick, he slipped around Rei and tackled Shinji. The boy was
smacked loudly into the ground, he and the gryphon wrestling happily together. Watching them, Rei
felt like she wanted to keep living this day, forever and ever.
The blare of the siren continuing, Fuyutski demanded, his voice low but urgent; "Are you sure she's
ready for battle? It's only been two weeks."
"I know," Gendo replied impassively. "She is strong, Fuyutski. And growing stronger. Soon she will be
ready to fulfil her purpose." He raised his voice. "Rei, you will back Asuka up. Shinji, you are on
standby."
Two pairs of eyes watched the scramble to get all in place. The launching of the Evas.
"Is this really necessary, Ikari?"
"It is."
"Such a weight to place on such a young child."
"No longer truly a child."
"Ikari… you do know she is living proof of the Instrumentality process."
On the vast screen in front of them, the two Evangelions fought like dancers. The amoeboid Angel that
they battled extended pseudopods to flail at them, but they were far too swift. Progressive machetes
flashed, and chunks of steaming flesh the size of buses crashed wetly to the ground. "There are
indications."
"She has a soul."
A shining core was exposed. The creature let out a keening wail of an intensity almost painful to the
human ear when the twin shining blades split it asunder. "Perhaps."
Fuyutski sighed, as the screen burned white with the Angel's explosive death throes. "She was not
needed to battle this time. Is this a punishment?"
He did not need to clarify why Ikari might believe Rei was in need of punishment. She had come to
Nerv at the sirens dressed in casual clothes. Worse even- it had been a sheer silk nightie. Modest
enough, but the idea of her wearing it had greatly aggravated his fellow Commander. Himself, he
didn't care; she could wear whatever she wanted to at four o'clock in the morning. Even if that hadn't
been enough, Ikari had not by far forgiven her for disregarding his orders during the recovery of
Kaworu.
"Not punishment. A form of test, maybe."
"Ikari…"
For the first time since they'd entered the Command Box, Ikari directed his gaze at the other Nerv
officer. What Fuyutski saw there made him flinch and drop his eyes. Words dropped, cold as stone,
into the sudden frozen silence. "Don't question me."
Rei bid Shinji and Kaworu farewell at the school gate, wanting just to go home and curl up with her
two other denmates. She'd been up since four o'clock that morning, fighting Angels, showering,
dressing, going to school, enduring the intense questioning and conversation of her friends and
teachers. She was exhausted.
She made her slow way along the streets. As much as she enjoyed- nay, needed- the company of 'the
toms', as she'd come to think of them, Rei was somewhat relieved that they would be away tonight.
Touji was having a boys-only party of some kind, probably involving male bonding rituals she'd rather
not know about.
That was fine with her. Tonight she planned on lots of sleep, and a moderate amount of the wonderful
thing call 'triple-choc ice cream' that Asuka had introduced her to while helping her shop for new
underwear. She had a four-litre tub hidden behind the peas in the freezer that she'd barely made a dint
in. And a spoon.
Eventually she reached her home, unlocking the door and stepping inside.
As she put her books and bags down in her room, she heard the tentative thud of small hooves on
carpet. Rei turned with a smile to meet Cedar- but her face fell at the young unicorn's expression and
bearing.
Terrible, terrible sadness.
The gangly beast stepped forward on trembling legs. Clenched gently but firmly between his big,
square teeth was a roughly folded piece of paper.
Rei took it with a hesitant hand. Instantly Cedar fled, dashing out of the door and down the hall into
oblivion.
Shinji took another sip of forbidden sake, watching the computer game Kensuke and Kaworu were
playing. Touji, on the other lounge, was stuffing handfuls of chips into his mouth.
After an hour or so of this, when all four boys were pleasantly tipsy, Touji decided to get down to the
real purpose of this meeting.
The four not-yet-men were now seated close around the floor, sipping their sake (stolen from the
Suzaharo parents' liquor cabinet while they were away for a few days.)
"So," Touji said lazily, leaning into his cushion, "You know the girls spend all their lunchtimes talking
about us."
Kensuke chuckled. "You maybe Touji, and Rei for Shinji, but who for me?"
Shinji made a disparaging noise. "Rei doesn't like me, no way!"
"Hey, I'm for you, Kensuke. You're hot!" Kaworu lightly stroked Kensuke's leg, then chuckled at the
other boy's bemused expression. "Just kidding," he slurred.
Touji pushed Shinji's shoulder, disagreeing with him. "Rei drools after you, man! Really!"
"Naw." Shinji shook his head. "If she liked me… she'd've kissed me back."
Touji and Kensuke both echoed, "You kissed Rei?"
Kaworu reassured him, "Hey, Shinji-chan, that was a really weird time. Can't take that as any sort of
indication."
"Yeah, well, I want to talk about me!" Touji spoke up. "Guys, I am really, really in a bad way about
Hikari. What am I gonna do?"
"Grab her and give her a big fat kiss," Kaworu announced, and chuckled insanely.
At that point the phone rang. Touji cursed roughly and stumbled over, picking it up.
"Hello, Suzaharo residence… hello?… oh… You don't sound- are you okay?… uh, sure." He looked at
Shinji, covering the mouthpiece. "Rei wants to talk to you. She sounds really bad."
Shinji was on the phone in less than two seconds. "Rei?"
"Shinji?" There was a quaver in her voice that- oh god, she sobbed.
"Rei, oh, please, what's wrong?" He was clutching the phone tightly.
Another sob, and a long, shuddering breath. "I… Shinji… please come home."
"Of course," he answered instantly. "What's wrong? Please?"
A teary sigh. "Shinji… I need you to be here right now."
"I'll be there in ten minutes. It'll be okay." He hung up the phone gently. His glance at the other three
was a lot more sober. "Sorry guys. Really. I can't stay."
"What's up?" Kaworu asked, concerned.
Shinji picked up his bag. "She wouldn't say." He smiled, still wanting his friends to enjoy themselves.
"I'm sure it'll be fine. We'll get it sorted out."
Kensuke passed him his wallet. "Maybe she just- needs some loving," he joked badly, trying to
reassure him.
"Hope so," he shrugged. "I'll see you guys at school tomorrow."
He virtually ran, through the darkness as the stars came out, and reached the door exactly eight-and-a-
half minutes after she'd called. Not bothering to knock, Shinji let himself in, to find Rei curled up on
the lounge. The girl was a huddled ball of misery.
Unable to believe what he was seeing, he knelt on the floor before her, touching her arm to let her
know he was there.
It took her a moment to realise his presence. Then Rei uncurled enough to hand him the note that Cedar
had delivered to her. Five hiragana, in an unpractised hand. Well, not really a hand- more like a claw
dipped in ink.
Rei,
Arigato,
Aishiteru,
Sayonara.
Gryffyn.
Thank you, I love you, goodbye.
He didn't comprehend the meaning of the note for almost a full minute.
No," Shinji breathed. "He wouldn't. No, Rei, he loves you far too much." He got up on the lounge with
her, pulling her against him, wrapping his arms around her.
A low keening wail fell from Rei's lips. She gave herself up to the comfort of his embrace, letting him
hold her while she sobbed out her bitter loss. Felt his own quiet tears dampen her hair.
After an unmeasurable time, the urgency of Rei's tears lessened. She turned, her body still shaking and
shivering, lifting her tearstained face to his. Her beautiful cerise eyes were swollen, filled with strange
and dark things.
A slender hand curled uncertainly around Shinji's neck. Rei pulled him down, kissing him awkwardly
at first… then hungrily.
Without thinking, he kissed her back just as deeply. Raw need was sweeping over him. He pulled her
tight against him.
It was only when she took his hand and guided it to her breast that Shinji really understood what was
happening. He pulled back a little. "Rei!"
Rei looked up from under her lashes, her breathing quickened, her breast heaving into his hand.
"Shinji…" she gasped.
The boy was very tempted to ignore his premonitions at that point. But it felt wrong. "What are you
doing?"
"I… Shinji…" She tried to pull him back down to her, but he resisted. "Don't you want me, Shinji?
Don't you want to become one with me?"
Shinji gaped. "Oh, god, Rei, yes. I want that so badly. But…"
She drew back slightly- and unfastened her dress, pulling it over her head in one smooth movement.
Her hands went to the buttons of her shirt.
Shinji grabbed them before she could undo any buttons. "Rei! Stop it, Rei!"
She looked at him wordlessly, her eyes deep wells.
"Think about this for a second!"
"I have." Rei sat forward, loosening Shinji's school tie.
"I mean it!" He grabbed her hands again. "Rei, you don't know what you're doing."
Now her eyes bore fresh hurt. "You -don't- want me. Oh, Shinji, -please-!"
"Rei, I love you!" he cried. Then blinked, realising the truth of his words. "I love you," Shinji repeated
sincerely. "I really do."
Her pained voice rang out. "Gryffyn said that, and then he left!!!"
There. That was it. Shinji gently touched her face, wiping away the trickle of fresh tears with his
thumb. "I'm not going to go away."
"How do I know that?" Rei breathed intently. "I thought Gryffyn was going to be with me forever.
How do I know that you're not going to leave me just as quickly?"
Shinji cupped her face between his hands, kissing her mouth very softly and fleetingly. "I promise, Rei.
Forever, if you want me that long." He smiled tenderly. "You don't have to do this thing, to bind me to
you. I'm not going anywhere."
"But…" Rei hung her head, then looked up slowly. "Really?"
"Really!" Shinji laughed kindly. He pulled her close to him again, wrapping his arms about her, and
tucking her head under his chin. "Really, really, really. I love you, Rei. I love you." He planted a loving
kiss on her hair.
A slow sigh slipped from her. "Shinji?"
He stroked her arm gently. "Mmm?"
"I'm sorry."
"Hmm, will I ever forgive you? Let me think. Hmm… hmm…" The boy chuckled. "Let's just talk for a
while, huh?"
So they did. Sitting there, holding one another, Rei and Shinji let their words flow into the small hours
of the morning. They talked of Gryffyn. Of the things he said and did, his little habits, the reasons why
he was so special to them. They shared their memories and their feelings long into the night, until Rei
was dozing lightly against him.
Eventually, Shinji gathered her up and carried her to her bed. Laying her down, he smoothed the hair
away from Rei's face, and brushed his lips across her forehead. He tiptoed toward the door with a silent
smile.
"Shinji?" Rei called faintly.
He stopped. "I'm here."
Rei hadn't moved, and was talking with her eyes closed. "I… I'm not used to sleeping alone. I'm
cold."
"Uh…"
"Please?"
He crossed the floor quickly, stripping off his tie and kicking his shoes and socks away- under the bed,
with a grin- and clambered beneath the thin blanket.
Rei drew him close. "You'll be my gryphon for tonight, ne?"
He chuckled and threw an arm over her waist the same way that Gryffyn would drape his foreleg over
her. Yawning, Rei moved up the bed a little, pulling Shinji's head down over her heart, her fingers
toying with his short chocolate hair.
"Being a gryphon has its advantages," he mumbled.
A few moments later Rei started wriggling around, much to Shinji's bemusement- it didn't help when
she reached past him to drop her bra on the ground with a silky rustle. "I will not sleep whilst wearing
that," she explained softly.
"Oh. Okay then." Clinks and leathery hisses emerged from the bed as Shinji discarded his belt,
followed by a zzzip!
"What was that?"
Shinji pulled her close again. "I'm not sleeping with my zip done up. That's very uncomfortable."
"Oh."
Some moments later, one or the other decided it was too hot to sleep with a shirt on. In the midst of the
soft laughter as they fumbled with eachother's buttons, a timid exploration began, of gently loving
hands, and mouths, and bodies: and finally the two slept as one.
No lemons! Sorry, but I'm keeping my rating for this fic fairly constant.
I hear screams of horror from the 'Rei-is-a-clone-of-Yui' club, but I have my own theories on the issue
of Rei's origins, which I'll get further into within the next few chapters. Also I'm not sure whether
Shinji could possibly have been this mature at his tender age, even considering I've let a fair bit of time
slide… they should be around 16/17 now, but Shinji's always seemed fairly sweet and sensitive to
me… but wasn't it all just too sweet for words?