The Dreams of Shinji and Rei III
The Characters in this aren't my own and are the property of GAINAX
(Dream Sequence) Yet another one of the teacher's "lessons" was over. I sat on a hill over looking the grounds of the school. I laid back and closed my eyes. I was sitting there enjoying my surroundings. Suddenly I got the feeling of a pair of eyes watching me. I quickly sat up and looked around. A couple steps behind me was Rei just standing there and looking at me with her deep blood red eyes. We faced each other for what seemed to be an eternity. Then she was about to say something but she disappeared.
I was returned to the land of the living by Touji and Kensuke who were shaking me and calling my name. "C'mon Ikari get up." Apparently I had fallen asleep again during the teacher's "lesson". I noticed that no one was in the room. "Where is everyone?" I asked. Touji replied, "It's lunch time they are out eating." I proceeded to grab my lunch and walked out to the courtyard with my friends. Once we got there Touji asked, "Why did you stand up for me with Hikari today?" I just looked at him and replied, "Well it was my fault so I felt guilty for getting you in trouble with her and decided to redeem myself." Kensuke and Touji both stared at me as if Angels were crawling out of my ears. "Is there a problem with that?" "No there isn't, but you have to admit it is a bit out of character for you." Kensuke said. I just shrugged and we returned to eating. Then Kensuke looked at me and slyly smiled and said, "So, what or should I say who were you dreaming about today? Hmmm?" I nearly choked on my food, "W-w-what are you talking about?" Touji and Kensuke just smiled at each other then returned to look at me. "You know what we mean you sly dog." Touji said while elbowing me in the ribs. "Yeah was it Miss Misato or the fireball Asuka. Or maybe calm cool Rei?" This time I did spit out my food. "I-I-I have no idea what you're talking about" I said trying to hide my blush. With that the bell rang and that had us all running quickly to get to class but I was running fastest.
(@@@ Shinji's actions weren't only considered odd by his friends but also by a certain onlooker as well. Rei's POV)
I had found Shinji's actions very strange seeing as he usually only stood up for something (including himself) only when he was forced to do so. I decided that I would need to confront him very soon. So I began to form a plan on what to do. 'I believe that I'll.....
(@@@Oh no you don't you aren't going to see her plan until it happens. Class had resumed and so had the pointless lecture so everyone seemed to doze off during class. But one person was too lost in thought to fall asleep.... Rei.)
I began my normal trip home. Asuka had told me that she was going shopping so she wouldn't be home until later. So I just walked slowly towards my apartment not really paying attention to anything in particular. Suddenly I was awakened back into reality by the sound of someone taking a deep breath. I turned and saw I was being followed by a very nervous looking Rei Ayanami. Our eyes met and I was losing myself in her blood red eyes. Rei acted the same way as I was acting.......... lost. Suddenly she broke the awkward silence. "Um...... Ika- I mean Shinji can we talk?" I was very surprised by the fact that she had called me 'Shinji' instead of 'Ikari'. This surprised ... no ..... frightened me. "Um s-sure Rei. What would you like to talk about?" I finally stammered out. "Shinji could we go somewhere ...... a bit ....... more private?" I looked at her and asked, "Uh..... like where?" "Anywhere you would like to talk together." I thought for a minute and finally suggested, "How about your house? Either that or the hill overlooking Tokyo-3." "Which would be more comforting for you?" "It doesn't matter to me you choose." With that Rei sunk into thought and finally said, "The hill would be nice." With that Rei walked ahead and soon I followed her to the hill overlooking the "Last Fortress of Man".
Rei sat down on a bench near a tree, she invited me to join her. I sat down at the other end of the bench, "Are you okay Rei? Is anything wrong? What was it you needed to talk to me about?" I was very worried by her change in attitude and unusual actions. She moved closer to me, I tried to moved away some. I had a sudden feeling of deja-vu. She moved closer again and asked me in almost a whisper, "Shinji what do you think of me?" This needless to say, caught me off-guard. Those very hushed words had a greater affect on me than if she had yelled into my ears. "A-a-ah w-what do you m-mean Rei?" I finally stammered out. "How do you feel about me? What are your feelings towards me?" "Well I-I-I'm n-not sure. I-I-I don't know." Suddenly, Rei seemed to lose all of her composure upon hearing these words. She just broke down and started to sob uncontrollably, and was clutching at my shirt, saying, "Oh why? Why can't you tell me? Don't you like me." This not only shocked me but scared me immensely. I thought of what I could do I had to act fast, 'I could tell her to stop. No, that would make me sound like Father I mean The Commander. I could run. No, I've run away enough.' At this point I decided to do the thing that body and heart told me to do, I moved closer to Rei and took her into my arms. I rubbed the back of her head and gently rocked her back and forth. Saying, "Shhh shhh shhh. It will be okay. Don't worry." This seemed to make things worse she just grabbed onto me tighter and sobbed into my shoulder and was barely able to say, "Don't you like me? Can't you be honest with me?" At this I collapsed. I couldn't believe that it was me causing Rei this pain and making her cry. The floodgates poured forth and I started to cry myself.
(@@@Now if you were to stumble upon this scene it might seem comical at first. Seeing two teenager just crying into each other not seeming to want to stop. Just apparently crying to cry.)
Rei stopped and heard the sounds of me crying and looked up to look at me. She sat up worried and said, "Shinji, Shinji, why are you crying? Did I hurt you?" "No, I'm crying because I made you cry. I never wanted to hurt you I'm so sorry for what I did to you." At this Rei flashed me her rare and beautiful smile, this made my heart skip a beat. boy did I love that smile so much. "Rei, I do care about you." Rei just stared in shock. I knew I had feelings for her but I wasn't sure of her feeling towards me. She just jumped up and hugged me around the neck. "Oh thank you Shinji. I'm so happy you care for me. I care for you too." At this point it was my turn to stare ahead in shock. I simply couldn't believe that the beautiful girl before me had just said she liked and cared for me, me of all people. I looked deep into those blood red eyes and all I saw was confirmation that she was sincere. I started to return the embrace. The two of us just sat their absorbing the warmth of being with each other. We both loved this feeling. Then Rei broke the silence, "Well, this is a good thing indeed." "Yes it is." We just stared into each other's eyes and felt as though we were seeing directly into the other's soul. We rose simultaneously and started to walk back to Tokyo-3 holding each other's hands and smiling. I walked Rei to her apartment and she left me with a quick kiss on the lips. I stood there for a while in shock and then brought my hand to where Rei's lips had just made contact with his own. I got a big smile on my face. If when people felt happy they had the ability to fly then I would have flown right past Pluto in a heartbeat (or should I say a heart skip-and-jump). I almost skipped home that day I was so happy. I had found someone that I cared for and cared for me as well. I never knew life could be so good.