Copyright Notice: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion or any related characters, GAINAX does.

Quick Notes: I actually decided to continue this fic after I got so many good reviews (Honestly, I never expected it). Anyway, in Chapter 1, we had Shinji and Rei get together. For these two, it may not be hard to maintain their relationship. But even for them, there's one "minor" problem - the people in-between.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The lights of Seele lit up. In the middle, were Nerv Commander Gendou Ikari and Sub-Commander Kozo Fuyutsuki.

"The Nerv organization was founded to enact the wishes of Seele."

"You, Ikari, have however, taken things into your own selfish hands."

"What is your excuse for the delay of Complementation now?"

Gendou was 100% confident. He even had a smile on his face. "We are going through minor problems at Nerv, but it seems Instrumentality is impossible right now, as my key is currently defective."

"We do not need Lilith to go through the process of Instrumentality - we need Unit 01!"

"I think you will change your mind after taking a look at these." Gendou handed an envelope to Keel. Keel opened it and looked at the pictures on the inside. Keel looked up at Gendou and merely nodded.

* * * * *

Another day. Yesterday, today, tomorrow, another day. At least it was no longer a useless day to live. At least there some meaning to it. No. A whole lot of meaning to it. There was that one part of her day that was worthwhile living.

Rei Ayanami rose from her bed. She stepped into her living room. She hoped she was in the living room, anyway. It was important for her to memorize each sector of her apartment room since she was now completely blind. It was a lilum problem that disturbed her - she didn't even know it could happen. But, she found ways around it. But this isn't something she had to go through alone. She had Shinji by her side. If it wasn't for him, she'd be locked away forever. Seeing him was the one part of her day that seemed to have made everything worthwhile.

Her apartment was easier to navigate . . . thanks to Shinji. It was clean, so she couldn't trip over a peace of garbage and break an arm . . . thanks to Shinji. She was able to be considered a unique and special person . . . thanks to Shinji. She owed him one. No, she owed him a lot. Yet, all he wanted was pity. But Rei gave him more than that. She actually tried to help him as odd as it was. And it always seemed that the support she gave was the most significant. He even suggested that Rei could even become a psychologist, though she didn't take much of that suggestion into consideration.

Rei now heard something and turned her attention in that direction. There were three knocks at the door. She immediately thought 'Shinji' but the knocks on the door were rough. They were too hard to be Shinji's, unless he was in a terrible mood. Shinji's knocks were usually four light knocks. Rei walked over to the door and opened it. The next thing she knew, a grave pain was in her back, as she was rushed in as if a bull had hit her and pinned against the wall. She was now hanging slightly off the ground.

'It smells of . . .'

"Listen wonder girl!"

'. . . Pilot Soryu.'

"Why the hell are you hanging around MY Shinji!!!"

"He does not belong to you. He is an independe - "

"Shut up! I don't need your smart talk, wonder bitch! He is MINE!"

"If you are talking in terms of who he loves, then he is my Shin-chan."

"Shin-chan? Damnit Rei, I don't give a damn if you're blind, deaf, mute, or can't smell! I want you to stay away from Shinji!"

"That is not possible, Pilot Soryu."

"Why not?!"

"Because I lo - "

She knew what she was going to say. "Baka wonder girl!" She pulled all her force back and slapped Rei across the cheek as hard as she could. A deep red mark was evident.

"I pity you, Soryu."

"W-What?"

"You can only obtain what you desire through causing others pain."

"So? What's that suppose to mean? Do I have to poke my eye out to get Shinji's attention?"

"You hole Shinji's attention. His negative attention, causing him to ultimately wish to ignore you."

"And how do you know this?"

"He explained to me, himself."

"Yeah, right, wonder girl."

"You forget, Soryu. If I wished, I could hurt you, too. It is possible for me to cause injury to you, as well."

"Is that a threat?"

". . ."

"Well, wonder girl, I never thought you had it in you. So, here's my reply." Asuka pulled her hand back and slapped Rei as hard as she could across the other cheek.

"I do not wish to cause injury, but I do not wish to see Shinji be hurt."

"Idiot, you CAN'T SEE."

"I was being figurative."

"I wish I had another cheek to slap."

* * * * *

Ritsuko Akagi exited the elevator. "Now what was Rei's room number again . . . oh, right, 402." She had come to pick up Rei for a checkup. They didn't do this at Nerv often but had to make exceptions to review the pilot's health. Even though Rei was no longer a pilot, and Unit 00 was on a one-way trip to outer space, the Commander insisted that Rei be checked on.

Ritsuko herself didn't want to have to pick up Rei. She wished Maya or Ritsuko could do it. She didn't hate Rei, but she didn't like her. It wasn't because Rei talked like an adult, she envied that. It wasn't because Rei was able to make something of her life through piloting, she envied that, too. But all together, that was the problem. She envied her. Ritsuko was deep in love with the Commander, but he was always too busy attending to his "doll". However, she had heard that Shinji and Rei had been spending a lot of time together. Ritsuko knew that when Rei was born, there were precautions taken so she wouldn't fallen in love. But she remembered how Gendou raised Rei. He shaped her. He shaped her like him so that she wouldn't be as social able as other people her age. But then Ritsuko remembered the one named Yui, the one who saw something special in Gendou. Maybe Shinji was the one person who saw something special in Rei.

She continued down the hall and toward room 402. She saw it was open. Ritsuko stepped inside. "Oh my God, Asuka, what the hell are you doing?!" Asuka now had Rei by her throat, pinned against the wall.

"Taking care of business. I won't let her have Shinji!"

"Put her down!"

"Fine." Asuka walked out of the apartment.

"Are you alright, Rei?"

"I am well."

"Come on, you have an appointment."

* * * * *

Shinji sat in his desk in school, pretending to pay attention to the teacher, giving another lecture on how life was before Second Impact had occurred. He had lived for fourteen years and didn't live a day. He knew someone else like that. That was before. Now, life actually had some meaning in it. He had Rei. The blind, blue haired girl, who was different from everyone else in Tokyo-3. 'She's so different . . .' But there was that part of her that made her so special to him. He wanted be with her right now . . . unfortunately, there was this dreaded place he had to attend to every day . . . she was the one thing that made living in the fortress city worthwhile.

"Can you explain why you're late, Ms. Soryu?"

"I was a . . ."

"You don't seem to have an excuse. Just take a seat." Asuka did just that. Before she took a seat, she winked at Shinji.

Shinji was surprised. He really didn't care, though. Asuka had become a real nuisance over a long period off time. She was someone you'd have to prove yourself to over and over again. Time after time. The same thing over and over. She would scream at him and he's become a victim of the German sprite from hell.

* * * * *

"Thank God we're done for the day." Shinji said to himself.

"Hey, Ikari!"

"Hi, Kensuke."

"Listen, Shinji, have you noticed anything . . . unusual."

"Unusual? With Nerv, not really."

"Not Nerv."

"Then with what?"

Kensuke quickly titled his head to his left.

"Hikari?"

"No!"

"Oh, Asuka? She winked at me this morning, I guess that's sort of odd."

"Shinji, the only thing harder than getting into a relationship is maintaining it."

"You're having problems with Hikari?"

"Are you an idiot?! I'm trying to protect you and Rei from Asuka and you're standing there clueless!"

"Asuka is trying to break me and Rei up?"

"I saw her coming from Rei's apartment this morning. I think she might have threatened Rei or something."

"D-Do you really think so? I'm going to see Rei right now."

"You do that. If you want, I can keep an eye on Asuka."

"That's alright. I really don't expect the worst."

"Alright . . . and, have you heard anything about Nerv needing a new pilot?"

"No, but I'll tell you if they need one. See you later, Kensuke." Shinji began his trek toward Rei's apartment.

Hikari walked over to Kensuke. "Something wrong with Shinji?"

"Not really. But let's keep an eye on Asuka."

"Do you think Asuka is - " Hikari looks back to where Asuka was standing. "She's gone."

* * * * *

Shinji came up to Rei's apartment room and lightly knocked on the door three times. Rei came to the door and smiled. "Hello, Shinji."

"You knew it was me?"

She nodded.

"Did Asuka come by today?"

The smile left Rei's face. "She had come by this morning."

"D-Did she hurt you? What did she do?"

Rei placed her hands on her cheeks.

Shinji placed her hands on Rei's shoulders. "Oh God, what did she do to you."

"She did not cause much injury."

"Did she threaten you?"

"She informed me to stay away from you."

"Don't listen to A - "

"Hello, Shinji!"

"Asuka, what are you doing here?"

"Come for you of course. We had so much fun last night that I thought we'd do it again tonight."

A perplexed expression was on Rei's face. "Do what, Shinji?"

"Asuka! Just shut up! You keep on barging into my life! What do you want so that you'll go away?"

"You, of course. And you want me."

"That's not true! I want you to leave!"

"I'm not going to leave until I get you to come with me."

"I'm not going anywhere. Why did you hurt Rei?"

"I just slapped her. Somebody has to knock some sense into wonder girl."

Rei stepped forward. "My name is not "wonder girl", "honor student", or "doll". It is Rei. I am I."

"Shut up! I don't need you're smart talk about who you are. You could never have Shinji. You're just way too weird to do something like that."

Rei cowered back.

"Asuka, stop this."

"Why? I'm only telling her the truth - nothing else. You belong with me. You'd probably enjoy touching me."

"Just stop this. You keep on hurting people."

"I think Rei is the one hurting you."

"I . . . I hate you Asuka!"

"You don't mean that."

"You don't think I can't hate you? Didn't I hit you? Why can't a pathetic wimp like me hate you? You're too late Asuka. Rei is the only person I want."

"Fine. But you'll come around. I know it." Asuka turned around and left.

Shinji walked over and slammed the door shut. He turned around and saw Rei sitting with her knees pulled up to her chest. He walked over to her and kneeled in front of her. She heard his footsteps and turned her head to the side, away from him. "Rei, I'm sorry about Asuka. I'll make sure that she never comes here ever again."

". . ."

"What's wrong?"

"Is she correct?"

"Correct about what?"

"Am I too odd to have you?"

"No. That's not true."

". . ."

"Rei, I love you because you're different from everyone else. Someone I can be with while in this damn city."

Rei turned her head toward where she heard Shinji's voice. "You love me?"

"Rei, I'm over here, in front of you."

"Sorry . . ."

"It's alright. Yes, I love you."

"What if I am not able to love you?"

"Don't listen to Asuka. She's just trying to separate us."

"I do not wish to be separated. I wish to become one."

Shinji didn't exactly understand what becoming "one" meant. "Rei, I . . . wish to become one with you, too."

Rei nodded. A smile appeared on her face. Shinji loved this smile. It was a healing smile. A rare smile that healed him. "I love you, too, Shinji."

Shinji wanted to say something romantic but his mind was blank. He wasn't the best of lovers but tried his best. But he knew Rei hardly cared how he said things. She'd probably be impressed if she asked him to be. Why? He knew that he's never have to impress her. That was probably the 1001st time he preached that to himself, but knew it was truth. "I really don't want to leave you alone tonight. I'm afraid Asuka might come back and do something."

"I will be fine."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure."

"Alright. Goodbye, Rei." Shinji rose and walked toward the door.

"Shinji."

He turned around. She was now behind him. "Are you not afraid?"

"Afraid?"

"That a part of my anatomy is Angel."

"Not anymore. You're just like us. I should've realized that before. See you later, Rei." He turned around.

"Shinji," she called out again.

Shinji once against turned around. "Yes?"

"What did Soryu mean by you would enjoy touching her?"

He really didn't want to answer this question.

"What if I wanted you to hold me?"

"I . . . umm . .."

". . ."

He didn't know what to do, so he did what instinct told him God he hoped his instinct was right. He lightly placed his arms around the blind girl and held her close.

"Hold me tight. I do not want to become lost again."

Shinji didn't exactly understand, but he followed. He held her tightly. It felt so warm being around each other it was weird. Shinji stared at her as she lightly placed her head in his shoulder. He enjoyed being with her. He enjoyed this very much.

'Thank you, Shinji . . . thank you for seeing that special piece in me.'

* * * * *

"Doctor Akagi!" a nurse called out.

"What is it?"

"Ayanami Rei's X-Ray results are here. I thought you might want to take a look at them.

"Thanks. I'll look at them." The nurse handed the X-Rays over. Ritsuko went into a special room and placed the pictures in front of a blue light. She examined them. From the checkup earlier, it seemed Rei was perfectly healthy. Ritsuko looked thoroughly through them, and then came up upon the last one. After taking a look at the last one, she dropped the X-Rays. She immediately knelt down and picked them up. 'What the hell is going on?'

* * * * *

Gendou sat at his desk with his head resting on his fists. Fuyutsuki stood behind him. "How did you get the old man to back off, Ikari?"

Gendou had a sadistic smile on his face. "I had some of his pictures from his old hippie days. The old man didn't see it coming."

Fuyutsuki let out a light laugh. "I never knew he was that old."

Ritsuko barged in. "Commander! I think you should take a look at this!"

"What is so urgent, Doctor Akagi?"

Ritsuko walked up to his desk and placed the X-Rays on his desk. "Look at this one. These are Rei's X-Rays."

Gendou looked at them. "An S2 Organ?"

Ritsuko nodded.

"I thought Rei's was separated from her during the accident with Unit 00."

"I thought so, too."

"Doctor, I want you to investigate this - immediately!"

"Yes, sir." Ritsuko left the room.

A confused look was on Gendou's face. Fuyutsuki stared down at him. "And I thought you were behind that one."

Gendou merely shook his head.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

That's the end of the Second Chapter. Real shocking at the end, right? Why does Rei still have an S2 Organ? You're going to have to wait for the next Chapter for that, and I hope the idea I'm using hasn't been done too often before.