Searching for Eden

From a deep sleep to completely awake, Rei's crimson eyes snapped open. Like every morning, she was the first to hear the soft beeping alarm. Slowly, her eyes focused on the tiny, blinking, red light in Shinji's wrist watch. It was time for her brother to wake up and go to work. She felt her heart twinge with sadness but loosened her embrace on him.

A few seconds later, she felt him stir.

When Rei moved, Shinji slowly woke up. Although, he was still in a thick sleepy haze, so it took a few more seconds before he finally heard his alarm. The third child groaned as he reached over his sister and picked up his watch to cut it off. He then just stared at the metal time piece and tried to will it go to back in time for another five minutes. Five minutes. Just five more minutes. That's all he was asking for! It took about half the time he was wishing for, for him to realize that his mental efforts were useless. So he gently untangled himself from Rei's embrace and sat up.

A soft moan of protest escaped the first child's lips, when the security of his weight was no longer on top of her, but she let him go without hesitation, then curled up beside him. In a sleepy daze, Shinji patted her shoulder and rubbed on her upper arm to comfort her. He knew how she felt, for he hated waking up for the exact same reason. It was only in their sleep, because of their nightmares, did they allow themselves to find physical comfort in each other. However, it was never anything sexual. It was only just a touch, a caress, an embrace, and the security they felt to be in the arms of the one they loved. Even if they were never allowed to speak of that love again.

Last night was particularly hard for Shinji. He barely got any sleep, for he kept remembering and dreaming about Misato's death and the way her hot blood felt when it splattered all over his face. It was also last night when he and Rei finally decided to talk about their dreams. It was awkward because he didn't want to burden her with his sorrows because she suffered with her own sorrows and her own fears. Rei was still terrified that her soul would be stolen. And they both were afraid that NERV or SEELE would find them and take her away. It didn't help matters that the outcome of the 'war' wasn't reported in the news. It was as if it never happened. Although, the first and third child expected that. The business of NERV was highly classified and most people didn't even know that the organization existed. After his confession things became even more awkward because Rei did not know how to verbally comfort him, but her gentle embrace and her listening ear was a comfort in it self. Shinji wasn't sure if talking about his dreams made him feel better or worse, but not talking about them wasn't helping at all. So until something better came around, they were going to try communicating their fears to each other.

For about five minutes, Shinji just sat there on the mattress and stared blankly at the wall. His body would not allow him to do much else. He was too tired and too sore. Everyone of his muscles felt like knotted up lead, and his brain felt like mush. Absently, he turned his gaze toward the window and noticed dark sky. The sun hadn't even risen yet, but if he was going to make it to work on time, he was going to have to leave in a few minutes.

It had took only three days of his first week for the pilot of unit 01 to realize that working construction was much harder, physically, than piloting an Eva. It was only his sheer will and the desire to keep his sister from living on streets that kept him performing his job, everyday, without complaint. However, by the end of the second week, he was becoming more used to the physical strains of hard labor.

The boy rolled over until he carried his weight on his hands and knees. After a few moments of rest, he used every once of his energy to stand up. He grimaced. His body was soooo sore. That realization was the only coherent thing his mind kept repeating. He bit his bottom lip so that he wouldn't make any noise that would alarm his sister. He told her that he wanted to be "the man"; he wanted to be the one who went to work, so he felt that he should be a man about his bodily pain and not gripe about it.

When Shinji went into the bathroom, Rei took off her sleeping tee shirt, went to the closet and picked out a pair of jeans and a clean tee shirt to wear. She was getting ready because she was going to walk Shinji to work. It was a long walk, almost an hour, because he worked on the other side of town, She didn't mind though. Rei usually stayed on that side of town until he got off work because everything was on that side of town; the library, the commons, the... city.

Shinji was glad Rei stayed on the "nice" side while he worked. He didn't want her to be alone and stay in the apartment all day, and he really didn't want her walking around alone in the sector where they lived . The area in which they lived was run down and crime infested. He worried about her being alone there because he felt that she was gentle and delicate.

Rei reminded him that when she lived Tokyo-3 she used to live in the run down sector of town, but Shinji countered her statement by reminding her that although it was run down, it wasn't crime infested.

After dressing, Rei sat back on the futon mattress and waited for Shinji to come out of the bathroom. She had bathed last night, but she needed to brush her teeth and wash her face. She didn't have to wait long before he came out. Like his sister, he showered last night, so all he had to do was brush his teeth and wash his face before he dressed. Before walking into the bathroom, she glanced at him as he walked over to the open window to pick up his dark blue tee shirt and blue jeans from the window sill.

Shinji noticed that his clothes were still damp from when Rei washed them last night, but that was ok. He was just grateful that they were clean. He only had four pairs of pants and shirts, so he only used one to work in. If it was up to him, he would have worn them dirty everyday, he didn't care. He was too tired and sore to care. But Rei insisted that they had to be cleaned, and she said that since she really had nothing else to do, she might as well take care of him to the best of her ability. Shinji never let her do much though, after she cooked and washed his clothes, by hand, he always felt too guilty to allow her to do much else.

Slowly, the boy pulled the damp shirt over his head and put it on.

Rei was just finishing up and rinsed the soap from her face then patted her face dry with the bottom of her shirt. When she walked out of the bathroom, she noticed her brothers slow and labored movements. She could tell that he was in a lot of pain even though he never voiced it. His job was to clear the land for rebuilding. So he had to gather and move rocks and broken cement blocks from the old part of the city and load them into trucks for detransportation. The company he worked for had machines to move the bulk of the heavy rocks, although almost all the other rocks and cement blocks were put into tow away trucks by hand.

"Ready?" Shinji asked her with a smile.

Rei nodded. It was time to go.

The two 'twins' actually made good time that morning. Rei tried out a short cut she found during one of her many explorations of the city. The two then played the game of "Trust." That was were Shinji would close his eyes, and allow Rei to be lead him, by the hand, the rest of the way there. They started this game a couple of days past, when he was lagging behind and *sleepwalking* It was only by chance did Rei turn around and grab his wrist, right before he walked into the street and if front of a car. That incident terrified her and she told him that if he wanted the close his eyes on the way to work, then please allow *her* to be his eyes. After a lot of gomen's, Shinji placed his hand in hers and allowed himself to be led. But now the reason Shinji allowed this game, was not to catch up on much need rest. It was just an excuse to be able to hold her hand.

"We're here." Rei informed calmly.

Shinji's dark blue eyes fluttered open. He looked across the street and saw the metal gate that separated the work area from the rest of the city. Behind that gate, he worked from 7:30am to 6:00pm everyday, seven days a week. He didn't have to; he could have worked less, but he had to make enough money for the rent that was due next week. Hopefully, after this weeks pay check, he would have enough. Unfortunately that's all he would have enough for. He knew that the lights were going to be cut off for at least a few days before he could earn enough money to turn them back on.

Rei wanted to work too. She hated that he worked so much, but he was adamant about being the 'man.' He wanted her to rest. She worked her whole existence, so he felt that she deserved a vacation. Moreover, the more he spent time with her the less he wanted her to do physical labor. Because of her ethereal and proper movements, Rei seemed so fragile and gentle in his eyes. She reminded him of a...princess of sorts and Shinji didn't want his princess working.

Rei, on the other hand, humored him but secretly looked for a job. She hated that Shinji had to work so hard to take care of her. The only reason she wasn't working right now was because no one would hire her. She blamed and cursed her physical appearance for it.

The two sat beside each other, on edge of the sidewalk. Shinji crossed his arms and rested them on his perched up knees, then buried his head in them. He had about 15 minutes before he had to punch in. Rei stretched her legs out and crossed them at the ankles. It wasn't long before she started playing with the long blades of grass that grew out of the cracks in the side walk. There was comfortable silence between the two for about 7 minutes until...

TWEEE~EEET

The boy peered over his arms and looked at his sister. Rei was blowing on a piece of long grass making that loud annoying sound.

TWEEEEEE~EEEEEEET

"Imooto-chan."

"Hmm?" She hummed then blew on the blade of grass again.

The morning sun was shining in his eyes, so made a visor with his hand then teased. "Must you do that every morning?"

"Whatever do you mean?" She asked innocently. Then she blew on the grass blade again, but this time even louder and longer. This was a morning ritual between the two.

Shinji reached over and grabbed the long piece of grass and tried to take it away from her, but Rei held onto it with a tight grip. It wasn't long before the two were engaged in a gentle game of tug-a-war. Neither one was really trying to win. It was just a game that they both secretly reveled in because there hands would brush up against each others every so often. The secret joy of that touch was why Rei would do this to him every morning and why Shinji would pretend to get upset. They were secretly flirting under the guise of just being close siblings.

When the blade broke, Rei pouted, poked out her lip and gave Shinji a puppy dog face. That face both broke the boy's heart and made him laugh. He knew there was no real sorrow behind that face, for that expression was something Rei saw someone do at one of her many visits to the commons. And since then, she had perfected it and used it on him, often. However, the first time she did it to him, he thought that he did something wrong, and got really freaked out. But now he knew better.

Rei would often spend time at the commons, not only because it was a lively place that held a sorts of free entertainment: the first child would go there to observe and study people. She wanted to know how interact with others, so she learned by watching.

When Shinji started laughing , Rei laughed too. The boy loved to hear her laughter. It was a giggle trapped behind tightly pressed lips, so it sounded like she hummed out her laughter. It wasn't only her laughter that he loved. Shinji actually loved everything about her and wondered how he ever managed to live without her by his side.

~~~~~

What the two teens didn't know was that they were being observed. Behind the gate, Isoo was watching the two play their game of grass tug-a-war. A smile tugged at his lips, he never met two siblings that got along so well and cared so much for each other. He felt sorry for Miki though, because his sister Wakaba was so ill. He had met her, last week, the first day she walked him to work. He had wanted to meet her since the day he hired the boy, to make sure that Miki wasn't lying to him just to get a job. It was after their meeting that he secretly raised the boys wages. He couldn't help it. He felt so bad for them and Wakaba was so delicate. But that wasn't the only reason he helped them out, for it was that initial meeting that the 19 year old, Isoo found himself hopelessly smitten with the gentle Wakaba Kazoku.

~~~~

Rei walked Shinji to the gates entrance.

"Don't stay at the commons to long okay, Wakaba." Shinji said to Rei. It was easier to remember her pseudo name since the first time on the train. "Its supposed to get really hot today, and I don't want you to get sun poisoning."

Rei stared at him. She knew this already. This was the same thing he told her everyday. Moreover, she *knew* how to take care of herself. But she never told him so. Shinji took his role of 'big brother' seriously. So instead, she eased his worries. "I'm actually going to go to the library today. They got some new books coming in." Then mentally added. I'm also going to check out the want ads and try an get a job

The boy smiled in relief then reached into his pocket, and pulled out a few yen. "Do you need lunch money?" She shook her head no. But he put the money in her hand anyway.

Rei tried to give the money back, but he wouldn't take it. "What about you?"

"I'll be ok." He assured then fibbed "I still have some money for my lunch."

She pursed her lips. She didn't believe him. "Let me see the money."

His dark blue eyes widened. He was caught in a lie.

"I thought so." She put the money back in his hand. "You need lunch money more than I do. Anyway, I still have money from yesterday."

"And *I* saw you put that money in the rent can last night!" He chastised and slapped the money back in her tiny hand. "You need to eat. You're getting too thin."

He had her there. Rei had lost some weight, but not a lot. She had too and in her opinion, loosing a few pounds was worth it. Shinji worked so hard, she wanted to make sure that *he* had food. So she would only eat to when it was absolutely necessary.

Rei lifted her rose tinted glass slightly, so she could rub her eye. When she was finished, she looked at him and compromised. "Okay, ...I will hold the money, but I'm going to use it to buy us a lunch we can share."

Shinji thought about her words then nodded.

She nodded too, then asked. "What time are you going to take lunch?"

"Umm..." He scratch the back of his head. "Two."

"Okay I will be back at two with our lunch."

The boy smiled at the thought of seeing her later in the day. "Okay, see you then." The work whistle blew, attracting both there attention. "I better go."

Rei nodded and watched him leave. She hated to say goodbye even if it was only for a couple of hours. When he was inside the gate, he turned around and called out.

"Rice!"

"Huh?" She didn't understand what he meant.

He called back to her. "Get us some rice for lunch! I'm getting tired of ramen!" He waved goodbye to her and ran toward the office to clock in.

The girl nodded; she was getting tired of ramen as well. Rei stood at the gate and watched until her brother disappeared inside the main office. Her bottom lip poked out dejectedly; she missed him already.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Around 1pm, Rei left the library. She found a want ad for a job in rich sector of town. The person was in need of a maid. On her way there, she stopped by the commons. One of her favorite poets was performing some new stuff, and if she hurried she could probably get a spot underneath some shade, and she wouldn't have to worry Shinji by getting a sunburn.

Rei was enjoying the woman's poetry. It was about a forbidden love. Though the characters in the story were not siblings, the deep unrequited love they shared reminded Rei of hers and her brother's love. When the poetry reading was over, she headed toward the job prospect.

Daydreaming about Shinji, she didn't notice that she was being followed... until it was too late.

Two guys, that were around the same age as her grabbed her and pulled her deep into an alley.

"Give me your money!" A boy with hair that was the same color as her natural hair demanded.

Rei looked at the boy and took his narrow, pimplely face into memory and said "No." How could she say anything else. That money was supposed to buy her brother lunch.

"N-no?" The other boy sputtered out. His hair was the color of a flaming, red fire engine. "You must not know who you are talking to! Now give us your money you stupid b*tch!"

"No." Rei repeated again. She knew that was a stupid answer and that she should have just handed over the money. It wasn't even that much in the first place. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. Rei felt her blood stir with this confrontation. She also felt the part of her being which was kept suppressed by those little red pills awaken.

"Don't make us hurt you!" The blue haired boy yelled and pushed her hard against the wall. "Just give us the damn money!"

Rei grabbed the back of her head after she slammed it against the brick wall.

"F*ck it! I'm just going to take the damn money!" The red haired boy growled and stuffed his hands in Rei's pants pockets

"No!" She growled back and futilely tried to push him back and fight him off. "That's my money!"

The red haired guy back handed her across the face, making the black hair of her wig fan about, and her glasses fly off her face and break against the wall. The pain of being hit made her cup her face with her hands and slide down the wall as he took her money.

The two boys didn't know this, but they had just made a grievance error. There was a reason why Rei was the heart of the dummy plug system, and they were about to find out what that reason was.

Deep in the recesses of her brain, a tiny flame began to grow and hidden behind her tiny hands, Rei's eyes began to glow. Her passive side was clicked off and a divine rage consumed her.

"I said NO!!!!!!" Her voice roared as she looked up and faced them. A strong wind current swirled around all three of them.

"Oh f*ck!" The blue haired boy screamed and backed up in fear. The girl had red eyes! He wasn't sure if it was the drugs in his system, but the girl looked as if her eyes were glowing.

The other boys wasn't lucky enough to move back. Rei grabbed him by his shirt collar and with her divine strength, she through him across the alley. He hit the adjacent wall in with a sickening thud.

The blue haired boy was trembling as he glanced back at his friend. The red haired boys body was slumped over, he was passed out, but in the boy's mind he looked dead. He glanced back at the girl they tried to rob. She was walking toward him, slowly and confidently and she had a wry smirk on her face. He started to tremble and tripped over a broken bottle. Scooting back to get away from her, he whimpered. "Please... I'm sorry...."

She shook her head no. It was too late for sorry's.

"Here..." He started emptying his pockets and held out a couple of thousand yen a watch and some jewerly. "Here...take it all! Just...please..." He started to cry "Please don't kill me... I'll do anything you ask... ANYTHING just don't kill me.

The dark hair of her wig fluttered beautifully around her face and Rei started speaking, not in Japanese but in her divine tongue. A language she had forgotten that she knew. "Torro da je goska no tane bor jedare ne."

He shook his head tell her he didn't understand.

She quirked a brow and repeated a rough translation of her words. However, it was more like a warning. "It is said that it is better to tie a millstone around your neck and cast yourself into the sea than offend a child of G--"

"What's going on here?!" An irate voice interrupted.

Rei immediately powered down and turned to face the voice. The blue haired boy took the distraction as an opportunity to grab his friend and run away. The first child whipped her gaze toward the boy, but did not follow him once she noticed that he had conveniently left the money and the jewelry on the ground.

The person ran toward her. "Wakaba! Are you ok?"

She nodded and quickly picked up the money, and other items, and stuffed them into her pocket.

Isoo placed his hand on her shoulder and crouched down beside her. "Are you sure your ok? They didn't hurt you did they?!"

She didn't look at him but shook her head no. Rei glance around the small alley for her glasses. She noticed them by the wall and they were broken. A small frown graced her lips. There would be no way for her to get out of here without him seeing her eyes.

Isoo grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her to face him. He noticed that she shut her eyes. He assumed that she was afraid of him. "I'm not going to hurt you, Wakaba. I promise. I just want to make sure you're okay..." His words died in his mouth when he saw the bruise on her cheek. "They hit you?!" He was furious. "On your FACE?!" How could anyone dare mar her beautiful face? His dark almond shaped eyes narrowed viciously. There was going to be hell to pay when he found out who did this to her.

"I am alright, Tomoyo-san." Rei assured and stood up. She kept her eyes closed though.

He looked up at her, then stood up as well. He was at least five inches taller than her. In a whisper he praised. "Your so brave little one...so very brave." Most girls he knew would be in hysterics by now. Isoo then brushed the dark hair of her wig out of her face and tenderly caressed her bruised cheek. Immediately the feel of her skin shocked him. Never in all his privileged life had he felt skin as soft as hers. That made him even more upset that she was hit.

Rei had a bad feeling she would have a bruise. The soreness was gone because she had used her powers, but for some reason the bruises always took a little more time to disappear. Then she realized what she did. I USED MY POWERS!!!! Her crimson eyes snapped open fearfully and she looked around expecting to hear an Angel attack alarm.

Isoo gasped and stepped back when he saw her blood red eyes. Since there first meeting, he had wanted to see what her eyes looked like behind her rose tinted glasses. However, wasn't expecting for them to be a deep crimson. Her brother had a dark blue eyes, and he had expected for them to be the same.

When Rei realized that the alarm was not going to blare, she looked at the shocked older teen in front of her. This was the first time she ever really noticed what he looked like. The last time she meet him, she was completely wrapped up in Shinji.

Isoo Tomoyo had raven black hair, which looked like soft satin and it was cut in a child like bowl hair cut. He had strong Asian features with exotic, dark, almond shaped eyes and olive skin. His cheekbones, jaw line and nose looked like those of aristocracy, and he carried himself like those of noble birthright. All-in-all, he was an extremely handsome young man. But in Rei's opinion, he had nothing on Shinji.

She repeated again. "I am alright" then shimmied out of his loose grip. When she reached the sidewalk he called out.

"Wait Wakaba!" Isoo ran to catch up with her. "Let me take you wherever you are going." Rei ignored him and kept her pace, but he caught up despite her efforts to elude him. "Please... let me take you were you are going!"

Rei did not look up at him when she informed. "That will not be necessary." She quickened her pace.

As so did he. He followed silently until he noticed a piece of folded newspaper in her back pocket. It looked like a want ad. So being the gentleman that he was, he grabbed it.

Rei stopped dead in her tracks.

Her crimson eyes were as wide as saucers. He had the audacity to touch her butt! She had never felt so violated in her whole life!!

Isoo unfolded the paper and looked at it. He honestly didn't think he did anything wrong. "You're trying to get a job?" He quirked a brow then noticed an ad that was circled. His eyes widened, and he shook his head no. "Oh.. you don't want to work here!. Trust me." He pointed at the paper and looked at her. "I've known this guy for years....Otorro-san is a dirty old man who likes to take advantage of his help..." He wiggled his brow suggestively. " If you know what I mean."

The first child reached up and grabbed her paper from him. She was angry at him for his disrespect. How dare he grab something out of her pocket and so close to her private region too!!

"Do not ever do that again." She warned

Rei then turned around and headed toward the direction of Shinji's work. She decided not to interview for the job as a maid in the Otorro household. Rei wasn't sure what Isoo meant by taking advantage of his help, but by the way he said it, it didn't sound good.

"Gomen, Wakaba!" The older teen cried out and followed her again. "I didn't..."He shook his head. "I meant no disrespect...I just forgot my place." He hoped that would soothe her anger. He never had someone react like that because of his boldness. He had never met a girl that wasn't all over him, flirting with him and giggling after everything he said. Most girls *hoped* to gain his attention, since he was the eldest of the mayor's two sons and the heir to the richest family in all of Kyione. Wakaba's indifference toward him was completely foreign to him and it... intrigued him immensely.

When they walked past his car he offered. "Do you need a ride?"

Rei glanced at his Mercedes then shook her head no.

"Are you sure?" He couldn't believe that she passed up the chance to ride in a Mercedes.

She continued walking. "My brother would not approve." She wasn't sure if Shinji would approve or not, but he was as good an excuse as any.

Isoo quirked a brow. "I don't think he would mind."

"It would not be proper....for me to be in your car un-chaperoned." Rei interjected. She didn't really believe that but she didn't want to be around him. He pissed her off by acting so intimately with her.

"Oh..." Isoo smiled broadly. Wakaba was raised in the traditional way!. He was in love! And as far as he was concerned, sick or not, Wakaba was going to be his woman and quite possible his wife!! It was rare to find a traditional girl anymore. "If you are certain that Miki-kun would not approve, then please allow me to walk you wherever you are going."

Rei's silently exhaled; she didn't want him to follow her. However, she didn't protest; he was Shinji's boss after all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the two finally reached the work site it was about 2:10pm. Shinji was standing outside the gate looking a bit worried.

Isoo took a deep nervous breath and shifted the weight of the package he was carrying in his arms. Rei didn't say much on the walk there, but what she did say, made him understand that Miki was the head of their household. The teen knew that if he wanted a chance to date Wakaba, he would have to get her brother's permission first.

The pilot of unit 01 face lit up when he noticed Rei, then he looked confused when he noticed that she didn't have on her glasses. Then a look of surprise graced his face when he noticed his boss with her.

Rei walked over to him, nervously combing her fingers through her wig to cover up the bruise.

"You're late.. I was worried." Shinji admitted to Rei, after he bowed respectfully to his boss.

Rei lowered her head. "Gomen."

"Its ok." The pilot assured. "I was just worried that's all." He noticed that she didn't have their lunch "Um.. did you forget the rice?" He hoped not. Around 12pm he became dreadfully hungry and he was really looking forward to lunch.

"Oh! I have your lunch!"

Shinji looked up at his boss.

Isoo held out bag of food. "I hope you don't mind. I picked it out and paid for it."

"Oh...umm" Shinji gingerly took the bag from him. It was heavy. "Thank you, but I really don't have the money to pay you back."

Isoo shook his head and flicked his wrist. "Think nothing of it. It was the least I could do. I just wish I had gotten to the alley sooner before your sister got attacked." Isoo then included, to get on the Miki's good side. "I saved her you know."

Rei looked at the older teen with a silent expression that said No_ you_ did_ not.

"Wh-WHAT!!!!!" Shinji yelled and quickly put the bag of food on the ground. He grabbed Rei by the shoulders and turned her to face him. "Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me you were attacked?! Please tell me you are ok!... Oh Gawd..." He raked his hand through his brown hair. "I should have been there to protect you!" He embraced her and buried his head onto her shoulder. "Are you ok?"

"I am okay, oniisan." Rei, whispered comfortingly and embraced him back.

Shinji pulled back a bit and gazed at her face. Immediately, he saw the bruise on her check and his eyes watered up with unshed tears "I failed you again...." Rei shook her head. Shinji nodded. "I did.. I should have been there...to protect you." A singled hot tear trickled from his eye and Rei reached up, cupped his check with her hand, and tenderly wiped it away with her thumb.

"Please don't cry." She begged in a shaking whisper. Seeing his sorrow sent her on the verge of crying herself.

Isoo gave a queer looked at the to twins. The way they were embracing each other and the way they were staring at each other...well, it was starting to make him feel uncomfortable. The gazes the two bestowed on each other were not that of siblings but of... lovers? He shook that ridiculous thought out of his head and wrote off their behavior as a 'twin thing.' He had heard, somewhere, that twins had a strong and intimate bond.... Even so...

"Ahem" Isoo coughed. He wanted to put a stop to their blatant affection toward each other.

Shinji and Rei looked up at him as if they just remembered he was there. The two then looked at each other and noticed their closeness. The third child was tempted to push Rei back, but stopped himself because he knew that would hurt her feelings. Moreover, it was *he* who embraced her in public, not the other way around. So instead, he followed her lead, and the two casually let go of one another and stepped back.

Isoo noticed the unshed tears in both of their eyes. He could tell the boy was upset and afraid for his sister, so he did the only thing he could think of doing. "Miki-kun, you can have the rest of the day off. I'm sure you don't want your sister walking around by herself after her attack."

Shinji nodded and bowed. "Thank you, sir! And thank you for protecting her."

Isoo looked a Rei and smiled. "It's no problem, at all." He looked back a the boy and nodded politely. He felt like he made some bonus points in getting into Miki's favor. He then returned his gaze toward Rei "Oh and Wakaba, if you are still in need of a job, I have been looking for secretary."

Now that was a bold face lie, and the raven-haired teen knew it, but he also knew that it was the perfect opportunity to be in the girl's company.

still in need of a job?! Shinji whipped his gaze at Rei. He was not happy.

Rei winced under his gaze.

"Uh..." Isoo winced too. He realized that he just put his foot in his mouth. "Was your brother not supposed to know?"

His words made Shinji frown deeply.

"Gomen." Rei whispered.

Shinji was about to speak but was interrupted by Isoo. "It wouldn't be a hard job, Miki-kun." He assured "Just a bit of paper shuffling." Isoo could tell the boy was going to protest, so he tried to appeal to Miki's desire to keep his sister way from harm. "Anyway, won't you feel safer knowing that Wakaba is safe at the jobsite all day..... You two can even work the same schedule. "

Shinji narrowed his eyes and he wondered if he was being set up. He looked at the food then at Rei. did you plan this? He looked coolly at his boss and answered in a collected voice. "I'll think about it." He picked up his food and started walking away from them. "Imooto-chan."

"Hai." Rei could hear Shinji's anger in his voice and understood that he was beckoning her to follow him. She bit her bottom lip and started to follow. Now she had a dilemma. Because he was upset, she was now too afraid to tell him that she used her powers today.

"I'm sorry, Wakaba." The tall teen murmured as she walked past him. He watched the two Kozoku's twins walk down the street until they disappeared around the corner. When they were out of sight, he groaned and looked upward toward the sky. I shouldn't brought up Wakaba working in front of Miki. I should have know that if she was raised in the traditional ways... then of course her brother was.... then to top it off with her illness!!! f*ck!!... Of course Miki-kun doesn't want her working!.... I'm so stupid!

Isoo turned angrily, making his bowl cut hair fan about like a disk, and stormed into the worksite. Now he was back to square one! And to make matters worse, Miki was like his sister and not bending over backwards to try and please him. That meant he was going to have to try and impress them, especially Miki. how the hell am I supposed to do that? I don't know anything about the kid!

He didn't know anything about trying to impress people either.

~~~~~~~~~~

Rei followed Shinji in silence the entire walk home. When they got into the apartment, he placed the bag of food on the kitchen counter and asked in shaking whisper.

"Do you think that I am not man enough to take care of you?" The pilot's pride was hurt... to the point he felt crushed. Rei's opinion of him meant everything to him.

Because he had his back turned to her, she couldn't see his face, but she could tell by his voice that he was crying. The first child took a deep breath and answered truthfully. "I think you are more than man enough, Shinji."

"Then why are you looking for a job?" He asked in a broken whisper.

Rei bit on her bottom lip as she debated on how to answer his question. A minute later, she decided to just be honest. She walked into the small kitchen, faced him, and grabbed his hand. She held it, palm up, and said. "This is why I want to work."

Shinji looked down at his hand. It was calloused, blistered and slightly bloody from the new blister that opened while he worked that day.

Rei gently caressed his sun tanned arm. "And this is why.... You tell me to stay out of the sun, but yet,.... you work in it all day." She looked up at him and at his hair, which was a couple of shades lighter.

Shinji noticed her eyes fill with tears.

In a broken voice, she continued. "You work so hard... everyday..... and such long hours...Your body aches and... your tired all the time...." She sniffed back her tears and continued. "You act as if it doesn't bother you--"

"It doesn't." He assured in a whisper as he wiped away a tear that escaped her crimson eyes. He felt it was completely worth it.

Her mouth felt wet and she swallowed hard. Rei could tell that she was about to bawl. It almost stopped her from continuing her explanation. Almost. "It bothers *me*, Shinji... It bothers me because I am capable of helping you...of helping *us*" She couldn't hold back her tears, and they began to fall freely. "I want to help you, Shinji....I want to help you carry *our* burden." She stared into his eyes, unsure if he believed her or not, and begged "Please don't be mad at me...I only want to help you."

Shinji wrapped his arms around her and sobbed. "I could never be mad you, Rei-chan!" He started to kiss away her tears "Never ever...I'm sorry...I'm so sorry I got upset...I just thought.. I thought you didn't believe in me anymore!"

Rei tenderly cupped his face within her hands and moved her head closer to kiss away his tears. She hiccupped out a sob. "I'll never stop believing in you....ever...I promise."

"Thank.. you..." He whimpered out and kissed her cheek.

She nodded "you're welcome" and kissed the corner of his mouth.

Shinji closed his dark blue eyes and tilted his head slightly to his left.

Rei closed her deep crimson eyes and tilted her head slightly to her left.

And before either of the two sobbing teens took the time to realize it....

They kissed.

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I still don't own anything that deals with Evangelion.

I am so sorry this took so long to get out. I've been really busy this holiday month. ~_~ Gomen.

Love ya lots I really really do.

Kimberly