Title: I Love You, Asuka (7)
Author: Yih
Revised: December 25, 2000 (Christmas Day)
Edit Major: Worldmage -_-'
Dedication: To the following Reviewers- Skull_leader, Ahriman, Worldmage (hehe you reviewed lol, do it again!), gwkitty, Ron, purplecow, and Yebisu Beer. (if I left you out you didn't review. DAMMIT REVIEW why is it that crappy fanfics get more reviews than the ones peeps seem to like? ~currently thinking I should concentrate more on CardCaptor Sakura because I can at least get more than reviews with much less readers!~)
Okay enjoy. ^_^
Disclaimer: Gainax, Inc is the creator of the series, merely boring. ^_^'
Part 7: Clarification
The next day, Asuka resumed her normal state of mind and dragged Shinji to school thinking about the unusual events of the day before. Shinji admired her jaunty and graceful stride as they walked to school. She was definitely a woman in control. Before he knew it, they were in front of the school.
As she entered the room, Asuka was immediately caught by Hikari. Her best friend promptly hissed as she dragged Asuka away, "What's going on between you two? Shinji couldn't take his eyes off you, yesterday."
Asuka stared at her best friend in frankly before responding: "He's probably just getting all goo-goo eyes over my spectacular beauty."
Hikari wiggled her nose in disbelief and offered her own opinions. "I think he is seriously crushing on you."
"He says he loves me," Asuka said nonchalantly.
Hikari burst out, "what!? He said—'I love you,' just like that? Is this Ikari Shinji we are talking about? You must be joking, Asuka."
Asuka stared her best friend in the eye before saying authoritatively, "actually, he said, 'I love you, Asuka.' I'm not joking. Why should you be so surprised? We are talking about me, after all."
"You're taking this very well…" Hikari drifted off.
"Of course, all the hentai boys in this class are probably crazy about me. Although--Shinji's really silly to confess his undying love. It doesn't surprise me," Asuka lied with relative ease.
Hikari sighed. "But Asuka, Shinji isn't one for blurting out things like that. If he said it--I think he means it." She lifted her eyes up dreamily. "If Touji-kun ever said that to me, I think I would faint. I'd be so happy."
"I still don't see what you see in that hentai," Asuka grumbled. "He isn't worth your nail, but less your finger. Why do you waste your time with him? Not like there's much to pick from in this class--"
Hikari shook her head, which clearly meant she didn't agree with her best friend. "Touji is very sweet. He's kind and caring. And, Asuka--you don't choose who you love or even who you like. It just happens."
Asuka thought about the last sentence, I--why can't I tell Hikari the truth? I don't know why baka Shinji loves me. And I might care for him. I don't understand how. Would she understand? If I told her?
Shinji was staring at the Asuka's back as Hikari dragged her to the corner of the room. He sighed deeply. He had been hoping to spend some time with her. So much for that idea, he thought with resignation.
Shinji was dragged from his thoughts when Touji nudged him from behind. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing," he squeaked, caught by surprise.
The expression on Touji's face said he didn't believe him. Shinji reluctantly murmured, "Asuka."
"What did the red goddess bitch do now?" Touji cheerfully inquired.
Shinji narrowed his eyes, warningly. "You wouldn't understand."
Touji immediately understood, "I didn't mean it that way. You know you can talk to me. If it's something serious, I can put on my serious face in a second." He did a quick demonstration, which caused Shinji to crack a small smile. "See? Now spill it, Ikari."
Shinji's conscience nagged on him, you got to ask someone's opinion. You know Touji will be on your side. You need the cheering up.
Shinji retorted back silently, he's so much on my side that he won't understand my situation. Besides, he hates Asuka.
Ask him. You won't know until you ask him. Ask him. The conscience inside of Shinji pushed at him.
FINE!
"Touji," Shinji muttered, "I told Asuka I loved her."
He closed his eyes after he confessed, waiting for Touji to say he was crazy or, worse, break down into tears of laughter. Nothing happened. He opened his eyes carefully.
Touji was staring at him as if he didn't know what to say. Then he responded, "I can't understand that. But I suppose the bit--she has some good points. After all, you hang out with her from dawn until dusk."
Shinji blurted out, "you don't think this is funny?"
"Err… ehm… uh?"
"BecauseIthoughtyouwouldthinkI'mjokingyousee.'CauseIknowyouhateherandall," Shinji babbled rapidly without taking a breath or even a pause between the words.
Touji held out his hand. "Slow down, Shinji. I can only take so much like that in one day. And calm down."
Shinji took a deep breath to show his friend that he was relaxing.
"I think you're nuts," Touji concluded. "But you're my nutty friend. And I'm not talking about nuts nuts. But crazy nuts. I really don't know what to say. She's beautiful and all, but you've fallen for Devil in disguise. Not just a messenger of the Devil, but the Lucifer. I don't know how you could do it. But you've somehow do that very thing.
"Why can't you be sensible like me? Why don't you like a sweet, kind, caring, cute girl like Hikari? I'm not saying you should like Hikari, but you get the message? I think I could see you more with Rei than I could see you with Asuka." He shook his head and continued with his suggestions: "I really can't offer any advice. I don't see how you can fall for Asuka. Anyway, I'll be there for you, man. I still think you're crazy. But I'll help anyway I can."
Shinji saw that Touji still couldn't get over the 'How can you fall for Asuka?' He didn't quite know the answer to that question either. He asked, "Touji, I need advise. Asuka said she didn't need my love. Why would she say that?"
Touji wanted to bang his head against the wall, but settled for shouting, "I didn't mean I'd offer advice right away, Ikari! I still can't get over the idea of you and Asuka. It's just OUTRAGEOUS!"
Shinji smiled with slight amusement. "Eh— can you offer me any advice? Do I have to go to Kensuke?"
"What I'm wondering is why she isn't making fun of you," Touji replied back, his forehead furrowed with thought.
He does have a point, Shinji thought. Why isn't she laughing at me? Normally Asuka jumps at the chance to humiliate me.
"And," Touji continued, "she never said she didn't love you, did--"
Shinji interrupted Touji. "She said she hated me the other night. Rather forcefully. But she took the words back later."
"At the very least, Shinji," Touji muttered in consternation, "Asuka may like you more than you know."
The thought thrilled Shinji.
The sensei walked into the room and ordered everyone into his seat. Shinji finally noticed that Kensuke was nowhere in sight when sensei began another boring lecture. He sighed and began thinking.
Asuka was still thinking about telling Hikari her questionable feelings for Shinji when the lunch bell rang. Hikari tapped Asuka on the shoulder and smiled. "Let's get going, Asuka-chan."
Asuka followed her best friend to the lunch room since Hikari had already gotten Asuka's lunch from Shinji. As they were sitting down, Asuka confessed, "I think I like Shinji."
Hikari said nothing as she set out her lunch. She turned slowly and look carefully at Asuka to make sure this wasn't a joke. Then she nodded to show that she had heard Asuka. "I thought you liked him."
"Why didn't you say anything?" Asuka muttered.
Hikari smiled, "Asuka, you aren't one of the easiest people to talk to about stuff like that."
Asuka shrugged, "Do you think that baka can love me?"
"I think he does," Hikari confirmed quietly.
"I don't believe him."
Hikari sighed, "Asuka, have you seen the way he looks at you when he thinks you're not looking? Either he likes you a lot, or he's falling in love with you."
"I--Shinji is a baka," stated Asuka in a clear voice.
"I think he cares for you a lot, Asuka-chan. He puts up with all your moods and he knows you best," Hikari explained. "Shinji isn't a baka. I think you call him that because you don't want to show him you care. But you do. I--"
"I don't--" Asuka interrupted.
"But you do, Asuka," Hikari answered.
Asuka glanced at Hikari.
"I think you really like him."
Asuka shrugged without a comment.
"I think you love him."
Asuka averted her gaze and said nothing.
The day was slow to go by after lunch. Sensei had another incredibly boring lecture prepared for the class. Everyone stiffled his yawns and prepared to listen to the sensei.
Hikari caught Touji after school, "I saw you talking to Ikari-kun."
"Yeah, I was," Touji replied with a cautious smile.
"Did he say anything about Asuka?" she inquired.
Touji nodded. "He said a lot."
"Will you tell me?"
Touji shrugged. "I saw you talking to the –-"
"Don't you dare call Asuka-chan that!" Hikari warned.
"Anyways, what did she say to you?" Touji smoothly followed up.
Hikari countered, "will you tell me what Ikari-kun said?"
"Maybe."
"Agree or not?" Hikari demanded.
"Agreed," Touji said with a grin.
She took a deep breath as she tried to tell him something very surprising. She finally said, "She likes him, Touji-kun. She really likes him."
"He loves her," he murmured after getting over his shock. "He really loves her."
Hikari took his hand in hers. "Do you think they'll ever be able to be together?"
"Not in this universe."
Author's Note: Part 8 is being revised by Worldmage ^_~. Part 9 is outlined and is being written. Right Words is on a permanent standstill. I may or may not continue this series because first off: running out of good ideas. Secondly, people keep complaining about the speed of which I get things out and the length: GOMEN!
P.S. Should I continue Right Words or not? Please review (I think I should set the standard that I need 10 reviews before I release the next Part because my reads/review is pitifully high and it's only not as high because I write for other animes, etc. that do review a lot! Example=
Remember: Reviewing is Doing the Giving to Caring authors Slaving over Working on Writing fanfics!
