Title: I Love You, Asuka (14)

Title: I Love You, Asuka (14)

Author: Yih

Written: March 2001

Edit Major: Worldmage

Dedication: To the following Reviewers- ness_vs_paula, PsychoJoe, Peter Jenkins, Kaworu, Ensign Zeke, Mutronborg, Shinigami 2.0, Rinoa, purplecow, NET, sarevock, Anne O. Nimus, sky mage, Kyo Tetsuei, eric101, Me Myself and I, TorankusuGohan, catch22, Orgunz, Jonathan, Gary Milburn, Justin_Asselstine, Rhine, and Epyson Zero!

Thanks, keep reviewing please!

Disclaimer: All rights are Gainax except ACC- Shinj's IV.

Part 14: Synchronization // Harmonization

"What are you two doing??" asked Misato as she walked into Shinji's room. "I thought I told you guys that we need to be at Nerv in an hour; do you know how long it takes to get there with traffic? Is anybody listening to me?"

Shinji and Asuka were too absorbed in the task at hand--kissing. Shinji vaguely heard Misato's voice in the background, except when he started to move away from Asuka--seeking to end the kiss… Asuka pulled him back, capturing his lips and his attentions in a sensual kiss. Shinji was perfectly content to go along with this idea, forgetting the noise he heard outside his sphere of awareness and concentration.

"Shinji! Asuka! Do you guys hear me?" asked Misato, her voice rising an octave.

Shinji was lost in the physical sensations of Asuka's warm, soft lips. And Asuka--Asuka was enjoying the moment just as much as Shinji. They pulled away for a second to catch their breath. They resumed kissing, their tongues' moving to taste the other's tongue. Misato watched for about two minutes before she decided enough was enough.

She found out that the idea of trying to separate them long enough to get into the car was harder than she thought it would be. She tried pulling at Shinji, but she found that Asuka's hold on him just tightened. When she tried to pull on Asuka, she was slapped hard by Asuka's free hand. She would have been greatly amused by Asuka's actions if she hadn't been so preoccupied with the fact that they needed to get to Nerv.

She rolled her eyes and decided that she would have to resort to yelling. "SHINJI!!! ASUKA!!! Can you stop sucking each other's faces and exchanging saliva long enough to get into the car?"

Shinji and Asuka broke the embrace with a deep sigh of mutual regret.

Asuka was the first to focus her attention on Misato, she asked, "what, Misato-san?"

Misato thought that she should have resorted to screaming thirty minutes earlier if she had known that it would going to work so well. But she admitted privately that she had hated to separate the two when they were getting so lovingly tender with each other. She would have thought that Shinji and Asuka would ever make a couple like the couple they seemed to be now. She could clearly see that Shinji was deeply enamored by Asuka, especially from the way he was still staring at Asuka with loving eyes.

"Can I leave you two alone to get dressed and not come back to find you two in another makeout session?" inquired Misato, her eyes twinkling with amusement now that she had the duo's attentions.

Asuka nodded reluctantly.

"Don't look so sad, Asuka. We still have the drive to Nerv."

Asuka glowered until Misato left the room. She turned to Shinji and asked, "do you like strawberry or cherry lip gloss more?"

"Strawberry."

"Good," Asuka replied with a grin. "That's my favorite flavor."

"Misato!" cried out Ritsuko with annoyance. "Where have you been?" She pointed to her watch. "Do you know that you're a half hour late? Look at Rei," gesturing to the blue-haired pilot. "She has been patiently waiting for you to show up with Asuka and Shinji! Wuld you like to explain to me why you are even later than usual?"

"Traffic," muttered Misato in response.

"Did you have another hang over?" inquired Ritsuko, ignoring Misato's absurb answer.

"Would you believe me if I really said it was traffic?"

Ritsuko shook her head and burst out laughing. "No, never! You… traffic… That's a good try, Misato! If I didn't know you as well as I do, I might believe you. But half the time you drive like a madwoman in a rage. Besides, traffic wouldn't stop you if you needed to get somewhere. People would avoid you if they could the way you drive 99% of the time.

"So, are you going to tell me the real reason?"

"I had to separate Shinji and Asuka. That took a while," said Misato with a straight face.

"They were fighting again?" Ritsuko queried sympathetically.

"No," Misato answered, "they were making out."

Ritsuko choked on her coffee. "You must be joking!"

Misato shook her head.

"Asuka was probably trying to suffocate Shinji, right? That has to be what you mean. You're trying to pull my leg, Misato! Do you really think I'd believe that Asuka would willingly let Shinji make out with her?"

"No," Misato affirmed, "I meant what I said. They were kiss-ing."

"How long?" asked Ritsuko jokingly.

"I dunno. It took me half an hour to break them apart, so I figure they had been going at it for longer than that," replied Misato.

"You know I still don't believe you…"

Misato shrugged. "Well, they're still making out."

"What?"

"I know you have cameras everywhere Ritsuko, check the changing rooms. They were going at it wildly in the car; makes me wish I were younger, you know?"

Ritsuko spit out whatever coffee she had just drunk. She gave Misato a glare before switching on the view of the changing rooms. She was glad she didn't have anymore coffee in her mouth because what she saw would definitely have caused her to either choke or spit the rest out.

"When did this start? They weren't like this last week."

"I don't know. Shinji started acting differently four days ago."

"Oh really, do you know why?"

"We'd better get out there," said Shinji huskily.

"Uh huh, but don't you want to give me a good luck kiss?" Asuka inquired with a mischievious glint in her eyes.

"Yes…"

"Come here then…"

Shinji took a deep breath. He couldn't refust her with that slightly seductive look. And why would he want to refuse? This is what he had wanted since--since... he didn't know. But he didn't concern himself with that thought now. His mind was totally focused on her, Asuka. He wouldn't have it any other way.

He loved her, after all.

"Errr… don't you think we should get them now?"

"Why bother them?"

"I didn't know you had that side to you, Ritsuko," responded Misato, nudging Ritsuko in the side.

"True, but we're already late. Besides, Rei isn't going anywhere. She doesn't do anything that Ikari-shirei hasn't personally approved, and I looked on her activities list. She doesn't have anything to do today," said Ritsuko. "And it's fun watching them, isn't it?"

"…"

"We'll get them in another minute. I'm surprised they haven't progressed further. You know the next stage, Misato."

"Ritsuko, we are talking about children here."

"True."

"Ritsuko?" Misato pointed to Ritsuko's watch, reminding her that a minute had gone by.

"You may fetch them. And I'll observe them from here, to make sure they don't do anything inappropriate."

Misato rolled her eyes. She had just seen a side of Ritsuko she had never thought existed.

Misato had never seen Shinji or Asuka in such a deliciously good mood. She smiled as she noticed that Asuka had never been so pleasant to be around as she was today. Ritsuko raised an eyebrow when she heard the soft steps of a happy Misato.

"I suppose interrupting them went very well?" she inquired politely.

"Weren't you watching?"

"No, I didn't want to see Asuka rip your throat out."

"You are ever so kind, do you know that?"

"Let's just start the test, shall we?" muttered Ritsuko, ignoring Misato's question.

Why do we have to be doing this today, thought Shinji. It couldn't have happened on a worse day. Just my luck. Not that I should be complaining--it's been a great day. I've never felt so close to Asuka before. I don't know if she loves me, but I know that she cares. That's enough for now. I know Asuka well enough to know she'd never be kissing me if she didn't like me a little. But I can't help wishing for more…

You know you aren't bad at kissing for a beginner, Shinji's inner voice admitted grudgingly.

I haven't heard you in a while.

You mean 'me' because I am you. The reason you have needed me is because you've been doing everything wrong. Don't doubt yourself. Everything will turn out all right in the end, just wait and see…

Shinji relaxed, hearing some words of reassurance, not knowing how much he needed to hear them. But somehow that inner voice of his did--how did he know?

That inner voice of mine really must be some subconscious part of me. Whatever it is, it has given me a confidence I've never known. I guess he has helped me--I mean I have helped me. This is really confusing to think about. But thank you, inner voice.

You're welcome.

I hope Asuka knows how much I need her.

A familiar ringing sound rang throughout NERV. Shinji snapped out of his thoughts, vaguely aware that Ritsuko and Misato were cussing through the voice channels. He wondered why. His eyes widened as he comprehended what the noise meant--

Then he heard Maya say, "sempai! There's an Angel pattern showing up on the screen!"

"What pattern?!"

"It's--it's…"

Author's Note: The next part might take a while since it's kinda hard to write. Everyone tells me I'm not a fighting scene sort of writer so I'll try my best, ja!

P.S. If you'd like me to reply to your reviews, just say so in the review. Bye! (*sweatdrops* anybody know php?)

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