When Time Runs Short

Chapter 3~If You Need Me






Shinji heard the gentle knock on the door and went to it slowly, his face tired. He reached for the knob and slowly turned it, looking wearily out at Natsuki. "Yo..." He said, holding the door open and letting her walk in. He didn't understand why she'd come. It didn't make sense. She'd gotten accepted with Toki and Celcia. She should be out celebrating with them. He lifted the coffee pot and pulled down a mug, looking over at her. "You want a cup?" He asked, giving his usual grin.

She looked up at him, nodding slowly. "Yeah, sure..." She said, wringing her hands out. She watched him carefully, his purple hair hanging long, down to his waist. She chewed her lip, brushing some of her hair from her face. "Shinji-"

He turned towards her, handing her the cup, made exactly how she always drank it. "Yeah?" He asked, sitting on his couch, his hands craddling the cup. Slowly, he took a sip.

She sighed. "Shinji, I'm sorry." She said hurriedly. "I really thought you'd get accepted...I..."

He held up a hand, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it." He said softly, smiling weakly. "I'm glad you and the other's got accepted..." He looked back down. "I'm sure you're glad to get me outta your hair anyways."

She stared at him in shock. "Glad to get you out of my hair?!" She asked, standing abruptly and spilling some of her coffee on her hand. "Minazuki Shinji, I'm ashamed of you! How could you think so low of me?! You're my best friend!"

He looked away. "Friend..." He said in a whisper soft voice. So long he'd been considered a friend. Been HAPPY being a friend. Now, it meant little, if anything at all, to him. "You're my best friend, Natsuki..." He said, lifting his intense purple gaze to look at her. "And..." He stood, setting his coffee down and taking hers from her to let it join his. "If you ever need me..." He embraced her warmly. "I'll be here..." He whispered into her ear.

She blushed, looking away. "Sh-shin-chan..." She whispered, slowly lifting her arms to hug him back. But before she could, he released her, his gaze serious.

He stared at her, slowly lifting a hand to touch her face. "Natsuki..." He whispered, his gaze becoming intense. He saw her blush and quickly withdrew his hand. "I'm sorry..." He said, turning from her.

Her gaze jerked back to him. "Shinji?" She asked softly.

"I forgot...if you need someone...Toki will be there with you..." He could barely keep the bitterness out of his voice. "He loves you..." He said softly.

Natsuki saw the defeated slump to his shoulders and reached out to touch his shoulder.

"You should go tell Maron and Chiaki..." He said softly. "They're going to be happy for you."

She slowly pulled her hand back and stared at him. "Aa...I guess I should..." She said softly, her eyes softening. She turned back to the door, her hands fisted at her sides.

"Natsuki-"

She turned back slightly, to see him looking over his shoulder at her. "Nani?"

"Remember...if you need me..."

She smiled, nodding. "I know..." I know...

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Maron heard her daughters soft, tired call of Tadaima and frowned. "Natsuki? You're not going out with your friends?" She frowned deeply, her hands still making gratin.

"No, mom...I have some good news..."

Maron turned towards her daughter, wondering why she sounded less than thrilled about this 'good news'. "What's up, hon, you sound really upset?"

"I got accepted." She held up her acceptance letter.

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Shinji stood in the shower, his face turned up into the stream. I will be happy for you, Natsuki...He promised himself. The pain in his back was becoming unbearable. It was driving him insane. He opened his eyes slowly and saw someone leaning against the shower door.

"Well, well, well, Access. Losing your head over Finn again?"

"Who are you...?" He asked, standing at the back of the shower.

"You mean you don't recognize me?" He laughed darkly. "I am Noin Claude."

The name set off warning bells in his head. "I know that name...I don't know how...or where..."

A dry chuckle. "You better set your wings free." He said, grinning and walking towards the door. "Access Time..."

"Why do you call me that?!"

"Don't you know?" Noin smiled grimly. "That is your true name."

Access Time.

Shinji clutched his head, dropping to his knees. Why...? Why does that name cause such pain...?

"You better keep a good eye on that little angel of yours." He smiled, before disappearing from the bathroom.

Shinji knelt on the floor of the shower, clutching his head. Finn...? That name...it brings both joy and pain...who is Finn? Where do I know this name from...? He slowly stood, getting out of the shower and wrapping a towel around his waist. His tiny black earing hugged his ear tightly, shining slighty from the light. He reached up and tugged on it. He'd had it as long as he could remember. Something told him it was an important symbol, but he didn't know why.

He rapidly towel dried his hair, then tossed the long tresses back. He'd always let his hair grow. He kept it cut around waist length, although the fashion was to cut it all short. He liked his hair long. Natsuki had told him that it looked good on him, too. He never cut it again after she'd said that.

With a heavy sigh, he pulled on a pair of boxers and some loose comfortable cotton pants that served as pajama. That person was bothering him. Noin Claude. Sounded French.

He cracked his knuckles. "If he thinks he's hurtin Natsuki-chan...He's got another thought comin'." Suddenly, the pain in his back increased and he cried out in agony, dropping to his knees and hugging himself. Where is this pain coming from?!

You better set your wings free.

To Be Continued...

(Again, a little more creative license. As story progresses, Shinji is gonna start to remember some stuff, i.e. the name 'Finn'. Evenutally, his memories are going to return completely, and give this a really waffy (typical DS) ending.)