Author's Notes: ::Cries:: Oh wow... I never knew you all cared! 43 reviews! Breaking the record for me here! Anywho, I'm glad you all were so kind. My thanks go out to all my kind reviewers. Well it's time for another chapter, and this would be the part with the disclaimer. This chapter is dedicated to YOU, the good readers! Thanks again.
The Word
Chapter 7: Follow The Path Of The Heart
Hikari Horaki's eyes fluttered open as the last bell of the school day sounded. With Asuka, Shinji, Touji and Kensuke not around, she had actually fallen asleep in the middle of class. She stood quickly and dusted herself off, taking note that the class was empty as she picked up her bag and headed out the door. The light orange light of the descending sun engulfed Hikari as she walked home, making her smile at the beautiful sky. She was taking her keys out of her bag as she approached her place, ready to open the door and get to work on cooking dinner. She looked back up from her bag when she had retrieved her keys, only to be met by the sight of Asuka Langley Souryu sitting back against the wall next to her door, her legs pulled up to her chest.
"A-asuka? Where have you been all day?"
Asuka looked up at Hikari, and Hikari was shocked to see her red headed friend's eyes were red and slightly puffy.
"Asuka? What happened?"
"I.... it was.. Sh-shinji..."
"Shinji?"
"I... oh god Hikari..."
"Come on... let's go in and I'll get us something to drink.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hikari placed the cup of cocoa she had prepared in front of Asuka and watched her take a sip. Hikari took a seat across the table and looked over at her friend.
"Thanks Hikari.."
"It's nothing.. now what's the matter?"
"It... it was when Shinji and I were going to school.."
"Okay.."
"We were talking and he was worried about me... he told me he cared...."
"That's good Asuka! Did you tell him you cared?"
"....I.........no.."
Hikari watched the expression on her friend's face and had a good idea of what happened.
"You didn't... did you Asuka?"
"I hit him.... god I hit him Hikari. I got him angry and I hit him..."
"You got Shinji angry?... I didn't even think Shinji got angry..."
"I yelled at him and he called me a bitch... and then he apologized.... and I hit him.."
"Oh Asuka..."
Asuka slumped over until her head hit the table with a light thud. Hikari looked at her friend, a look of sadness on her face.
"Asuka.. I don't know what to say.."
In honesty, Hikari didn't know what to say. She had heard of relationship trouble and having tough times, but she had never heard of something like this. All Hikari had to say was the truth..
"I'm sorry Asuka.. I don't know if I can help.."
Asuka looked up at her friend in shock.
"Wh... you won't even try to help?"
"I'm sorry... I don't think I can... besides this is something you should handle..."
Asuka's face changed from sorrow to one that most people knew her for. Anger.
"Fine! I don't need your help anyways! I can handle this on my OWN!"
Asuka stood from the table, slamming her palms down and storming out of the small place Hikari lived in. Hikari watched her leave, then turned her attention back to the cup of cocoa. She slowly closed her eyes, then looked up at the ceiling.
"Please.... just let her be happy.. she doesn't have to forgive me... just let her be happy......."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Asuka walked out of the building, tears came to her eyes again.
'Who am I kidding? I...I need help... I can't do this alone. Shinji.... I need to see Shinji...'
Asuka quickly ran towards the nearby forest.
'I can cut through here and get there quicker... I hope..'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inside the Geofront, Shinji sat on the examination table as Dr. Akagi finished wrapping his arm up. Shinji simply stared at his hand during the procedure, while Misato stood next to him, glaring down at Shinji.
"Shinji, are you going to tell me how this happened or are you just going to keep telling me a lie?"
"I already told you Misato... I just tripped and"
"Tripped and what Shinji? Had your hand run over?!"
Ritsuko turned towards the now angered, letting out a sigh as she noticed the vein on her friend's forehead slowly growing.
"Calm down... it's nothing to serious. He'll be fine if he just lets it rest for a bit.... even though this means no tests for a while as well..."
Ritsuko stood from her chair and exited, leaving Shinji alone with Misato. She was about to explode on the poor boy again, but she took a calming breath and decided another approach.
"Shinji... just tell me the truth... I won't get angry..."
Shinji looked his guardian in the eye. She held a sincere look on her face. He however, had learned this trick of Misato's. She thought she could fool him into squealing.
"Well Misato.... the truth is...."
'He's falling for it!'
"I tripped and fell.."
Misato face faulted. She quickly got up and her rage got the better of her.
"Now you listen here young man! You will tell me what happened to your hand and that's an ORDER!"
"I....... I punched a pole..."
"You punched a pole? Why in the"
"I just did okay? It was stupid... just forget it.."
Shinji stepped down from the table and started walking out. He felt Misato's hand on his shoulder, and he stopped and turned around.
"Shinji, tell me what happened... you must have had a reason...."
"I....well..."
"Was it Asuka?"
"No! It wasn't Asuka!"
"It was Asuka huh?"
"No!!"
"I swear when I get my hands on that girl I'll give her a piece of my mind!"
"IT WASN'T ASUKA!"
Misato looked down at her charge. His face was flustered and he was breathing deeply. After a couple of seconds of silence, he finally spoke again.
"I was bothering Asuka... and she insulted me... I lost it and.... then she slapped me and left.."
".....And the hand?"
"When I lost it.... I punched a pole..... pretty stupid huh?"
".....Well let's go home.... you can talk to her there..."
'... if she's even there....'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Asuka kept running through the forest, the trees whipping past her as her golden red hair seemed to glow in the light of the setting sun. She kept running, thinking of many different ways to talk with Shinji.
'I'll say I'm sorry... and then I'll tell him I care... and that OOF!!'
Asuka tumbled over a lump in the grass and she quickly went tumbling. When she finally stopped, she quickly leapt to her feet and walked back to where the offending object tripped her.
"Stupid thing! I'm in a hurry and you go and!..........watermelons?"
"Asuka? What are you doing here?"
Asuka turned to the left and spotted a man watering the field of melons. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail, which swayed back in forth in the wind. He ran a hand through his hair and set down the watering can he held. His hand rested on his chin, which was covered in a stubble. Asuka's eyes widened as she recognized the man.
"Kaji? What are you doing out here?"
"Oh I'm just here... watering my plants.."
"Watering? I didn't know you were a gardener Kaji.."
"It's just a hobby.. where were you off to in such a hurry?"
Suddenly, the reason she had been running returned to her.
"Oh.. I have to go!"
She turned to leave when Kaji's voice stopped her.
"You should just apologize to him Asuka... he'll understand..."
Her eyes widened as she spun around to look at Kaji, but his back was turned and he was walking away, whistling a light hearted tune.
"......thank you Kaji.."
And with that, Asuka ran back to the apartment. Kaji looked over his shoulder at the fleeing Asuka.
"Hmm... I wonder what boy she insulted... he must be looking for her now for Asuka to be running away... maybe she was outnumbered in a fight... If she'd just apologize once in a while.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shinji and Misato pulled up to the apartment and quickly got out. Misato looked up from the bottom floor and saw the lights in the apartment were out.
"Alright Shinji.. I'll go up there and see if she's there... I'll send her down to talk to you.."
"A-alright Misato.."
Shinji watched as Misato went up the stairs and unlocked the door. As she entered, Shinji began to sweat. What would he say? He slowly began to say what he would to Asuka.
"Asuka.. I wanted to say I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have said what I did.... and I do care about you Asuka. I've cared about you since the first day we met on the carrier. And.... well I'm sorry for hurting your feelings........... god that sounded dumb..."
"I thought it was very nice Shinji.."
Shinji leapt almost a foot in the air and spun around. In front of him was the tired looking, but still radiant form of Asuka Langley Souryu.
"A-a-a-asuka?!?!"
Shinji's face blushed a beet red, which soon traveled up to his ears.
"I... I'm.. well that is...."
It was obvious Asuka was having a bit of trouble saying the following words.
"I'm.... I'm SORRY!.... I.. I didn't mean to say that... and I shouldn't have slapped you..."
"No I deserved it..."
"No you didn't Shinji... I was just being"
"No I did deserve it. I shouldn't have called you a bitch."
"It's okay..."
The two looked up at each other, their eyes finally meeting. They both immediately blushing, although Shinji's was much greater. They looked up at each other again and Shinji looked away. Asuka leaned in slightly, her lips meeting Shinji's cheek and the two blushed further. Asuka spoke, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft and sweet.
"Thank you for caring Shinji.."
Asuka quickly ran up the stairs and inside the house. Shinji only watched her run, a blush on his face as his hand touched where she had kissed him. It had felt light and it seemed to transfer into him. He felt almost like he could float upstairs. This left him with one question....
"Does.... does this mean we're dating?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Notes: Alrighty... well the next chapter I'll write will be another Side story for the Amazing Quests Of Touji and Kensuke( 'and Rei' is written in with pencil) so prepare yourself for the humor return. Sayonara and be sure to review!
The Word
Chapter 7: Follow The Path Of The Heart
Hikari Horaki's eyes fluttered open as the last bell of the school day sounded. With Asuka, Shinji, Touji and Kensuke not around, she had actually fallen asleep in the middle of class. She stood quickly and dusted herself off, taking note that the class was empty as she picked up her bag and headed out the door. The light orange light of the descending sun engulfed Hikari as she walked home, making her smile at the beautiful sky. She was taking her keys out of her bag as she approached her place, ready to open the door and get to work on cooking dinner. She looked back up from her bag when she had retrieved her keys, only to be met by the sight of Asuka Langley Souryu sitting back against the wall next to her door, her legs pulled up to her chest.
"A-asuka? Where have you been all day?"
Asuka looked up at Hikari, and Hikari was shocked to see her red headed friend's eyes were red and slightly puffy.
"Asuka? What happened?"
"I.... it was.. Sh-shinji..."
"Shinji?"
"I... oh god Hikari..."
"Come on... let's go in and I'll get us something to drink.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hikari placed the cup of cocoa she had prepared in front of Asuka and watched her take a sip. Hikari took a seat across the table and looked over at her friend.
"Thanks Hikari.."
"It's nothing.. now what's the matter?"
"It... it was when Shinji and I were going to school.."
"Okay.."
"We were talking and he was worried about me... he told me he cared...."
"That's good Asuka! Did you tell him you cared?"
"....I.........no.."
Hikari watched the expression on her friend's face and had a good idea of what happened.
"You didn't... did you Asuka?"
"I hit him.... god I hit him Hikari. I got him angry and I hit him..."
"You got Shinji angry?... I didn't even think Shinji got angry..."
"I yelled at him and he called me a bitch... and then he apologized.... and I hit him.."
"Oh Asuka..."
Asuka slumped over until her head hit the table with a light thud. Hikari looked at her friend, a look of sadness on her face.
"Asuka.. I don't know what to say.."
In honesty, Hikari didn't know what to say. She had heard of relationship trouble and having tough times, but she had never heard of something like this. All Hikari had to say was the truth..
"I'm sorry Asuka.. I don't know if I can help.."
Asuka looked up at her friend in shock.
"Wh... you won't even try to help?"
"I'm sorry... I don't think I can... besides this is something you should handle..."
Asuka's face changed from sorrow to one that most people knew her for. Anger.
"Fine! I don't need your help anyways! I can handle this on my OWN!"
Asuka stood from the table, slamming her palms down and storming out of the small place Hikari lived in. Hikari watched her leave, then turned her attention back to the cup of cocoa. She slowly closed her eyes, then looked up at the ceiling.
"Please.... just let her be happy.. she doesn't have to forgive me... just let her be happy......."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As soon as Asuka walked out of the building, tears came to her eyes again.
'Who am I kidding? I...I need help... I can't do this alone. Shinji.... I need to see Shinji...'
Asuka quickly ran towards the nearby forest.
'I can cut through here and get there quicker... I hope..'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Inside the Geofront, Shinji sat on the examination table as Dr. Akagi finished wrapping his arm up. Shinji simply stared at his hand during the procedure, while Misato stood next to him, glaring down at Shinji.
"Shinji, are you going to tell me how this happened or are you just going to keep telling me a lie?"
"I already told you Misato... I just tripped and"
"Tripped and what Shinji? Had your hand run over?!"
Ritsuko turned towards the now angered, letting out a sigh as she noticed the vein on her friend's forehead slowly growing.
"Calm down... it's nothing to serious. He'll be fine if he just lets it rest for a bit.... even though this means no tests for a while as well..."
Ritsuko stood from her chair and exited, leaving Shinji alone with Misato. She was about to explode on the poor boy again, but she took a calming breath and decided another approach.
"Shinji... just tell me the truth... I won't get angry..."
Shinji looked his guardian in the eye. She held a sincere look on her face. He however, had learned this trick of Misato's. She thought she could fool him into squealing.
"Well Misato.... the truth is...."
'He's falling for it!'
"I tripped and fell.."
Misato face faulted. She quickly got up and her rage got the better of her.
"Now you listen here young man! You will tell me what happened to your hand and that's an ORDER!"
"I....... I punched a pole..."
"You punched a pole? Why in the"
"I just did okay? It was stupid... just forget it.."
Shinji stepped down from the table and started walking out. He felt Misato's hand on his shoulder, and he stopped and turned around.
"Shinji, tell me what happened... you must have had a reason...."
"I....well..."
"Was it Asuka?"
"No! It wasn't Asuka!"
"It was Asuka huh?"
"No!!"
"I swear when I get my hands on that girl I'll give her a piece of my mind!"
"IT WASN'T ASUKA!"
Misato looked down at her charge. His face was flustered and he was breathing deeply. After a couple of seconds of silence, he finally spoke again.
"I was bothering Asuka... and she insulted me... I lost it and.... then she slapped me and left.."
".....And the hand?"
"When I lost it.... I punched a pole..... pretty stupid huh?"
".....Well let's go home.... you can talk to her there..."
'... if she's even there....'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Asuka kept running through the forest, the trees whipping past her as her golden red hair seemed to glow in the light of the setting sun. She kept running, thinking of many different ways to talk with Shinji.
'I'll say I'm sorry... and then I'll tell him I care... and that OOF!!'
Asuka tumbled over a lump in the grass and she quickly went tumbling. When she finally stopped, she quickly leapt to her feet and walked back to where the offending object tripped her.
"Stupid thing! I'm in a hurry and you go and!..........watermelons?"
"Asuka? What are you doing here?"
Asuka turned to the left and spotted a man watering the field of melons. His hair was pulled back in a ponytail, which swayed back in forth in the wind. He ran a hand through his hair and set down the watering can he held. His hand rested on his chin, which was covered in a stubble. Asuka's eyes widened as she recognized the man.
"Kaji? What are you doing out here?"
"Oh I'm just here... watering my plants.."
"Watering? I didn't know you were a gardener Kaji.."
"It's just a hobby.. where were you off to in such a hurry?"
Suddenly, the reason she had been running returned to her.
"Oh.. I have to go!"
She turned to leave when Kaji's voice stopped her.
"You should just apologize to him Asuka... he'll understand..."
Her eyes widened as she spun around to look at Kaji, but his back was turned and he was walking away, whistling a light hearted tune.
"......thank you Kaji.."
And with that, Asuka ran back to the apartment. Kaji looked over his shoulder at the fleeing Asuka.
"Hmm... I wonder what boy she insulted... he must be looking for her now for Asuka to be running away... maybe she was outnumbered in a fight... If she'd just apologize once in a while.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Shinji and Misato pulled up to the apartment and quickly got out. Misato looked up from the bottom floor and saw the lights in the apartment were out.
"Alright Shinji.. I'll go up there and see if she's there... I'll send her down to talk to you.."
"A-alright Misato.."
Shinji watched as Misato went up the stairs and unlocked the door. As she entered, Shinji began to sweat. What would he say? He slowly began to say what he would to Asuka.
"Asuka.. I wanted to say I'm sorry.. I shouldn't have said what I did.... and I do care about you Asuka. I've cared about you since the first day we met on the carrier. And.... well I'm sorry for hurting your feelings........... god that sounded dumb..."
"I thought it was very nice Shinji.."
Shinji leapt almost a foot in the air and spun around. In front of him was the tired looking, but still radiant form of Asuka Langley Souryu.
"A-a-a-asuka?!?!"
Shinji's face blushed a beet red, which soon traveled up to his ears.
"I... I'm.. well that is...."
It was obvious Asuka was having a bit of trouble saying the following words.
"I'm.... I'm SORRY!.... I.. I didn't mean to say that... and I shouldn't have slapped you..."
"No I deserved it..."
"No you didn't Shinji... I was just being"
"No I did deserve it. I shouldn't have called you a bitch."
"It's okay..."
The two looked up at each other, their eyes finally meeting. They both immediately blushing, although Shinji's was much greater. They looked up at each other again and Shinji looked away. Asuka leaned in slightly, her lips meeting Shinji's cheek and the two blushed further. Asuka spoke, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft and sweet.
"Thank you for caring Shinji.."
Asuka quickly ran up the stairs and inside the house. Shinji only watched her run, a blush on his face as his hand touched where she had kissed him. It had felt light and it seemed to transfer into him. He felt almost like he could float upstairs. This left him with one question....
"Does.... does this mean we're dating?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Notes: Alrighty... well the next chapter I'll write will be another Side story for the Amazing Quests Of Touji and Kensuke( 'and Rei' is written in with pencil) so prepare yourself for the humor return. Sayonara and be sure to review!