Author's Notes: Whoa! This one certainly took me a bit to write! Anywho, I think we may be on the verge of the end of this series. I know it must crush you all, but I'd say there should be about maybe 3-4 chapters left.... and with that.. the meaning of Bojangles shall be made clear! Dun dun dun!!
The Word
Chapter 9: Battles Of Truth, Love, and Bojangles
Shinji Ikari stood outside the door of the office of the Supreme Commander of NERV. After the Children had finished their synch tests for the day, the Commander had requested to see Shinji in his office. Shinji had been sweating ever since. His father only talked with him when he wanted something. Taking a deep, calming breath he walked inside the large office. Behind the desk, Gendo Ikari looked up at his son and motioned for him to have a seat. Shinji quickly sat down and got right to the point.
"W....what is it, father?"
"I am aware of your forming a relationship with the Second. I have asked you here to discuss it."
"W-well... I don't really know if it's a relationship yet... wait why do you want to discuss it?"
"The Second Child holds certain... information. I do not wish to use other methods, so I would prefer if you extracted this information from her."
"I won't use Asuka, father. Not even for you."
Gendo looked down at his desk. It was obvious his son felt strongly about the hot-tempered red head, so he had no choice but to use Plan B.
"How sad.. well then I shall work out the Second's file papers to send her back to Germany. She will leave as of next week.."
"No! Father!"
"Unless... you wish to retrieve this information?"
Shinji looked demurely at the floor. He finally gave up.
"....Fine... what is it you want to know?"
"I believe you should know of it.."
Gendo slid a manila folder across the table, which Shinji picked up and flipped through. After finishing, he paled visibly.
"No... it can't be..."
"Yes. Asuka obviously knows the meaning of Bojangles. I need you to find out or the Second will be gone by next week."
"....Fine..."
Shinji stood and walked out, muttering "Damn you father" under his breath. After Shinji had left, Fuyutski turned to Gendo.
"I dislike lying to your son like this Ikari.."
"It is necessary nonetheless.. if she knows of Bojangles, there is only one option.."
"You can't be serious Ikari!"
".....I do not wish to imprison her. But if she were captured by SEELE, then they would know of Bojangles.. that is a risk I am not willing to take."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, at the SEELE Base...
"So... you guys up for Bingo?"
"YEAH!"
"What about Instrumentality?"
"Ehh... it can wait... humanity ain't going anywhere.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Misato Katsuragi's Apartment..
Shinji stood in the kitchen, preparing that night's dinner. Thankfully, Misato was out with Kaji, so it was just him and Asuka. It was the perfect chance to quickly ask Asuka about Bojangles. He had prepared lobster with a light salad, knowing it was one of Asuka's preferred foods. He had also dimmed the lights and played a bit of music to set the mood more to Asuka's taste. It had cost him every cent of his allowance to prepare the meal, but if it meant it'd keep Asuka in Japan, he felt it was worth it. He set everything on the table and waited for Asuka, who had just finished her bath and was currently changing. She stepped out of her room, still toweling off her hair when she took in the sights and smells before her.
"Lobster....."
Asuka smiled brightly. She hadn't had lobster since that time Kaji had treated her to dinner after her victory against Sandalphon. She looked up at Shinji, who was dressed in what looked like a formal tuxedo, as he stood at the table, waiting like a gentleman for her. She gasped as she realized she was in her sleeping clothes. She quickly dashed into her room. Shinji let out the breath he had been holding.
'Oh god this is to much pressure..'
Asuka's door slid open and she reappeared, dressed in a lovely red evening dress. She approached the table and Shinji slid her chair out for her. After taking their seats, the two began eating while chatting about school and other things, Asuka mostly bragging about the last synch test and how she had destroyed Shinji and Rei with her score. After they had finished the meal, Shinji stood and walked over to Asuka. He kneeled down so he wouldn't have to look down at her. Asuka blushed heavily, her mind painting images of Shinji proposing, even though she knew it wasn't true. Her mind started painting a different image though. Let's see... The kiss from before + kindness from Shinji + a fancy meal + his preparing to ask her something=....
"Asuka.. I wanted to ask you... if you.... well that is if you would"
Shinji was cut off by a screech from Asuka.
"HENTAIII!!!!!!!!!"
With that, Asuka nailed Shinji in the jaw, sending him flying back into the kitchen, crashing into the pots and dishes stacked next to the sink.
"I might have kissed you but I won't screw you! You sick perv! Gott all men think the same!"
Asuka stormed out of the house, leaving behind her a dazed and confused Shinji.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day..
Shinji sat at Hikari's house, nursing the wound on his cheek, as Hikari was preparing lunch. After a short while, Hikari returned and handed Shinji a new ice pack to reduce the swelling.
"Thanks Horaki-san.."
"Wow.. she really wailed on you. And what exactly did you say to her to provoke this kind of damage hmm?"
"I..."
He blushed again, something he was getting used to these past couple of days.
"I made her lobster.. and I tried to act like a gentleman.. and she just let me have it.."
Hikari blinked in genuine surprise. Shinji didn't seem like the romantic type to her. She thought this over and the image of Touji making a fancy dinner, dressed in a suit came to her mind. She blushed to her ears and blanked out of reality.
"Umm.. Horaki-san?"
"Oh! Right... well.. why did you come over to see me?"
"Well.. I was wondering.. if you knew.. well it's like this..."
Shinji quickly explained the situation, Bojangles, and all the minor details to Hikari.
"And basically, I need to find out... or she'll be forced to leave. But the commander told me specifically NOT to tell her she would be forced to leave. So.. I don't know what to do.. I just know I don't want her to leave.."
Hikari smiled brightly. Maybe there was a chance for these two! Even though she first felt it was none of her business, Hikari felt it was only right to help her friend. After all, she didn't want Asuka to leave either.
"Okay Shinji. You have two other options. You can either one: try to force it from Asuka, which I highly recommend avoiding. Or, you can try something else.."
"I'll do anything.."
"This is going to be risky Shinji.. are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Inwardly, Hikari was smiling brightly. She was gloating to herself about how badly Asuka would owe her for this.
"...Y..yes.. yes I do!"
"Alright then Shinji.. you must.. ask Asuka on a date!"
A silence fell over the room and for a brief moment, one could see a Cloud Of Doom hover over Shinji.
"A.......date?!"
"Yes.. if you expect her to talk, you need to take her out. A nice restaurant, nicely priced, that serves food Asuka would like. Then, you will take her someplace nice, maybe a little scenic. You will bring flowers to her and be sure to do everything a gentleman would do. At dinner, let her talk and try to remain quiet, unless she asks you a question, then respond and ask her another one."
At some point during all this, Shinji had begun taking notes on a small pad of paper.
"And be ON TIME! The one thing a lady hates the most is being forced to wait. Always be punctual. That's pretty much all the advice I can give you Shinji."
Shinji looked over his notes, then looked back up at Hikari and smiled brightly.
"Wow Horaki-san.. arigatou."
With that Shinji stood and, after a quick bow, left her place. He walked slowly, thinking over what he was about to do. Asking Asuka out? What would Touji and Kensuke say at a time like this?
'NOOOOOOO!!!!'
Shinji laughed to himself when he pictured his friends' faces. They would have probably killed him for even thinking of asking Asuka out. They had said before that they doubted that "the red headed demon" would ever actually like him because she was already in love with herself.... and sometimes Shinji would wholeheartedly agree with his friends. Scenes began to flash in his mind. The rainy day, when she fell asleep against him. Her light breathing sent waves of warmth through him. Feeling her breath on his neck was.. unexpectedly nice. Then, when he lifted her and carried her to her room. She felt so light and, what he had touched, was so soft... no bad thoughts! Now was not the time to think like that!.... or like that time she had kissed him.. and her lips almost made him want to kiss her back......
'Ack! No.. more hentai thoughts... I have to steel myself... I have to act like a brave man when I ask Asuka.. think Kaji... yeah think Kaji...'
Shinji looked up at the apartments before him. It was time... time to step up, steel his guts, and do the one thing that no made did and lived. It was time to ask Asuka Langley Souryu out on a date...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Notes: Wooo.. well yes we are approaching the end.. and the meaning of bojangles!! *Dramatic Music* Well... I suppose that's it for now!
Next Chapter: Shinji asks Asuka out on a date?! The world must be collapsing! And what's this? Are our other two heros finally returning? Next Episode of The Word: The Return Of Touji And Kensuke? It must be stopped!... and there'll be more fanservice!.... no wait... there won't be any... so you freaks keep away! The fan service is all mine! No one else may have it! Stop them ferret! ::Tosses the ferret of evil at the readers and runs::
The Word
Chapter 9: Battles Of Truth, Love, and Bojangles
Shinji Ikari stood outside the door of the office of the Supreme Commander of NERV. After the Children had finished their synch tests for the day, the Commander had requested to see Shinji in his office. Shinji had been sweating ever since. His father only talked with him when he wanted something. Taking a deep, calming breath he walked inside the large office. Behind the desk, Gendo Ikari looked up at his son and motioned for him to have a seat. Shinji quickly sat down and got right to the point.
"W....what is it, father?"
"I am aware of your forming a relationship with the Second. I have asked you here to discuss it."
"W-well... I don't really know if it's a relationship yet... wait why do you want to discuss it?"
"The Second Child holds certain... information. I do not wish to use other methods, so I would prefer if you extracted this information from her."
"I won't use Asuka, father. Not even for you."
Gendo looked down at his desk. It was obvious his son felt strongly about the hot-tempered red head, so he had no choice but to use Plan B.
"How sad.. well then I shall work out the Second's file papers to send her back to Germany. She will leave as of next week.."
"No! Father!"
"Unless... you wish to retrieve this information?"
Shinji looked demurely at the floor. He finally gave up.
"....Fine... what is it you want to know?"
"I believe you should know of it.."
Gendo slid a manila folder across the table, which Shinji picked up and flipped through. After finishing, he paled visibly.
"No... it can't be..."
"Yes. Asuka obviously knows the meaning of Bojangles. I need you to find out or the Second will be gone by next week."
"....Fine..."
Shinji stood and walked out, muttering "Damn you father" under his breath. After Shinji had left, Fuyutski turned to Gendo.
"I dislike lying to your son like this Ikari.."
"It is necessary nonetheless.. if she knows of Bojangles, there is only one option.."
"You can't be serious Ikari!"
".....I do not wish to imprison her. But if she were captured by SEELE, then they would know of Bojangles.. that is a risk I am not willing to take."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, at the SEELE Base...
"So... you guys up for Bingo?"
"YEAH!"
"What about Instrumentality?"
"Ehh... it can wait... humanity ain't going anywhere.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At Misato Katsuragi's Apartment..
Shinji stood in the kitchen, preparing that night's dinner. Thankfully, Misato was out with Kaji, so it was just him and Asuka. It was the perfect chance to quickly ask Asuka about Bojangles. He had prepared lobster with a light salad, knowing it was one of Asuka's preferred foods. He had also dimmed the lights and played a bit of music to set the mood more to Asuka's taste. It had cost him every cent of his allowance to prepare the meal, but if it meant it'd keep Asuka in Japan, he felt it was worth it. He set everything on the table and waited for Asuka, who had just finished her bath and was currently changing. She stepped out of her room, still toweling off her hair when she took in the sights and smells before her.
"Lobster....."
Asuka smiled brightly. She hadn't had lobster since that time Kaji had treated her to dinner after her victory against Sandalphon. She looked up at Shinji, who was dressed in what looked like a formal tuxedo, as he stood at the table, waiting like a gentleman for her. She gasped as she realized she was in her sleeping clothes. She quickly dashed into her room. Shinji let out the breath he had been holding.
'Oh god this is to much pressure..'
Asuka's door slid open and she reappeared, dressed in a lovely red evening dress. She approached the table and Shinji slid her chair out for her. After taking their seats, the two began eating while chatting about school and other things, Asuka mostly bragging about the last synch test and how she had destroyed Shinji and Rei with her score. After they had finished the meal, Shinji stood and walked over to Asuka. He kneeled down so he wouldn't have to look down at her. Asuka blushed heavily, her mind painting images of Shinji proposing, even though she knew it wasn't true. Her mind started painting a different image though. Let's see... The kiss from before + kindness from Shinji + a fancy meal + his preparing to ask her something=....
"Asuka.. I wanted to ask you... if you.... well that is if you would"
Shinji was cut off by a screech from Asuka.
"HENTAIII!!!!!!!!!"
With that, Asuka nailed Shinji in the jaw, sending him flying back into the kitchen, crashing into the pots and dishes stacked next to the sink.
"I might have kissed you but I won't screw you! You sick perv! Gott all men think the same!"
Asuka stormed out of the house, leaving behind her a dazed and confused Shinji.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next day..
Shinji sat at Hikari's house, nursing the wound on his cheek, as Hikari was preparing lunch. After a short while, Hikari returned and handed Shinji a new ice pack to reduce the swelling.
"Thanks Horaki-san.."
"Wow.. she really wailed on you. And what exactly did you say to her to provoke this kind of damage hmm?"
"I..."
He blushed again, something he was getting used to these past couple of days.
"I made her lobster.. and I tried to act like a gentleman.. and she just let me have it.."
Hikari blinked in genuine surprise. Shinji didn't seem like the romantic type to her. She thought this over and the image of Touji making a fancy dinner, dressed in a suit came to her mind. She blushed to her ears and blanked out of reality.
"Umm.. Horaki-san?"
"Oh! Right... well.. why did you come over to see me?"
"Well.. I was wondering.. if you knew.. well it's like this..."
Shinji quickly explained the situation, Bojangles, and all the minor details to Hikari.
"And basically, I need to find out... or she'll be forced to leave. But the commander told me specifically NOT to tell her she would be forced to leave. So.. I don't know what to do.. I just know I don't want her to leave.."
Hikari smiled brightly. Maybe there was a chance for these two! Even though she first felt it was none of her business, Hikari felt it was only right to help her friend. After all, she didn't want Asuka to leave either.
"Okay Shinji. You have two other options. You can either one: try to force it from Asuka, which I highly recommend avoiding. Or, you can try something else.."
"I'll do anything.."
"This is going to be risky Shinji.. are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Inwardly, Hikari was smiling brightly. She was gloating to herself about how badly Asuka would owe her for this.
"...Y..yes.. yes I do!"
"Alright then Shinji.. you must.. ask Asuka on a date!"
A silence fell over the room and for a brief moment, one could see a Cloud Of Doom hover over Shinji.
"A.......date?!"
"Yes.. if you expect her to talk, you need to take her out. A nice restaurant, nicely priced, that serves food Asuka would like. Then, you will take her someplace nice, maybe a little scenic. You will bring flowers to her and be sure to do everything a gentleman would do. At dinner, let her talk and try to remain quiet, unless she asks you a question, then respond and ask her another one."
At some point during all this, Shinji had begun taking notes on a small pad of paper.
"And be ON TIME! The one thing a lady hates the most is being forced to wait. Always be punctual. That's pretty much all the advice I can give you Shinji."
Shinji looked over his notes, then looked back up at Hikari and smiled brightly.
"Wow Horaki-san.. arigatou."
With that Shinji stood and, after a quick bow, left her place. He walked slowly, thinking over what he was about to do. Asking Asuka out? What would Touji and Kensuke say at a time like this?
'NOOOOOOO!!!!'
Shinji laughed to himself when he pictured his friends' faces. They would have probably killed him for even thinking of asking Asuka out. They had said before that they doubted that "the red headed demon" would ever actually like him because she was already in love with herself.... and sometimes Shinji would wholeheartedly agree with his friends. Scenes began to flash in his mind. The rainy day, when she fell asleep against him. Her light breathing sent waves of warmth through him. Feeling her breath on his neck was.. unexpectedly nice. Then, when he lifted her and carried her to her room. She felt so light and, what he had touched, was so soft... no bad thoughts! Now was not the time to think like that!.... or like that time she had kissed him.. and her lips almost made him want to kiss her back......
'Ack! No.. more hentai thoughts... I have to steel myself... I have to act like a brave man when I ask Asuka.. think Kaji... yeah think Kaji...'
Shinji looked up at the apartments before him. It was time... time to step up, steel his guts, and do the one thing that no made did and lived. It was time to ask Asuka Langley Souryu out on a date...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Notes: Wooo.. well yes we are approaching the end.. and the meaning of bojangles!! *Dramatic Music* Well... I suppose that's it for now!
Next Chapter: Shinji asks Asuka out on a date?! The world must be collapsing! And what's this? Are our other two heros finally returning? Next Episode of The Word: The Return Of Touji And Kensuke? It must be stopped!... and there'll be more fanservice!.... no wait... there won't be any... so you freaks keep away! The fan service is all mine! No one else may have it! Stop them ferret! ::Tosses the ferret of evil at the readers and runs::