The Biginning Of Something New
Chapter Two
Taking Notice
{A.N.- Talking ( " ),thinking ( ' )

Shinji awoke to the soft knocking of Misato on his bedroom door. It had been two days since his return from the hospital and he had rarely left his room. Not saying a word to anyone, never making eye contact with them as he waked around the apartment those few times. Each time she saw him she could see a distant look on his face as he remained in a thoughtfully trance.

"Shinji it's time to get ready for school." she said softly, hoping he would answer or come out his room. She waited a few moments before she slowly walked away from his room to perpare for work.

As she made her way to the front door she remembered one thing the nurse had told her the day of his release. "He hasn't said a word to anyone in two weeks, the only one he would talk to was Miss Ayanami." She thought about this and figured it was at least worth a try as she had run out of idea's.

Softly she knocked on his door again before she spoke. "You cann't hide from her forever Shinji." Listening she could hear the faint sound of movement from his room. Backing away from the door she expected to see him emerge, but after a moment realized he wouldn't. Letting her finger tips trail on the door she turned and walked away a little saddened by his reaction as well as missing his presents.

In his room Shinji's back faced the door as he opened his eyes. Over the last two days he had spent all of his time trying to come to terms with what had happened. Things seemed different now and he knew they might never again be the same, but the one thing that worried him the most was Rei's reaction to his awakening that day. She was almost sad when he did. Was it something he did to her? Or did he just misunderstand her fellings.

Slowly his daze shifted to the case on his dresser. He had to see her again if only to find the answers to his qestions. Slowly rising from his bed he got up and perpaired for school. He had to know or it would keep eating at him. As he looked at his clock he realized he was going to be late so he took some money from his small savings he hide in his dresser and placed it in his wallet for lunch. As he left his room he gave one last look at the small picture that lay down beside his bed.

As he reached the door he put his shoes on before opening it. To his surprise he found Rei standing there hand reaching for the door bell. A moment of silence pasted between the two, it was Rei who was the first to speak.

" I was asked to bring your assignments to you." she said handing him a small stack of papers.

Taking the papers from her he watched as she turned and started to walk away. After a moment he replied. " Would you like to come in and have some tea Rei?"

As she turned around she could see his pleading look and she knew that "tea" wasn't the only reason he had invited her in. Giving it a moment of thought to weight her options she decided that whatever he wanted to speak with her about must be important or he would not have asked her. Curious to what he wanted she nodded and followed him into the apartment.

As she sat down in the living room waiting her gaze wondered around the room. Even thou she had been there before it was the first time she noticed how little of items in the room belonged to Shinji. Another thing she noticed was how few pictures he was in, she counted sixteen total pictures around the room but he was only in one of them. As Shinji returned she turned her gaze to met him.

Handing her tea to her he took a seat next to her as the two sat quietly looking out at the country side. Together they sat watching as the sun began to climb over the distant mountain reveiling a mix of colors in the morning sky. But as they watched ever so often Shinji would steal a glimce of her out of the corner of his eye noticing how the mix of soft morning light would dance across her pale face, to him it was breath taking.

Slowly he lowered his cup placing it the palm of his left hand as he looking down before speaking in a weak voice. " Things are diffrent now aren't they?" he asked watching as she nodded slightly before countinuing, " Are you afraid of me now, knowing what happened to me?"

Turning to look at him she could clearly see the worry on his face as he closed his eyes as if afraid to look at her. She could fell his words pulling on her insides as she thought of a relpy. " No Shinji," she began turning in her seat to get a better look at him. " why would you think that?" ' What is this I feel?'

Opening his eyes but keeping them downward he continued, " Because of how you looked at me that day." he said fighting back the memories of the event. ' You looked frightened."

Surprized by his answer she raise her right hand slowly moving it towards his face not knowing why as she answered softly. " No Shinji, I was just ..." her words died in her with her voice as out of reflex he pulled away afraid she was about to strike him. Sadden by his reaction she pulled her hand away, slightly closing it. ' So much pain he must have felt to be so affraid of anothers touch.' she thought.

Bitting her lip softly she continued forward gently running her finger tips across his cheek as she made contact. ' So very afraid.' she thought as her heart continued to pain when he begain slowly pulling away fearful she was merely toying with him. " I was just concerned about what would become of you now." ' Become of us.' she thought a moment before shaking the thought out of her mind letting her fingers gently reinforce her words with a soft touch. ' Why do I fell so. ' she thought with curiousity.

After a moment she could fell him reflax as he moved his face closer to her hand relishing the warm gentle fell of her touch across his cheek. Her heart skiped a beat as he put a hand on her small one both reasuring her and enjoying the fell as her small hand made full contact with his face. She felt warm inside as he turned and looked at her giving her a soft smile. ' Why does he make me fell so? Is this what it fells like to be care for, to be ...' she tried shake that last part out of her mind as he raised his hand to touch her delicate face.

She closed her eyes at his touch, never before felling the warm comforting felling that washed over her as he gently touched her face. It was like bring wrapped in a warm blanket fresh from the dryer as he gently ran his finger tips across her face. Neither noticing as they moved closer together watching as the morning sun rise slowly into the sky.

As she turned her gaze towards him again as she thought about how his presents had effected her. ' Why is it that only he makes me fell specail? Why does he even care how I fell?' she thought moving closer to him.' Even the commander doesn't make me fell like this.' Slowly and not fully aware of it she lend over to rest her head against his shoulder. ' This is .... pleasent being near him like this.'

As Shinji warped his arm around her, gently holding her she looked up into his soft eyes and found the answer she was searching for. At that realization she felt for the first time that she belonged here, for now she had another who could understand how she felt. For now she knew Shinji would be there for her, even if he hadn't said it to her yet.

As he looked down into her crimsome eyes for the first time since he had arrive in Tokyo three he was glad that he had decided to see what his father wanted with him, for now he had found someone that cared for him. Just him, not Shinji the pilot or Shinji the hero, just Shinji. Even if they where now just freinds he was happy, truely happy. For she cared for him with no reservations, she cared for him as a whole and that was all he could ever ask for.

As the two sat togather enjoying the peaceful view nature was giving them, they failed to notice a lone figure standing in the hallway watching them as they sat togather. ' Enjoy it while you can wonder girl,' thought the firery red haired pilot. ' because weather you like it or not Shinji's mine.' She almost stopped them, but when she saw Shinji opening up and talking to someone again she couldn't bring herself to do it. So for his sake she had let them be, but in her mind this was far from over.



The next morning Shinji awoke not to the soft knocking of Misato, but to the pounding of Asuka on his door. " Wake up baka or your going to be late." yeild the firery red head. Slowly he sat up looking around at his surroundings before getting up to perpair for school. As he reached his bedroom door he paused a moment. ' I mustn't run away, I mustn't run away.' he thought before slowly opening the door.

As he reached the kitchen from his bath and saw Misato sitting with her morning beer one thought ran through his mind as he took a deep breath. ' The moment of truth.' With that he walked into the kitchen returning to his life once again.

" About time you got out of there Shinji. I was begining to think you drownd or something. " Asuka said taking her seat at the table.

Misato watched as the two went along with their morning ritual which consistade of the usual complaining from Asuka while Shinji did his best to keep the peace. All in all a normal morning at the Katsuragi house hold, but for one small thing that caught her attension. Shaking it off she went about to get ready for work heading for the bath as the pilots left for school .

As the warm water ran across her body memories from the past ran through her mind. Most focused on Shinjis' behavior this morning. Something was different about him. ' Why did his words seem .... forced?' she thought. Fileing it in her mind she continued to get ready for work as that thought continued to run through her mind.


As he reached school Shinji walked the halls alone nearly reaching his classroom before hearing a soft voice. " Welcome back Ikari." Turning to look back at the source he found Rei standing there.

" I'm still not sure I belong here." he replied watching as she moved closer to him.

" You can not stay at the Katsuragi household forever or someone will become worried about you." she said as she reached him, softly smiling as her hand brushed against his. " Does it bother you, wearing them?"

" A little, but i'm getting used to it now." he replied following her.

Softly smiling she continued forward walking beside him the rest of the way to their classroom. Each blocking out the everything but each others company. Not caring who saw them or how they reacted. As they arrived they took their respected seats and perpaired once again to listen to the endless banter on second impact from the teacher.

As the class began Hikari was not the only one to notice Shinjis' return. Many students had heard about what had happened to him and were glad to see him up and about again. But she was one of those rare souls, ones that always notice the little things people do no matter how small. Thus she knew something was different about the boy sitting across the room from her. He seemed jumpy and uncertain, not new to him but for some reson more noticeable.

As the day went it's course she begain to notice how his eyes would wonder from time to time to the hillside near the school, something she'd only seen Rei do. It was almost as if they were being called to them. As lunch came she listened with halfhearted interest to her freind as she went on and on. Something was wrong with Shinji, he was drifting away from them, maybe it was her imagination but she couldn't help but take notice of it. He was not the Shinji she remembered.


As the end of the school day arrived Asuka continued to watch the first and thrid as the collected their respective belongings and begain to leave. From a distant she watched as the two quietly walked down the halls. Watching she noticed how in Reis' persents he would come out of his shell and would speak again. This thought angered her, for she had spent many a day after his return trying to get him to open up and act like he had before even if it was just an act. Now in the course of a few hours Rei had gotten through his shell almost as if without trying to. Shinji was hers, and if Rei thought she could take him from her she was mistaken. In her mind no one crossed Asuka Langley and got away with it.

" Well if it isn't the hero and the zero." Asuka called ahead moving quickly to catch up to them.

As she moved towards them Rei turned to see that Shinji had stopped dead in his tracks. Moving closer to him she spoke softly. " Do not worry about her Shinji she just craves attention. Best to leave her be." Before slowly walking and continuing on her way. After a moments pause Shinji followed after her.

After a few moments Auska caught up to them standing in their way blocking their path. " What to high and mighty to talk me or is it you just don't want wonder girl here to see how much of an idiot you are."

"Her name is not 'wonder girl' it's Rei." Shinji said frimly but in a quite voice cutting her off before she could say anything else.

This had the effect of only egging her on. " Oh.. so it's Rei now and not Ayanami. On a first name basis now are we?" She retorted.

As Rei watched and listened to the her fellow pilot's fighting she could fell the air around him start to get heavier and heavier with each peice of crittism Auska through at the two.

" Like playing with doll's then do we Shinji, then fine go a head and play with your stupid doll." and with that she raised her hand to strike him.

Just as she raised her hand to strike Rei felt the air start to thicken and in an invalitary action grabbed Shinji's arm and the felling around her quickly disappeared as the sound of the blow echoed throughout the the halllway.

" Then if you like to play with dolls so much then keep your stupid doll. " Auska said as she stormed away down the hallway and out of sight.

As the commotion settle down the other students continued on their way, Rei released to her hold on Shinji's arm stepping away to look at his face. His eyes still closed for a moment before opening them seeing her looking up at him with a curious look in her eyes. He smiled softly to show her he was all right and to himself for being able to see a little past the mask that she wore.

As the moment passed two continued on their way out of school. As the two left school grounds and away from prying eyes Rei would ever so often brushed her hand against his hopeing he would get the idea. After a few moments she decided to take the initiative and hold his hand. As she did this he turned to look at her and her eyes almost seemed to smile as the two walked towards the nearest entrance of Nerv.



Shinji watched his fellow pilots from the observation room as they went through their synchronization tests he listened to the conversation of Misato and Dr. Akagi.

" So Misato finally got Shinji out of his room. " said Dr.Akagi.

" Actually, it wasn't me, it was Rei that got him out of the apartment, he even went to school today. Although Shinji and Rei had a run in with Auska today as they left school today."

" Has he spoken to you yet Misato? Well even if he if he hasn't its good that he has finally come out of his room and started interacting again. Otherwise Ikari would be on my ass." replied the doctor.

" Yeah, I know he has me give him daily reports on Shinjis' condition every morning since he got back from hospital. I don't think he's too happy that his son hadn't left his room for more than a few minutes at a time since he got back. " Misato added. Neither paying much attention to him as he stood looking out at his fellow pilots.



As the test came to an end a half-hour later Shinji sat waiting as Rei exited from the locker room. He hadn't noticed as his mind was wandering on other things that had happened recently to him until Rei sat down beside him on the bench.

She could see the turmoil his mind was in as he stared into the space before him not really looking at anything in particular. Decided to resolve this source of conflict troubling him she softly placed a hand on his to get his attention. As he turned and looked to her she stood up and started to walk towards the Geo-front. Taking this as a silent request for him to follow he follow after her.

As the two made there way out of the Nerv building and into the park like surroundings of the Geo-front Shinji paused a moment looking at the devistation that had been left by the last angel. As he looked back towards Rei he watched as she moved to a small tree near the back of the lake before sitting under it. Even though it was all man made the beuty of it always surprised him.

Taking a place next to her on the shore he looked out apon the lake as the waves softly beat against the beach. Turning to look at her as she removed her shoes letting the cool waves wash across her skin as her mask slowly pealed away reveling the person within. Showing how relaxed and content she was sitting here on this small beach listening as crickets starting crupping. Leaning back he closed his eyes and let the sounds around him seep into his mind and soul.

As the waves gentle beat against the beach, the wind whispered as it dacned with the leaves in the trees. The sounds of the frogs and inscects signing in the air mixing with the beating of his heart and the rethym of his breathing. The chorus around him slowly pulled him into a trance as he listened. He almost missed it as Reis' soft voice spoke to him.

" Why is it that the lilium do not see and hear the world as you just have experinced?" she asked.

Turning to look at her as the words she spoke began to cut through trance he looked at her as her crisome eyes glowed softly. " I guess people are in such a rush that they never notice the little things around them anymore."

Turning her view back out to the lake as she closed her eyes she continued, " Why is it that you see the world around you diffrently then others?"

Thinking a moment before answering he slowly pulled a small case from his pockets as he answered, " Perhaps because I see it through diffrent eyes then before." he replied as he opened the case and one by one removed the contacts from his eyes placing them in the case.

" You must be careful Shinji, you are different now." she said turning and looking into his eyes as he looked back at her. " The others will not understand what has happened to you, they will fear you if they knew."

Looking down at the water he spoke, " You felt it didn't you, I could fell it growing inside me as she kept critisizeing us. Why does she always have to call you a doll?"

With that the two pilots turned and looked out at the forest before themwatching as the simulated suns final rays of the day begain to fall apon the world around them. Watching as the mix of colors would dance across the water, linstening as the fish would jump into the air. Enjoying the veiw as the bullforg sang and the crickets churped and the breeze danced with the leave in the trees. And as the world look back at them it saw two pairs of crisome eyes staring back relaxing in it's nightly melody of sunsets and promises of another day.