That's Good For You Chapter 2: Form of The Man, an evangelion fanfic

The Disclaimer:

The only thing I own here may be the concept here that's it. Other than that, I don't own any of Evangelion or any of the characters. Gainax does.

This chapter is sort of a continuation of chapter one, but don't despair it is longer, some may say that's a bad thing but oh well. Without further ado I'll spare you the rambling. Chapter II of That's Good For You. (updated: 07292002 for grammar)

-That's Good For You-

by: _zero

Chapter II

Form of the Man

The door to the secured room makes a light chirp sound as a security card is swiped through and the door grants access. A slight figure passes through the entrance, silently the door closes behind her, being careful not to disturbed the rooms occupants. The room was dark, there were no windows here, the figure made her way through the shadows and into the dim light that was over the hospital bed. Her crimson orbs focusing on the form resting on the hospital bed.

Rei stepped in closer to see his face, taking even greater care to not alert the sleeping Major of her presence. 'He, is not himself.' The first Child studies his features ever closer: He had a similar jaw line to his fathers, a slightly different nose, and his eyes, his eyes appeared to be of another origin. 'His eyes, what is this feeling, I have seen him in this state before, yet he still looks, feels, familiar and yet...'

Standing in silence, Rei scrutinized every feature on the aged Shinji. He was now much taller than he was before, five feet eleven inches the chart said. His hair was now longer, and as for his body itself, he now appeared more, in shape, more muscular. He was still thin in stature but from what she could see from his arms that were exposed he did indeed appear stronger physically.   Despite the change that he had obviously gone through within the 12th Angel, at this moment he looked at ease within himself. Rei couldn't help but notice this as in the past when she has visited him in the infirmary he always seemed troubled in some way.
            'You appear as though you no longer require it… yet I know this to be untrue. I will protect you, I am unsure why, but I feel that I must…' Rei took upon her promise once more to continue to protect him, she had made it her mission since the fight against the 5th Angel, Ramiel. Rei had thought of it ever since he disappeared a small sense of failure had swept over her. A small look of concern came over her eyes now, showing an emotion that no one would see, "Ikari…" Rei whispered lightly under her breath, the emotion then fading from her eyes.
            Misato stirred in her chair where she was still sleeping soundly under her flight jacket. Rei turned to exit the room, as silently as she had entered taking one last look at Shinji. 'I will not fail…' The door closed behind her with its click sound as it is secured. The sound of the heart monitor and the methodical breathing of the rooms two occupants were once again the only sign of activity within the room

---

Several hours pass, when Shinji takes a deep breath and stirs from his dreamless rest, struggling just to even form simple thoughts in his muddled mind, let alone open his eyes. After several minutes of struggling he was finally able to open his eyes, heavy from a long sleep.

'Where, where am I?' Shinji was trying to regain his eyesight even in the low lit room he was still having trouble seeing that was around him, the smallest amount of light felt like the midday sun, he was eventually able to piece together his location. 'The infirmary again, the ceiling always looks familiar here' He struggles to just find the strength to move his head around, 'What the, why am I so sore, it hurts just to move.' Slowly, he eventually turned his head to one side of the room. 'There's no windows here, must be in a different part of the infirmary.' Slowly and gingerly he eventually moved his head to look the other direction, his hair however ends up in the way. 'How long was I out, how is my hair in my eyes, what's going on?' Slowly and begrudgingly he moved his hand to removes the offending hair from his face, even the slightest movements takes all of his will.

Misato stirs in her sleep murmuring, "N, no… Shinji…" Shinji's hears her in her slumber craning his neck a little more to see the lavender haired woman sleeping in the chair next to his bed.

'She's… calling my name… in her sleep…' Shinji pondered on this for a moment but in a drunken like state more questions continued to fill his mind. 'How long has she been here, she look so worn out…' Taking in a deeper breath and gathering more of his strength he tries to wake Misato from her troubled dream. "Mi-Misato." Shinji's voice was weak but he thought it felt, different somehow, but his whole body was feeling, different. He couldn't quite place it just yet, but he felt, out of place. "Misato, wake up." Slightly louder this time she stirred a little more once again murmuring in her sleep.

"Kaji?..." She tossed in her chair, causing the flight jacket to fall from its resting place.

"Hey, wake up." Louder still, now in a more audible tone Misato was shaken back to consciousness as her flight jacket fell down the floor exposing her to the cold air of the infirmary.

"Huh what?" She could have sworn she heard Kaji or at least someone who sounded similar. Shaking off her weariness, she quickly realized where she was, being brought back into reality. Her gaze brought her up to Shinji, who was slightly turned on his bed trying to get her attention. "Oh, Shinji! You're, you're awake." She smiled warmly, her voice was a little groggy still trying to fully bring together her thoughts. Shinji smiled warmly at her as best he could. She stood up and took two steps toward the bed. She smiled as she approached him and took in his blue eyes. "How are you feeling?"

"I can hardly move Misato." He paused settling back down on the bed, Misato's eyes widened. "I'm so sore, I can barely look around the room." Shinji's voice frightened her, she didn't realize that with his newly matured body his voice would have deepened, and it did so, considerably.

'That wasn't Kaji I heard… it was, him.' Misato was now giving the boy a shocked look, this in turn began to scare Shinji.

"Wha, What is it Misato? What's wrong?" Misato quickly re-worked herself and began to put on a warmer look for him to see, holding back her tears.

"It's nothing, don't worry about it Shinji." She smiled at him. Little did he know that he would have much to worry about, but her words were enough to calm him for now. "I'll be right back, I won't be gone very long ok." Shinji merely nodded in response, his muscles still not allowing him to move much more. Misato made her way quickly out the door, the door made a click sound as it locked back into place.

'So scared… she looked so scared. What's wrong with me?' Shinji simply lay in state, awaiting for Misato's return

---

About 30 feet down the hall of the secure wing, just on the other side of the visibly armed section-2 agents, was a phone with a direct link to Dr. Akagi. Misato picked up the phone and slid her security card through, the phone beeped for a second. Then, it rang through.

"Yes?" Ritsuko's voice was tainted with frustration as her work was most likely interrupted.

"Ritsuko…" Misato couldn't be much more out of it, she couldn't hold back, a few tears escaped from her eyes.

"Misato! Is Shinji awake?"

"Yes, he is." She quickly gathered herself, wiping the two escaped tears with her hand.

"I'll be there in 7 minutes… is there something wrong Misato?" Ritsuko was her friend for a little while once more.

"It's nothing, it's just that I didn't expect something, that's all." The good doctor had little idea what she was talking about, but she still felt she owed her friend some compassion, but she couldn't readily find any words to offer her

"I'll be there in 7 minutes, don't worry." In the end, some came, but they were of very little consolation to Misato, the phone beeped once more as the line was closed. Misato gently set the receiver down, and made her way back to the secure room past the section-2 agents. She stood in front of the door for a moment, regarding it with a new resolve thinking of who was in the room.

'It is Shinji, it is.' Reassuring herself she leaned against the wall, to await Ritsuko's arrival. Staring up at the ceiling now, she was in back into a daze. 'I don't know how to tell him, It might sound best coming from Ritsu…' her sight was then brought down to the red striped door, where Shinji was, obviously totally unaware of what has happened to him.

---

Shinji had been left alone for a long time, at least it felt that way to him, still struggling to make his body to move. 'So… sore.' As he tossed slightly rolling over onto his stomach he managed to left himself up with one arm. His vision was filled with the stark white that the pillow offered. 'I feel out of place, my whole body, feels…" He pushed himself back onto his back. 'unfamiliar.' Still questioning what was going on in his mind, he could hear some voice speaking outside of his door. 'I wonder what there…'

Finally being able to lift himself up into a sitting position he saw something that brought all of his thoughts to a halt. Audibly he gasped slightly, "What. What the hell?" Looking down the bed now, he saw that his feet were at the end of bed, normally they only met about three-quarters down in the infirmary. He then brought his hand up slowly, to just within his vision. He stared wide eyed into his hand, looking for some sort answer to his questions

Before he could react much further within his own thoughts, the door made its chirp sound, clicking just before it slide open. Shinji looked over to the open door, dropping his hand as hid efforts were expended. In the door he saw Dr. Akagi, with Misato standing behind her. Ritsuko stared, briefly shocked herself, if only for a second before stepping into the room. Misato followed right behind her catching sight of Shinji and giving him an assuring smile again.

"How do you feel Shinji?" Even after the preparation behind the closed door, it seemed to be the best thing to say. 'Better than just telling him outright' Ritsuko mused.

"I-I don't know, I feel so sore, and I don't feel right…" Shinji trailed off to find the words to just how to describe what was going on with him. Both Ritsuko and Misato waited patiently, Misato made her way to the side of the bed where she had slept. While Dr. Akagi stood at the bed's foot , looking directly at Shinji. "I feel like I'm out of place. Like a bad sync test or something like that." Shinji's mind began to fill his mind, but only one came forward from to make itself heard.

"What's wrong with me? This was the question Ritsuko had been waiting for, she answered with her own line of questioning before she gave any answers. Misato stood silent, gathering as much information as she could.

"What's the last thing you remember Shinji?" Shinji looked off in the distance.

"After sitting in the plug for almost 16 hours." He shudders. "The LCL was cold, all of the purification and heating systems had shut down, I don't remember much beyond that, I passed out right around then… And then I think I only woke up, when Misato opened up the plug…" He looked over to Misato with warm eyes. He kept his gaze there, seeking some sort of re-assurance that the doctor wasn't offering. "How long have I been out since then?

"Well, since you came out of the Angel, about 26 hours. Are you sure you don't remember anything else?" Shinji furrowed his brow.

"N-no, I'm sorry, that's all I can remember right now. What's wrong, why is it so hard to move?" He looked back toward the doctor who has still at the foot of his bed.

"Shinji, that's a side effect of what you've been through, it's a lactic acid build up within your system. Once you move around more, it will wear off over a day or two."

"What do you mean by: 'what I've been through', what's going on?" Sitting back up in his bed he placed one hand on the side of his, trying to piece together what the doctor was trying to tell him.

Ritsuko sighs, "Shinji, you said that you felt out of place and not yourself. In a way you are correct" Shinji's eyes grew wider. "But you are you, Shinji, don't panic. All the tests thus far have shown us that. It's just that well..." Misato was looking at her, waiting to just see how the good doctor was going to explain this. "You've grown older Shinji." She opted for a simple and blunt approach in the end.

Shinji began stammering, "Wha, wha, what do you mean I'm… older?"

"It's difficult to explain so that you would understand Shinji, but I'll put it simply as best I can. While you were inside the Angels shadow, you went into some form of alternate universe that it created with its AT field. While there, the time axis moved at an accelerated speed when compared to our own. At this time we don't know why it was this way, or able to explain how you survived within the Angel for that amount time. But the specific information I can give you is this: Physically you are approximately a few months over 20 years of age, that would you mean were inside of the angel for five years, seven months, and four days."

Dr. Akagi stopped to take note of Shinji's shocked reaction. 'He's taking this a little better than I expected'

Shinji sat up and mouth agape, his breathing quickened briefly as he tried to analyze what Dr. Akagi had just told him, bringing his hand in front of him examining it closely ever still seeking answers that it did not contain. "I'm… I'm older…" His mind was becoming blank, all thoughts were fading into the back of his mind, 'This… is too much… I have to get out of here…'

"When can I leave?" That was all he wanted to know now, even after the mind twisting information. Misato spoke up.

"You can leave in a couple of hours, Ritsuko wants to do a couple of more tests, then we can go home." Reassuring Shinji, that not everything in his life has changed, still she had some worry. 'I'm going to have to buy some time… it's too soon for him to deal with Asuka.'

"Tests… alright, I just want to get out of here."

"They won't take long Shinji." Ritsuko motions for Misato to follow her as she starts for the door. "There are some clothes for you there by the sink. It's a NERV uniform, but it's the best we could do for you right now."

Shinji looked over to Misato 'I, I don't want to be alone.' His thoughts showed on his face, drawing her back over to him.

"Don't worry, I'll be there when the tests are finished." She smiled and turned back around to walk outside the door. Once again the door slid closed, making the click sound as the lock went back into place.

Sighing, he resided himself to the new task that was now before him, getting out of his bed.

---

"That went, well." Ritsuko remarked as Misato pulled out her cell phone and hit speed dial. "And who are you calling?"

"Asuka, I don't think she's exactly ready for this, and I know Shinji isn't prepared to deal with her reaction." Misato started walking down the hall. "Tell Shinji I went to the command center to take care of some things, call me before he's done." Her attention returned to the phone. "Asuka?"

---

"Huh? Why do I need to go to Hikari's I can handle everything on my… an order!?" The Second Child couldn't quite piece together the reasons behind the Major's newly issued edict, "FINE!" She hung up the phone and a string of German curse words could be heard by the slumbering Pen-Pen from inside his fridge in the other room. Picking up the phone, she dialed up her friend to follow the Major's order, for now at least.

---

After much effort and nearly falling down numerous times, Shinji managed himself out of the bed and across the room. He was now dressed in the tan NERV uniform it didn't fit him exactly but it did its purpose. He was avoiding the one object by the sink that was now the center of his fears and his morbid curiosity. There was a mirror in this room, and he was avoiding as best as possible.

'I can't avoid this forever… both Ritsuko and Misato looked shocked, a little anyway… How much have I… changed.' He was hiding just out of view from the mirror when he resigned himself, to look upon just how old Shinji Ikari was now. "Here it goes." Taking one last breath and eyes closed he maneuvered himself over the mirror, he held his breath for five more seconds and opened his eyes.

Looking back at Shinji, was a man. Not an old man, but a man who looked like his whole life was now ahead of him. He let his breath go and continued to stare at himself. His eyes, face, his hair, he brought his hand in front of him once more. Not for answers, but for more questions. He couldn't form any coherent thoughts, just a pure state of confusion.

"Shinji are you ok?" Ritsuko startled him as her voice came over the intercom.

"Y-yes Ritsuko, everything is fine." 'I suppose' he thought.

"Are you ready then?"

"Yes I am." The security door chirped again and the door clicked and opened. Ritsuko saw Shinji standing in front of the sink and Mirror that was right next to the door. He was now leaning against the sink still trying to study himself.

"I see…" 'Poor kid, he shouldn't have to go through this.' Not saying many more words she motioned for him to follow her. No other words were spoken as they walked through the halls of the infirmary until they arrived to a preliminary exam room. Shinji would later think to himself that it would be more like a prison interrogation.

---

Misato was rushing through the stacks of paperwork that were waiting for her at her desk. Sparing no time with her usual panic and complaining, she went about her mission. The bills from the UN and the city council were handled with ease. Two hours passed before she knew it, when the phone rang.

"Katsuragi"

"Ma'am, Dr. Akagi is almost finished with Shinji. She told me to let you know before the last test." Maya Ibuki's voice was on the other end of the line, her mentor was obviously busying herself with other matters than calling her friend.

"Thank you Maya, tell Shinji I'll be waiting for him outside the infirmary."

"Yes, Ma'am,oh and Major?"

"What?" Misato retorted as Maya's voice became quiet like she was trying to tell a secret.

"Sempai told me to tell you that you were right, his voice is the most surprising change." Misato gave herself a little chuckle.

"I told her so, thank you Maya."

Misato dropped the receiver on the base and hurriedly finished signing the last minute forms. Quickly slamming folders closed and placing them in her now monumental out box she ran out of her office and made her way to the infirmary to await for the young man who was Shinji Ikari.

Nearly getting lost again in the process, she arrived twenty minutes after she received the call. Where there was no sign of Shinji.

'Good I made it before he was done.' She stood peering into the lobby for a few moments through the glass doors for a few moments. After finding nothing of interest she started to slowly pace becoming lost in her thoughts.. It was night out the Geofront was dimmed slightly as the light that usually came from the surface was now absent. 'Asuka better have left, if she didn't, she's going to freak and Shinji, well. That might send the boy errr.' Her thoughts became muddled she stopped pacing looking at the ground in front of the doors. 'Of course he's not really a boy any more… at least he doesn't look like one…' Misato was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't see a young man rounding the corner behind the glass doors in a NERV uniform.

Striding uneasy through the lobby of the Infirmary, Shinji gained more speed as he saw his goal now, the exit, and Misato waiting there. Just as Ritsuko and her assistant Maya had told him she would. 'She's waiting for me, only one other person's done that for me…' His thoughts trailed off now as he could only visualize himself exiting through the doors to the infirmary.

Misato looked up just before he reached the exit. Her mouth went open as she caught sight of him as he waved slightly. 'Oh my…' She was frozen, the two doors parted as Shinji walked up to them. Misato was sizing up Shinji Ikari looking him up and down. Shinji was blushing as he saw her gaze perform its investigation, eventually settling on his eyes. 'He's… he's taller than I am now. He still looks sort of like.'

"Hi, Misato." He was smiling now greeting her as the doors closed behind him, however she still had that ponderous look upon her face. "Uh, Misato?" Shaking her ahead quickly she took a step forward and took him in a hug.

"Sorry there Shinji, how are you doing?" He slowly brought his own arms up and awkwardly returned her embrace. Not used to the fact that he was now taller than the Major.

"That's ok, I'm a getting used to that now." Commenting on her investigation "I'm still sore. Not too mention hungry, could we get something to eat?" The two brought themselves out of the embrace mutually, Misato looked up at him.

"Of course, we'll pick up some take out on the way home, I won't make you cook tonight." She still looked a little uneasy yet she was comforting at the same time.

"This maybe a silly question Misato, but what's wrong?"

"Beyond the obvious?" This garnered an uneasy laugh from the Third Child. "It's just that, you're voice, I wasn't expecting…" She stuttered over herself now trying to find the words.

"That's alright. I heard Ritusko mention the same thing to Miss Ibuki." This brought a small laugh from both of them this time. "Could we go get something to eat? I'm starving."

"Sure, you're a growing boy after all." Shinji frowned slightly as Misato got her jab in. "C'mon, I'll get you anything you want. Let's go."

---

Not many words were shared in the car on the way home. Uncomfortable silence was the topic of the evening as Misato drove her way home in traditional style. It was helpful that there weren't too many cars out at night in Tokyo-3. Light small talk was always being tried out by Misato but Shinji's mind was elsewhere as he stared out the window.

"So what kind of tests did Ristuko run on you?" The Major once again trying to restore relations, but he winced slightly as he remembered the interrogation.

"Some sort of psychological test to make sure I was me, more blood tests and body scans. The usual I guess." He resumed investigating of his light reflection in the window, when a thought came to his mind.

"Is um, have… does Asuka know?" It was Misato's turn to wince, going unnoticed by her passenger.

"No, she doesn't Shinji, I figured she would have to see you to believe it. And." She paused briefly re-thinking her strategy. "Don't worry about it right now, she's staying at Hikari's tonight. We're here!" The blue Renault screeched into a parking place. Shinji was slightly relieved that he wouldn't have to deal with his fiery roommate for now.

Taking the food from the back seat and carrying it with him. He ran into the elevator with the awaiting Misato. Something had entered his mind with the mention of the class representative. The question came into fruition while he was watching the numbers ascend to the top floor.

"Uh, Misato? Will I be, going to school tomorrow?" The Major had been thinking about this for awhile now, not sure how to approach it still, she was relieved that he asked the question.

"Not tomorrow Shinji no," her face turned a little sullen as she turned to him, "I don't think you can attend school, especially after all that has happened.

"I kind of figured that… I just thought I should ask." Shinji continued his dejected look, most children would be ecstatic to no longer attend any form of education, but to Shinji, that's where his friends were, other than his fellow pilots.

*Ping* the doors came open to the elevator and made their way to the front door in a still. Misato stopped in front of the door and turned to look up to the taller Shinji, placing one hand on his shoulder.

"Shinji, I can't say I know what you're going through right now, but, I will be here for you…" Shinji blushed as he looked down slightly at Misato trying to avert her eyes while she spoke looking side to side as she trailed off with those last words.

"Th-thank you Misato…" He smiled now knowing that he would have someone he could depend on

'Say something!' Misato's mind had disengaged briefly from her constantly changing strategy. "Come on! Let's eat!" With that they both entered the apartment to have their meal. Not much else was said, both still being overly tired they simply ate their food and retired for a fitful sleep.

---

"Hey Asuka where's Shinji?" Kenuske usually wasn't one to speak to the second child, but after seeing what the Angel had done to Tokyo-3 he wanted to ask Shinji all sorts of question.

"How should I know stooge. That baka probably got himself hurt." Asuka's usual tirade against Shinji and the other three stooges was cutoff.

"All rise, bow, sit down." The class rep brought order the clamoring students shortly before the elderly teacher started on the day's lesson plan that would eventually degenerate into a discussion of Second Impact as usual. Most of the class tuned him out as usual. The chat room for the class was busy with the normal gossip and rumors. Asuka wasn't one to partake, nobody dared to gossip about her for fear of the redhead's respite. She did however receive a private chat window from one of the two remaining stooges.

'Come on, you know where he is, what happened?' Kenuske was actually being diplomatic trying to extract information from the EVA pilot.

'Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you, you Hentai, it's classified. Why don't you ask Wondergirl?'

'Rei, are you kidding!? She wouldn't tell the time of day let alone something that might be classified. Not even a little hint? ;)'

'Stop pestering me!'

Asuka shot Kenuske her look of death when she hit the enter key on her laptop. With her chat program closed she received a personal e-mail from him this time, with the subject heading 'Red-Demon'. But she merely deleted it and shut down the laptop. She opted to sleep through the rest of the morning away until the bells tolled for lunch. She quickly made her way out of school room passing Hikari before she could even fit a word in. Asuka escaped through the halls and across the courtyard then eventually the school gate.

'Time to find out just what all of the fuss was about last night.' Asuka turned right as she ran in the direction of the apartment complex.

---

Shinji was alone, at least for now.

Sub-commander Fuyutski had called the Major himself, informing her that her presence was "requested" and she needed to be at NERV immediately. "Shinji, I have to go to Headquarters, when I get back we'll go out and get you some different clothes ok." Shinji was standing out on the balcony still dressed in the NERV uniform, with some leftovers from the night before in his hands. Misato had been gone for a couple of hours or so now, he had enjoyed having her around during the day, not being able to be with his friends. However, he still enjoyed the quietness that was now resounding from the apartment, the only other sounds was the constantly chirping cicadas.

'Not reversible in anyway, that's what Ritsuko said.' Reviewing all of the information the good doctor provided him with, he was lost in his thoughts. Had he not been doing this, he might have heard the front door open and close inside the apartment. 'I wonder, if I can talk to them soon… I can't believe I want to be at school…' Shaking his head and giving himself a small chuckle. He didn't hear the footsteps behind him.

'Hey, what's he doing here?! And why did he cut his hair?' "KAJI!" Asuka hugged the man from behind not having to give much more thought as to who it might be. Shinji on the other hand was nonplused dropping his food down all the way to the parking lot, and nearly having a heart attack.

"A-Asuka, what are you doing home?" Trying to release her iron grip was proving to be a challenge as he turned around to face his roommate.

"I do live here silly, take me out to lunch Kaji pleeease?" Asuka didn't seem to care to investigate just who she might be clutching.

"Sh-shouldn't you be in class right now?" Shinji was trying to figure out just how to handle the situation, he wasn't prepared for an un-aided re-introduction to the second Child.

'Wait a minute, something's not right, besides the hair. His voice is different. And Kaji wears an officers uniform…' It's at this moment she chooses to see just who the man she has seemingly ambushed. Asuka looks up at his face scrutinizing every feature. 'And Kaji doesn't have blue eyes!' "Hey, who are you!? What are you doing here!? And how do you know who I am!?" Shinji was panicking, he was about to discuss this with Misato when she had been called away. He was completely unprepared. "Tell me now! Or I'll call up my personal guard.'

Shinji knew full well who her "personal guard" was; he also knew that section-2 wouldn't do anything since the team assigned to watch Asuka wasn't watching her completely. Otherwise she wouldn't have made it back to apartment. 'Damn… fine, I'll handle this myself.' Knowing he didn't have any way out Shinji decided to let the truth speak for itself, or at least to speak the truth before Asuka decided to defend herself in some manner.

"Asuka, don't you recognize me?" He seemed to plead a little bit, with a hint of sarcasm as well.

"What do you mean? I've never met you in my entire life! Who are you!?"

"We've been living together for several month's Asuka." A slight smirk came across him. This seemed to dumbfound the agitated red-head.

"Huh? What do you mean you're not Shinji. He's just a stupid little boy." She crossed her arms and turned her head in defiance. Shinji winced slightly at those words even though he'd heard them many times from the second Child. He knew that he wasn't that little boy anymore.

"I guess I have to prove it to you somehow then." She opened one eye and turned her head slightly.

"I dare you to prove it."

"Ok, fine." He blushed a little, remembering the one thing that would prove beyond a doubt that he was who he was.

'It's the only way…' "Do you remember when you kissed me? You, you held my nose be-because you said it tickled you…" He trailed off as he was scratching his head during his speech. Asuka was in a stupor, now with her mouth wide open and examining the man in front of her

'It… it can't be, how?' Here eyes going on and down his uniformed body, settling on his face as she squinted her eyes. His jaw line was a little stronger, he was much taller than Asuka, Shinji also seemed to be stronger. She examined his blue eyes that were partially obscured by his long brown hair

"Shinji?" She was shaking a little now, letting her strong façade fade.

"Yes, Asuka… it's um, me." The front door opened and closed again.

"Shinji, I'm home. Are you ready to go shopping?" Misato looked down at the collection of shoes on the floor, spotting the red shoes that were now on the floor next to Shinji's with abject terror.

'Oh hell' Misato ran through the apartment, eventually finding the two pilots on the balcony. Shinji seemingly pressed against the balcony rail as Asuka was a few steps in front of him dumbfounded with a hand over her open mouth. Misato looked to Shinji as he looked between her and the Second Child. He shrugged slightly. Misato tried to find some way to salvage the situation, eventually resigning herself that she couldn't find any way to remedy it for now. Reassuring Shinji a little with a smile she put one hand on Asuka's shoulder, bracing herself for the redhead's reaction.

'No time like the present...'

-More to come-

Well there you have it. One more chapter finished, chapter 3 is currently in the works. I write a lot in the middle of my summer class, helps pass the time. What does an English major need to know bio-organic chemistry for anyway? Enough about me.

I've received a lot of great feedback, a little surprising, I wasn't expecting quite that much response, thank you to all who e-mailed and reviewed. If anyone is looking for spoilers, once again, I don't wish to give much away yet. Some have guessed where I'm going, others are, well, pretty close. Ok, ok, enough babbling, I'll uh, go back to writing now. And next time, FAN SERVICE, well uh maybe, but only if your good and you eat your greens.

_zero

Comments welcome at: balky82@hotmail.com as well as the review board.