Chapter 3 - Uncovering
"Shinji! Hey Shinji! What are you in a hurry for?"
Shinji turned to the voice that came from across the street. Kensuke was waving and crossing over to him. "Oh, hi Kensuke, I am going to talk to Toji. I'm to meet him in a few minutes."
"Really? He never told me about this. Oh well, I'm on my way home. Just another 2 blocks so I'll keep you some company," stated Kensuke.
"Sure you can. Did you get the physics homework done?" asked Shinji
"Yup!" Kensuke smiled, "finished it in class."
Shinji sighed, "Well I got half done, hopefully, I can finish it tonight. However Asu…I don't know how long I am going to be at Toji's"
Kensuke caught the gap. 'Seemed like he was going to say Asuka, hmm…' A smile spread on Kensuke's face.
"What you smiling about?" Shinji inquired while looking over at Kensuke on his right.
"Oh nothing much…by the way…did you hear if they finished the American Eva unit-03?"
"Huh…what? What you talking about? Unit-03?" Shinji had a puzzled look on his face.
"Yeah, didn't you hear?...after the Unit-04 incident, the U.S. did not want the Evas." Kensuke turned and stepped out in front of Shinji. "I hear the U.S is sending us Unit-03, on the account that they did not want to lose Nerv's first branch."
'He has to be hacking into his father's computer again.' "Unit-04 incident?...Where are you getting this?" Shinji said as he stopped.
"The entire Nevada Nerv branch disappeared, was destroyed in an explosion caused by Unit-04. My dad's section is in a panic."
Kensuke fell to Shinji's feet while gripping Shinji's arms, "Please make me an Eva pilot! I really wanna pilot, you guys get all the fun!"
"Ah…I really can't do anything, you would have to talk to Misato." 'Why would he want to pilot? Does he not know what I go through with his hacking?' Shinji sighed again.
Kensuke straightened up. "Well I suppose they won't take volunteers?"
"Sorry, I don't think so."
Kensuke let Shinji go, stoop up and sighed, "Well least I tried." He gave a half-hearted smile.
"Sorry, but Misato never said a word to me." Shinji copied Kensuke's smile.
"Well then I guess it does not concern the pilots. I mean if she did not tell you then it must mean that you don't need to know!" A couple more steps and the two teenagers reached a curb. "Sorry, but I should shut up huh? See you tomorrow." Kensuke waved and went to right and crossed the street to his house.
'I don't know if I will ever understand that guy. Least he is a good friend.' A small smile appeared on Shinji's face. Shinji looked ahead, the block was empty. 'Well almost to the school.' Shinji continued on.
* * *
"Hey Shin-man, what up?"
The voice broke Shinji out of his revere of the ground. Shinji looked up and there was Toji leaning against the fence that surrounds the school.
"Hey Toji, what up? Sorry I'm late. Ran into Kensuke."
"Don't worry about it. Kensuke…well he almost always holds anyone up," replied Toji with a smile. "What were you so deep in thought about that you nearly walked right by?"
"Oh, well Kensuke mentioned something about the Evas," Shinji replied with a half-smile.
"Ah can I ask what? Or is it Top Secret stuff that Kensuke hacked from his Dad's computer?" Toji pried.
"Yeah both, something about Unit-04 and the entire Nevada Nerv branch being lost due to some accident. The United States is now handing us Unit-03. Guess they don't want another freak incident." Shinji then sighed and leaned up against the fence.
"I see, well accidents do happen, and you did say that Eva's are about the safest place to be in an angel attack. The next pilot might be a lucky one then." Toji said off-handedly while looking at the sky.
"I said that??? Yeah, ok, sure…anyways…sorry but I have much on my mind now. However I can still talk with you." Shinji turned to Toji.
"Sure, how about we go to my place. Get some grub. It's not far."
"Sounds good," Shinji stepped away from the fence. "Lead the way."
* * *
"Kaji!"
"Sorry Asuka but I am a bit busy." Kaji replied recognizing the voice that called out from his doorway.
"I bet you wouldn't be for Misato." Asuka said under her breath.
Kaji heard something but he did not know what. "What was that Asuka," asked Kaji as he continued to work on his computer. Suddenly a flurry of red hair covered Kaji's face as a pair of arms encircled him around his shoulders from behind. Kaji quickly pulled his laptop monitor down a bit, so Asuka could not read the screen.
"I wanted to tell you something I think you need to hear." Asuka stated as Kaji turned around to face her. "Well…about the other day…the blackout," Asuka stumbled.
"Oh don't worry I won't tell anyone about you and Shinji. I think that is cute you two being so discreet. Even just for a kiss." Kaji said with a smile.
"No! It is not like that, I could never like a baka like him!" Asuka quickly replied. "You are the one I want, the one I love."
"Oh," Kaji's smile fell to a frown. "I am sorry Asuka, I did not realize you felt this way. You sure it is love?"
"Yes I am sure! I can give all of me to you. I am not a kid." Asuka then stepped back and started to unbutton her school blouse. "Look at me and tell me I am still a kid."
Kaji, lost in what to do, sat in shock till he started to see the soft curves of Asuka's bust and the white lace of her bra. Kaji then quickly stood up and walked to Asuka. "I understand how you feel, but speaking as an adult and to you as one, I can't return you feelings." Asuka was starting to remove her shirt. Kaji then took his jacket that was over the back of his chair and placed it over Asuka's shoulders.
Asuka stood there in surprise and shock. "It's Misato isn't it? You still love her! Is there no room for me?" Asuka yelled at Kaji, taking hold of his jacket. 'No, this can't be happening; it was to be Kaji and me.'
"Katsuragi has nothing to do with this." Kaji stated as he took a step back. 'She really is a kid.'
"Then what were two doing in the elevator huh? Trying to kiss time away?" Asuka exclaimed as she stepped forward again.
"Making out? You have the wrong idea." Kaji tried to step back but his leg hit his desk. To catch himself he threw out his right arm which impacted the laptop and brought the screen up. His right elbow caught the mouse which cancelled the screensaver.
"Our synch data?" Asuka asked as her eyes were bought to bear on the screen that came to life. "Four synchronization scores? What is this?"
'Uh-oh' was all Kaji could think or say.
"The fourth? No, it can't be him! Our fraternity of the eva pilots is not sacred no more!"
"Sorry Asuka, but please don't tell Shinji ok? I will make it up to you, how about lunch tomorrow?"
"Think you can buy me?" Asuka paused waiting for a reply from Kaji. When none came, "Ok, as long as we go where I want to eat." 'Well I get some time with him, maybe I can get him to change in mind.' Asuka smiled.
"Good, see you tomorrow. Now I must get work done." Kaji then started to sit down in his chair.
"Ok, ok, tomorrow I will be waiting at school for you." That said Asuka smiled, turned and left the room.
* * *
"Oh wow, that was good…for take-out." Shinji smiled, "Though you did not have to pay for mine, I am capable of paying for my stuff."
"Ah…don't worry about it. I owe you a bit anyways." Toji cracked a half smile and started to get up.
"Well at least let me help with the dishes." Shinji got up and started to grab the empty cartons.
"You don't have to, it's not much anyways." Toji was collecting the silverware which included metal chopsticks.
Shinji just shrugged his shoulders. "Forget it, you forget I am used to doing this anyways, it's no bother." Shinji walked over to the garbage and disposed of the empty cartoons. "You are 'the stomach', of what we ordered there is nothing left."
Toji just shrugged his shoulders and smiled. "What can I say I am a growing man." Toji took the left over glasses and silverware and dumped them in the sink.
"Don't you want to wash those?" Shinji had a half disgusted, half questioning look on his face as he pointed to the sink.
"Don't worry I don't let my dishes pile, it is just that I have company over and I can wash them when you leave." Toji smiled slightly, "Well should we get a bit started on our homework?"
"Toji? Since when do you care about homework?" Shinji looked at him puzzled.
"I always have but since you do get mostly better grades than me, why not use all the help I can get?" Toji flashed his big toothy grin.
Shinji sighed. "All right let's get started."
- - -
The two boys sat in the living room with their books spread out about them. Mostly they kept to their own work and thoughts, but now and then they would ask a question that the other might know, or just tell a silly joke to break the silence.
- - -
"Man I think my brain is mush." Toji said as he fell to the floor on his back.
"I thought your brain was always much." Shinji said as he finished his last physics problem.
"Hardy…har…har, then I would have to say yours is too." Toji said with a smile as he closed his eyes.
Shinji looked to the grandfather clock in the corner. "Oh shit, I should get going, or else I may get it from Misato and Asuka." Shinji said as he sat up and started to gather his stuff.
"Yeah, if you need to go." Toji stretched and sat up. "Wait a minute…get it from Asuka! You devil you!" Toji smiled and winked at Shinji.
"N...n…no, it's nothing like that. It's just th…just …just that she needs help with the kanji." Stammered Shinji as he blushed a slight shade of red.
"Uh huh…ok…well," Toji quickly glanced at the clock, "yeah it is getting late, you need company back to your place?"
"Thanks, but no thanks, you know that Section 2 is keeping a close eye on me after I happened to lose them for a few days when I ran away." Shinji said as he looked solemnly to the floor.
"Don't worry about it, we all go through rough times," stated Toji as he clapped his hand on Shinji's shoulder.
"Thanks man," Shinji looked up at Toji, "If only piloting Eva was easier. I do have to deal with the fate of the world you know."
"Nothing I can really do about that." Toji gave Shinji's shoulder a slight squeeze and removed his hand. "Least not yet." Toji said softly and smiled slightly.
"Huh?" Shinji turned to look at his friend.
"Oh nothing," Toji quickly shook his head, "just something I have been thinking about."
"Ok then." Shinji shouldered his bag and started for the door. "Thanks for the talk and dinner. I appreciate it."
"Anytime man, anytime," Toji said as Shinji headed down the steps. "Have a good night; don't let the red-haired devil get in your hair!" Toji called out as Shinji started down the street.
"Don't worry, if anything I will just go to my room and get to bed. Thanks again and night!" Shinji turned quickly to wave at Toji and then continued on his way.
Toji stood in the doorway at his house. As soon as Shinji was out of sight, he fell to his knees and started to cry.
* * *
Shinji had just walked into the apartment. "And where have you been third child?!?" Asuka said from the hallway with her hands on her hips.
"I was at Toji's," Shinji took off his shoes and made his way to the kitchen. However this was not possible since Asuka stepped into his path. Shinji tried stepping around her, but she countered. "Asuka I would like to get by, don't you want me to get some supper ready?"
"No need to worry about that third child; you made me suffer with Misato's cooking. You are going to clean the kitchen and do the dishes." Asuka said as she glared at Shinji. She then turned around, her hair whipping him in the face. Asuka walked to her room, and slammed her door shut behind her.
Shinji sighed, 'I almost figured as much, her hair smelled good though, what are you thinking! She has no interest in you! She is beautiful. Oh give it a rest you have no chance not even if you were the last man on earth. Yeah, I suppose.' Shinji's head slumps against his chest.
Shinji then moved to place his bags in his room and then to go clean the kitchen. Thankfully the kitchen was not as bad as it could have been, but it still took him the better part of an hour to get everything clean to the way he wanted it. In that time Shinji didn't see or hear anything from Asuka. When Shinji finished he got out his books, finished his homework and started to study his various notes.
'Quiz on Second Impact on Monday huh? Well I really don't think it will be that hard. I know most of the real reason behind it; I will have to play along though. Besides I have heard the teacher's lecture how many times, I am sure I could recite it from memory. No real need to study that.' Shinji put the notebook aside that was labeled "Second Impact". If you would have opened it you would have found just pages of pictures, with the first page being notes from the first day of class.
Midway through his studies he realized that today was Thursday and that he usually helped Asuka a little bit on the kanji. Shinji then walked over to Asuka's door and knocked. "Ah…Asuka....ah…do you want help with…th…the kanji?" Shinji did not hear any response. 'Maybe I said it too soft.' "Asuka, do you want help w…with the kanji?" Shinji asked again a bit louder than before. Again Shinji waited and no response came from Asuka. 'I hope she is alright…could I have really upset her that much?'
Shinji decided to take some initiative and slowly opened her door. "Asuka?" Shinji softly whispered, as the light from the crack he created swept into the room, the figure on the bed was illuminated, Asuka stirred. 'Shit! I can't let her catch me like this.' Shinji started to back out of the doorway as Asuka rolled over so her face was facing to the door. She had a small scowl on her face, her mouth was moving ever so softly as if she was talking to someone in her dreams. '...oh she's sleeping. God, she is so stunning.' Shinji then slowly stepped into the room.
'Looks like she's not having a good dream,' at that Shinji frowned. 'I really don't want to see her sad,' Shinji by now had reached Asuka's bedside. He stared at her for a few minutes; Shinji was brought out of his trance when he heard Misato burp from her room. 'Here goes nothing,' Shinji then bent down and softly kissed Asuka on her forehead, "Sweet dreams Asuka…chan." Shinji then turned and quietly left her room and closed the door. If Shinji would have turned around for another look, he would have seen a small smile appear on Asuka's face.
Author's Notes
I am extremely sorry for this being so long to get the next chapter out. But college has decided to give me much to
do.
I will try to be more prompt in the next chapter, but please give me time.
I will try to get the next chapter out before Thanksgiving at the latest.
Thanks to all you fellow and loyal readers!