The End, Or the Beginning?
Chapter: 8 Feelings Revealed
Disclaimer: oh so you didn't listen last time (Bucky pulls out a grenade and smiles)
Familiar ceiling. It is the familiar ceiling that brings comfort to the Third Child. Shinji Ikari lay sprawled out on his bed unconsciously reliving every aspect of the previous battle. The Angel had come out of nowhere it was unexpected by everyone.
Nobody knew that there would be any more than 17, that's how many they were told about. There shouldn't be anymore, yet another lie from his father. He moved his arm up to his face; he took a quick sniff then dropped it back down. "It still smells, like blood."
A stirring sound from the ground next to his bed could be heard as the Sixth child woke slowly. Lena propped herself up on one arm "what was that Shinji?" she asked while rubbing her eyes with he free hand.
Shinji shifted his position to his side to view the Sixth, "it smells like blood, the entry plug." He sighed and rolled onto his back once again "when the purification goes offline the plug smells."
Lena opened her eyes fully to take in the outline of the boy she shared a room with, "how do you know that?" She asked out of curiosity but by the end of the story she would wish she had never asked.
After a few minutes Lena had gotten up and sat down on Shinjis bed next to him, listening intently to his tale of the 12th Angel. She placed her hand lightly over his as he shuddered at his own words, "at least you're safe now, that's something I am grateful for."
Shinji smiled, no one had ever told him that well except maybe Misato. "Thank you" he said quietly "for being my friend."
Lena smiled she hadn't had many friends over her life so it was good to have a friend like Shinji. Though she had to know if it could be more and there was one thing preventing that, "Shinji?" He looked up at her and she asked her agonising question "is…is there something going on between you and Asuka?"
He was surprised at this he didn't know himself, visions of the strange dreams he had kept resurfacing. After a moment he felt Lena tense she was expecting an answer, "I…I don't think so" the blonds tension drained a little.
Lena felt great relief that there wasn't anything going on between the Second and Third children. This was her moment the moment of truth "Shinji, will…would you…like to go out with me?"
"What?" Shinji was startled; he had not been expecting this. Never would he of thought of Lena as more than a friend, he thought she was two beautiful to have any interest in him. "Did…did you just ask me out?" he stammered.
Lena flushed a bright red and looked away 'too late to back out now' she thought. "Well yeah, if you'd like?" she said hesitantly 'please, please' echoed through her brain.
Shinji was stunned still his mind going over possibilities 'we could go out, I could be happy for once. But would she betray me? Would she hurt me the first chance she gets? Asuka…' He soon found memories of the dreams going through his head "They are all people you like, she is someone you love" the little Shinji had said.
He knew this meant something and that it was important he spoke without realising his mouth was moving. "No" he whispered, "I love her" Lenas' hand let go and she stood up.
"I knew it" she said with a shaky voice, "I knew there was something going on between you." Lena suppressed the urge to cry, she didn't know why but this boy had hurt her with those simple words.
"I'm sorry" Shinji sighed sitting up on his bed, "no matter how hard I ran or how hard she pushed me I ended up loving her anyway. Now that I know this I couldn't possibly get involved with anyone else. I'd just hurt them, I'd hurt you. Because I'd still love her" he sighed.
Lena shook her head, "no it's ok Shinji you can't help how you feel. I…I understand" She had to try hard not to cry It was painful to know the one you loved, loved someone else. "She…she is lucky"
Shinji stood up and walked over to the door "I'm going for a drink, goodnight." After fleeing to the kitchen Shinji dropped into a chair at the table. His head hit the table and he closed his eyes "what happens now?"
*********************************************************************
Deep inside of NERV HQ in a large dark office….
"What happens now indeed" Gendo sighed from behind his dark and menacing desk, "if she reciprocates your love she will hurt you. I cannot allow this to happen" his eyes softened for a second only to harden yet again. "Arrangements will be made to deal with the Second child."
Down three levels and to the left a block, inside the dimly lit Eva cages Unit-01 stands tall in the sea of coolant surrounding it. For a brief moment its eyes glow bright white as Yui Ikari awakens once again, for a brief moment.
*********************************************************************
Asuka stepped out of the car and stretched, the car ride had been long as Misato insisted that they have dinner before returning home. This was so that Shinji could get some decent rest from his excruciating experience. 'What am I going to do? I suppose I'll wait till morning.'
Misato stepped up beside Asuka who had until now been staring at their apartment window. The lights were off and it looked like they had been like that for a while, "Shinji would be asleep now." Misato smiled at the redhead "maybe we should be quiet; we wouldn't want to wake him and Lena. Not after what they went through."
Asuka could only nod her mind was still racing on other thoughts when Misatos words hit her, 'Him and LENA!' She remembered that the blond who obviously had a thing for Shinji shared his room with her. 'She has probably taken the opportunity by now and he has accepted. There goes my chance, goodbye Shinji.'
"Come on" Misato said cheerily as she pulled Asuka by her arm into the complex. She noticed that the usually fiery girl did not put up a fight or argue against being dragged. 'Things are bound to change' she sighed to herself. She continued to pull Asuka gently along the corridors to the elevator.
Asuka looked up at her guardian her mind was begging her to ask a question, "did…did Shinji ask about me?" Her voice was once again shaky and barley above a whisper.
The violet haired woman caught the question perfectly well her eyes softened as she looked down at her young charge. She was more than that now she was like Shinji; she was one of her children. "I…don't know. He didn't say anything when I took him home and then I had to leave to help you."
The elevator clicked and the doors opened the two women stepped out and made their way to the apartment. When they reached the door Asuka noted that it had two names engraved next to the name of Katsuragi. It now read Katsuragi, Ikari, Soryu residence. She smiled, this was her home now even if it was in a blown out city.
*********************************************************************
Misato swiped her security card through the reader and she was rewarded with a soft ping and the door opening. Both women stepped in and were stopped in the entrance to the kitchen. They both stared in awe as they took in the sight of the Third Child with his head on the table sleeping soundly.
"I'm going to bed" Misato said as she walked up to Shinji she bent over and kissed him lightly on the top of his head. "Good night Shinji" she turned to Asuka "goodnight Asuka, sweet dreams." With that said she skipped her customary home coming bear and went to bed, sober.
Asuka took one last look at the boy then smiled slightly and turned towards her room, ready to sleep her troubles away. "Asuka" a soft voice stopped her dead and she turned around. The only other person in the room was Shinji Ikari and he looked to be still asleep. She smiled again and turned around "Asuka, don't go."
The young redhead turned around once more this time to be greeted by a now sitting up Third Child "Shinji." He smiled slightly as Asuka walked back to the table and pulled up a chair, "I thought you were asleep."
Shinji smiled again then looked away obviously hiding a blush from his roommate "I was…kinda…waiting for you." He added quickly "if you don't mind?"
Asuka just looked at him for a good minute before she answered, and when she did she took both her and Shinji by surprise. In one swift blurry movement she grabbed the poor boy and pulled him into a tight embrace, much like Misatos ones. "I…I don't mind at all" she could feel the tears well up but had no idea why.
"I…I was so worried about…" she began to speak but a hard lump in her throat cut her off, 'why is it so hard to say?' She swallowed hard pushing the lump down 'this has to be said, even if I missed my chance it still has to be said.' "Shinji, I…I love you."
Shinji tensed as he felt Asuka tighten her hold on him, 'did…did she just say that or was it my imagination.' All he could manage to say outside was "A-Asuka?" all he got in response were muffled sobs, 'I did hear her, just like I hear her crying now. This is it, this is reality. My reality.'
"Shhh…Asuka…don't cry" he said softly stroking her hair and pulling her closer into a tighter embrace. A moment passed and soon Asukas sobs reduced to heavy breathing Shinji pushed her back slightly allowing him to see her face. Her eyes were red and lines of moister were present on both of her cheeks. He used his right hand to wipe the side of her face free of tears, "that's better isn't it."
Though she didn't feel like it Asuka smiled looking into Shinjis light blue eyes made her feel warm. Shinji smiled back he closed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, "Asuka…I love you too." He opened them again only to be greeted by more tears from himself and the young redhead in front of him, "I always have."
Asukas smile grew wider as she stared at the boy who had just admitted he loved her always. Not just before, not just now, always. This made her feel safe, warm for the first time in her life since the age of seven she knew someone loved her. Even though it took her almost a year to realise what was in front of her, all that year spent tormenting him. 'How could he love me, after what I've done to him?'
Her mood saddened and her smile dropped off of her face, 'what's wrong with me, I should be happy. I am but why do I get the feeling he doesn't…no that I don't deserve him.' Asuka thoughts were making excuses her mind was trying to run. Trying to give her a reason to push the boy she loved away. 'When he finds out the truth about me, he will leave me. I'll be alone again he won't want to be with a weak person like me!'
Shinjis thoughts were moving along similar lines 'this can't be happening she doesn't love you Shinji. She just feels sorry for you. Look she isn't happy she'll probably turn around and start hitting you or insulting your intelligence. She doesn't love you, nobody can. I…I don't care I love her and that's final.'
"Shinji," Asuka finally settled the battle with her defence systems the only way to be sure was to ask. "I-I'm not what you think, I'm weak, dirty. If you stay with me I'll probably…hurt you. But I do…mmmph" Asukas explanation was silenced as Shinji pushed his lips to hers. She was surprised for a moment but then relaxed into the kiss.
Shinjis eyes remained closed as he pushed all of his feelings into the kiss he was sharing with Asuka. She didn't seem to object as she was soon just as relaxed as he was, probably even more. After what felt like an eternity for the two teens they split but their mouths never moved more then a few millimetres from each others.
"I…don't think you're weak. You're the strongest person I've ever known" Shinji smiled as he cupped the redheads face in both hands. "You're not dirty, what ever you have felt I have felt the same. I know you more then anyone. I know…about your past and I know how alike we are, the only thing different about our pasts are minor details like dates and people." He paused for a moment to wipe a tear from her face, "I love you, all of you."
Asuka had to fight to hold back the sea of tears, but this time they were tears of joy. "Shinji" her voice just above a whisper, "I've been do blind, not seeing what I had in front of me all this time. I love you too, more then I can ever express…what happens now Shinji?"
Shinji let out a small chuckle, "I don't know, I guess we go to bed." He released the redhead from his hold and stood, "come on you need your sleep, let's go to bed."
Asuka glared at him for a minute "you have your own bed, pervert."
"Ahhh…yeah that's why I'm going to MY room" Shinji laughed as he saw Asuka blush more red then her hair. "Come on" he smiled as he took her hand and entwined his fingers with hers.
Together they walked down the hall quietly. As they came to Shinjis door he stopped and opened it slowly as not to wake Lena. "Goodnight, Asuka" he pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed it gently. He then let go and tried to enter his room, after a few attempts to move from his position he stopped and looked at his hand. It was still being held tightly by the redhead behind him, "Ahhh…you kinda have to let go."
Asuka shook her head and smiled, "Shinji, come sleep in my room. Please?" They both looked at each other for a minute, "I'm not going to let go." She grinned as Shinji just nodded his head, she pulled him down to her room and they both entered together.
To be continued………
A/N: HAHAHAHA I'm evil NOT!!!! Ok here's the thing as u can all tell this chapter is pure WAFF/Romance, don't worry I got it out of the system and I should be able to introduce more plot and Angels and SEELE assassinations and so on. ^_^ and I know what your all thinking and the answer is NO Shinji and Asuka DID not have sex, they just gonna sleep in the same bed. But you never know maybe later they will ^_~ and no I am not going to change the rating so all you Perverts out there who want lemon BUGGER OFF!!!!!! Sorry the only people I can trust to make a good lemon is Random, cause he rules.
Anyway find out what Gendo is up to hopfully in next chap until then
Seya on da other side……………
This has been a Bucky production ^_^ LOL