Shinji in Nihon

"Maybe, or maybe she will choose ano-" Misato was interrupted by a sound from the door.

"Tadaima"

Misato and Asuka's head turn toward the door and they see Shinji there with a blank face, taking his shoes off. They were both speechless and just stare at Shinji. Shinji seems to not notice the stares he was receiving and proceeds to walk to his room. He enters and closes the door behind him. Misato had dropped her beer and it was now spilled over the table.

"I think I've had enough to drink for one night" Misato says, "I swear to god I just hallucinated"

Asuka looks over at Misato, then at Shinji's door, and then at Shinji's shoes. 'He's back...' She thinks and then turns to Misato again, "I don't think I've been drinking tonight, and I saw it too"

Misato seems to still be in shock. Asuka sighs and finishes her dinner. She brings her plates to the sink and then walks into her room. A minute later she walks out and calls to Misato "I'm gonna take a shower"

Misato just nods, still in disbelief. After she hears the shower running she picks up her can of beer. She stares at it for a while and then goes to the fridge to get another.

-------

Shinji wakes up in cold sweat. He looks shocked for a moment before getting out of bed and getting his school uniform. He had left it in his drawer, he hadn't needed it in Germany. He takes a shower and then walks into the kitchen. He starts to think about what he should make himself for breakfast when he hears stirring from Misato's room. He doubts she will wake up anytime soon but he decides to head out the door. The thought of bringing his SDAT player enters his head but he realizes that his belongings had not yet arrived.

'But then again, they probably won't ever arrive' Shinji thinks as he heads out the door.

-------

Asuka walks into her classroom. He surveys the class for any signs of Shinji. She had begun to doubt his return, especially when she found no trace of him at the house this morning. She sees Toji and Kensuke but no Shinji. Asuka sighs and mutters 'Maybe I was hallucinating'

She then sees Hikari and decides to walk over. As she walks a brown haired boy in the corner of the room catches her eye. She takes a good look and sees it was Shinji.

'Shinj..' She thinks but then realized something. 'Why isn't he talking to the other stooges...'

Shinji was blankly staring out the window. He almost looked like Rei, but Rei had a different look in her eyes. Like she was actually looking at something. Or for something. But Shinji, he was just.... seeing.

'Well I guess someone had a depressing vacation. But it couldn't have been that bad... I guess I'll talk to him later' She thinks but then continues to head over to Hikari.

-------

"Hey Asuka" Hikari says.

"Guten Morgen" Asuka says not quite as cheerfully.

"Uh...I guess Ikari-kun is back" Hikari says, as if it were a suggestion.

"Guess so" Asuka says, seemingly unfazed.

"I thought you said he didn't come back"

"He didn't, when we went to get him at the airport. But he suddenly came home yesterday" Asuka says, now sitting down.

"Well, did you talk to him?"

"What? Why would I talk to that baka?"

"Well, you missed him didn't you?"

Asuka laughs.

"Asuka..." Hikari says.

Asuka's laugh turns into a nervous one and then stops.

"He left early this morning, and yesterday he went straight to his room. I didn't have a chance to talk about him" Asuka says after a few moments.

"Oh, well why don't you go talk to him now?" Hikari asks.

"I-" Asuka starts but then the teacher walks in. The students take their seats.

"Kiritsu, Lei, Chakuseki" Hikari anounces just like every other day. The students stand, bow and sit back down.

"Good morning" The teacher says, and then begins his lesson.

------

"Ikari-kun"

Shinji turns around and sees Rei standing at the doorway.

It was lunch. Shinji had instantly got up and walked out of the class when it started. He had then headed straight for the roof.

"Oh Ayanami, sorry but I want to be alone right now" Shinji replies as he turns back around to see the scenery.

Ayanami quickly responds "I just thought I would like to report to you how your favor went"

"Oh...don't worry about that. Just forget I ever mentioned it" Shinji says still looking away from Rei.

"I see.." Rei says with a confused look on her face. She takes one last glance at Shinji and then walks back down the stairs.

Shinji did not return to class that day.

-----

"Tadaima!" Asuka said as she walked into the apartment, nearly walking into Misato.

"Okaeri Asuka, I'm on my way out. You and Shinji-kun have Sync tests today so be at headquarters by 6" Misato says and then sees that Shinji is not behind Asuka, "Where's Shinji-kun?"

"How should I know? He didn't come back to class after lunch"

"He skipped class?" Misato asked, concerned.

"Yes, I just said that" Asuka says as she walks into the apartment.

"Oh... I see" Misato says and then adds "Well, I'm going now, Ittekimasu"

"Itterashai" Asuka mutters and then walks to her room to put her bag down. She comes walks back out, gets a drink, brings it too the living room and begins to watch TV.

-----

"Tadaima" Shinji mutters as he walks into the apartment. Asuka looks over from the couch.

"Where have you been baka?" Asuka asks.

Shinji looks over at Asuka.

'He looks tired' Asuka thinks and then sees Shinji getting a drink from the refrigerator.

"Hey I asked you a question!" Asuka yells.

Shinji continues to ignore her which greatly annoys Asuka.

"Whatever, I don't care anyway" Asuka says and then remembers they have a Sync test. "We have tests today. Misato said to be there at 6"

"All right" Shinji mutters and then walks to his room.

"Oh so now you talk to me" Asuka says, still annoyed.

Shinji continues to walk, ignoring her again. Asuka unable to take it any longer, gets off the couch and runs in front of Shinji.

"What the hell is your problem!?" She yells.

Shinji looks at Asuka unamused. He attempts to walk around her but she stops him.

"I said what's your problem!?" She yells again louder then before.

"I heard you. You don't always have to be so loud, Soryu" Shinji says coldly. He then gently pushes Asuka aside and walks into his room, shutting the door behind him.

Asuka was in shock. Actually she was more furious then in shock. She mutters "What's his problem....?"

------

Asuka had left for headquarters before Shinji. She didn't feel like seeing him. Now the three Children, all in their plug suits, were standing in front of Misato and Ritsuko. Ritsuko was giving them a brief explanation of the tests. Rei looked emotionless, but that was normal. Asuka looked calm, but she kept stealing glances at Shinji. Shinji just stared in front of him at nothing in particular.

"We will not insert the plugs into the evas for this test" Ritsuko concludes.

"Good luck" Misato adds.

-------

"Is everyone ready?" Misato asks.

"Of course!" Asuka says.

"Yes" Rei says, simply.

Shinji remains silent. Ritsuko glances over at Misato. Misato examines the expression on Shinji's face for a moment. She then turns to Ritsuko and shrugs.

"We will begin the test" Ritsuko says and the LCL begins to fill the entry plugs.

The picture of Ritsuko and Misato disappear from Shinji's screen. He then sighs and mutters inaudibly "May the blood of Lilith envelope me, and bring me to my mother"

-------

Yeah I know it's short, but I thought it was a good place to end it. Well anyway. Please review. Oh yeah I have another question. Does Shinji, Rei and Asuka get paid for piloting? I would figure yes since they are riskin' their lives and I guess technically they are employed to Nerv. But anyway if someone could give me a definite answer it would be nice.

Japanese

Kiritsu - Stand

Lei or Rei - Bow

Chakuseki - Sit

That's all classroom stuff. You don't go up to a random Japanese kid sittin in the middle of the street and say "Kiritsu"