I wake to the morning light, eyes heavy with sleep and senses just starting to do their job again; the soft gleam of morning light, the smell of sheets and my horrid morning breath, the taste of old spit, and the touch of an arm slung across my shoulder.
Rolling over slowly, I see her still asleep, the light from the window making her glow, like an angel lying next to me.
"If only that were the truth," I tell her, affectionately brushing her cheek. She smiles, and reaches over me again, pulling me closer to her. One of the straps of her tank top hangs lazily off one shoulder, giving my mind thoughts with which to occupy, and they are certainly delicious. She would probably kill me if she knew I was thinking like this.
"But you're not a mind reader, are you?"
I lie there for a while, not sure because my alarm clock is to my back, and slowly her eyes slide open slowly focusing on me. She gives me a smile.
"What time is it?"
"I wouldn't know; someone has kept me from facing the clock."
"Not my fault."
"Of course not." I gently poke her nose, and she crunches her face at me, shoving me away as she rolls to her feet, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"What was that for?"
"I know what you were thinking about," she casts a friendly yet disbelieving smile back at me, "Anytime you're this cuddly in the morning is when you want some. I can read you like a book."
How does she do it?
I sit up as well, the slight ache of muscle use a soft complaint of last night's activities. It has been several months since our last major argument; seems like some sort of world record if you ask me. By now she's gotten to her feet and pulled her panties on. I reach for her, hoping to snatch her by the waistband and pull her back down.
Her eyes catch my movement though, and she slaps my hand.
"Don't even…"
"Think about it? I already have." I watch her, ready to dodge any incoming blows, her eyes focused and frustrated at me. "Of course, if you're not interested in what I'm proposing…" My hand shoots up to her left hip, gently caressing the supple flesh.
Once again my hand is moved away, more gently this time, a blush in her cheeks, "No, I am not." Her voice quavers slightly as she turns away from me. Hesitating for only a moment, I reach out and grab her butt.
A whirl of red hair, and her hard blues stare at me with venom, face deeply red.
"Shinji, stop being an idiot!"
I know I am risking it, but each day I get better at reading her signals and maneuvering past her temper. I scoot over to the bed and gently wrap an arm around her waist. I give her a gentle pull, and she sits down next to me.
"I'm sorry, I just can't help myself," my hands close over her shoulders in a hug, "But you're just so sexy I can't resist."
She looks at me, "Even when I'm pissed off?"
"Especially when you're pissed."
She looks me in the eyes, the anger beginning to subside. I see my opportunity and begin to lay my kisses on her, starting at her left shoulder and progressing along it to her neck.
"No…Shinji…stop," she protests, her breathing getting heavier. Even her fiery temper can't hold a candle to the heat of her passions, and she knows it. She reaches behind her and grabs the back of my neck, gently squeezing it.
"I hate you."
"I love you too," I respond. With how long we've been together, it's no surprise we are in love. I know I should propose to her, but I just don't feel like the time is right for asking. It feels like I have unfinished business to attend to.
My hands have now begun to travel, taking in the soft white expanse of her skin, gently working their way up to her breasts. Even now I can feel her skin tighten and react to my touch, her breathing heavy and sharp when I find a sensitive spot.
"You know, we have to stop doing this in the mornings, or else neither of us will get anything done."
"I don't care," she tells me, "And besides, I think we are getting something done."
"I meant other than each other."
"You're the one who started it, Shinji."
I shut up. She's right, I am. Instead I focus on the task at hand, gently starting to slide the tank top up and over her head.
The doorbell rings.
I stop, staring out the open bedroom door, trying to will the doorbell not to ring again. I feel her hand upon my neck though, pulling me back to my mission.
It rings again.
"Damn it," I stop caressing her, climbing out of bed and into a pair of shorts.
"Who do you think it is?"
I turn back to her, my own mind trying to answer that question, "I don't know, but I intend to find out." I curse quietly as I cross the apartment to the door. Whoever it could be was going to get an earful for interrupting our private time.
Looking through the peephole, I see trimmed gray hair and a black business suit. A relaxed and wise face stares forward, and I recognize him. I wonder if I should open the door.
"Who is it?" she calls as she emerges from the bedroom, a sari covering her hips.
"Fuyutsuki."
"Ikari," his muffled voice comes through the door, "Please open the door. We need to talk."
"There is nothing to talk about, Fuyutsuki. If you think…"
"Let him in, Shinji."
"Asuka?"
"Let's hear him out, otherwise he won't leave us alone."
Lowering my head, I unlock the door and open it. She steps forward and smiles.
"Welcome Fuyutsuki."
"Thank you, Asuka." He walks in slowly, taking a seat on our couch, "So, how are things?" He looks truly interested, but I don't want him to stay any longer than he has to.
"What is this about?"
"Yes Fuyutsuki, why did you come here?" Asuka adds, placing her hands on her hips. I know she is trying to keep herself composed despite her fears, fears that took us two and a half years to quell.
"I like what you've done to the place. You two certainly know how to decorate."
"Don't dodge our question. Fuyutsuki, the only reason we let you in was to hear what you had to tell us." I want to say more, but Asuka shoots me a warning look, shaking her head.
"Asuka, you're looking well too, much better than the last time I saw you. Have things been well?"
"Yes, things are well," she answers for me, "Fuyutsuki, why did you come? You drop us occasional letters, even called us sporadically, and yet you've never come to visit us. What could possibly be so important?"
He sighs, and then pulls a small envelope from his jacket pocket, "Here is some more money for expenses. The reason why I came today is to tell you that you're in danger."
"Danger," I ask, "from whom?"
"Seele, the same organization that has been hunting us for the past five years."
"How did they know where to find us?"
"I don't know. What I do know is that they are aware of everyone who's still alive. That's why I want the two of you to come with me, stay within the safety of numbers."
Asuka looks to me, but all I can do is stare angrily at Fuyutsuki, "Maybe if you hadn't contacted us so often we could've stayed hidden. Forget it."
"What? Ikari, no."
"We're not coming with you. For five years we've tried our hardest to forget everything you, my father, and Nerv did to us," I cross to Asuka, who wraps an arms around me, "So you can just take your money and get out of here."
"Ikari…Shinji. I don't want to hurt you anymore. I am sorry that we did what we did. Your father paid for it, and I still bear the burden of my actions. Please Shinji, you have to forgive."
"Why should I forgive you? My father nearly destroyed our lives, all of them: Asuka still has trouble sleeping from time to time, he willingly put Touji and Rei in danger, and he certainly didn't care about me. And what's worse, you stood by and did nothing."
"There was little I could do Shinji," Fuyutsuki looked at me, his face stoic but eyes quietly pleading with me, "I admired your father, but I was in a position where I had no real power. I am sorry Shinji."
I look at Asuka, who has retracted into me, tears falling softly down her cheek. It pains me to see her like this, but whenever Nerv or hints of it emerge, she gets upset and starts behaving more like a frightened child.
"Fuyutsuki, I want you to leave now."
"Ikari…"
"Now."
He rose, removing a card from his jacket and setting it down on our coffee table, "Here is a number if you wish to contact me. I will leave now. Call me if you change your mind."
With that, he left, carefully closing the door behind him.
"Good riddance," I say to the closed door, and then help her over to the couch, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'll be alright," she says between sniffs, "It's just that, every time Nerv comes up…"
"I know Asuka. It's alright." I wrap my arms around her shoulders and hug her close to me, trying to calm her down more. Nerv had nearly shattered her life and sanity, a miracle I had been able to bring her this far back after five years.
"Don't worry about it. I won't let anything happen to you."
After the mind-rape incident, Asuka had been a mess. On top of that, the battle against the S2 Evas had been badly damaging to all of us, causing Asuka to slip even deeper into a psychological shell. And the letters and phone calls from Fuyutsuki hadn't helped, always bringing up old memories. However, his visit had been the final straw. I wanted nothing to do with him or Nerv ever again.
"I love you Shinji."
I smile and looked into her eyes. They were soft and tear-lined, but relieved. She would be all right.
"You know what, I'll cook dinner tonight."
She chuckled softly, "Good idea. I'm not bad at cooking, but you're far better than I am."
"But Misato was the worst."
We both laughed at that. Misato could've killed an Angel with her cooking. I wonder how she's doing.
Suddenly, Asuka lunges forward, pressing her lips hard against mine, the rush enough to make me lose control for a moment; her earlier mood returning. The heat begins to rise, and in moments her sari is on the floor.
"Love me Shinji, I don't want to be alone."
"You aren't, and you won't be ever again."
Our lovemaking continues, the two of us soon naked and lying together on the couch.
"Keep going," she implores, her cheeks red and eyes shimmering with desire. I smile and nod, leaning forward to kiss her before I continue.
The doorbell rings.
I start to sit up, but she grabs me and pulls me back down, laying more kisses on me, "Just ignore it."
I follow her lead, continuing with my kisses and caresses. It can wait, whatever it is. We are enjoying ourselves, and nothing can interrupt us.
The doorbell rings again.
"Come back in a few hours!" I sit up and shout at the door.
The next sound I hear is a gunshot, and the lock shatters, metal bits flying everywhere. Asuka lets out a startled scream, and I fall on top of her, the two of us rolling to the floor. I grab my shorts and pull them on, handing Asuka her panties and shirt.
A second shot rings out, and I hear more metal go flying, followed by a heavy thud against the door. This is not good. We live on the fourth floor of the apartment building, and the front door is our only option for escape.
"Come on," I say, quickly rising and dashing across the room to the kitchen. I can hear her matching my stride, and she collides with me as a skid to a stop. Grabbing a carving knife, I hand it to her; grabbing another knife and cutting my palm open in the process. White pain flashes in my mind, and I bite my lower lip to keep from shouting.
Another thump, and this time I hear the door swing open, small wooden splinters scattering about the room. I duck behind the counter, and she does the same.
"Find them and kill them," a male voice says, his voice cold and serious.
"Sir," a female voice responds, followed by two other male voices.
"Four," she whispers in my ear. I nod and look at her. She is scared, but her body is tensed and ready to spring. I ca feel my on heart in my throat, but I know I need to focus if we want to survive.
We hear them moving, two of them toward the bedroom and one of them toward the kitchen. His pace is quick, only a few seconds from rounding the corner and finding us.
Gripping the knife tightly in my uninjured hand, I imagine where I'll strike; the head, the gut, the leg…
He swings around the corner!
I spring forward, ramming my weight into him and bringing my knife down with one hard stab. I feel the connection and the blood, but don't realize anything until he starts trying to scream, his voice little more than gurgled cries for help. I look at him quickly, and his eyes connect with mine, frightened and wild, as he tries to pull my hand away from his neck. Reacting to the danger, I stab one more time, and his cries cease, the body going limp.
"Shinji!" I hear Asuka scream, followed by several gunshots. I look to Asuka, who is holding the dead man's pistol in both hands, smoke diminishing as it pours out of the barrel. I look in the direction of the pistol's aim and see another man in a suit, lying on the ground and groaning, his pistol also on the floor.
Rising quickly, I dash over to the pistol, picking it up. Two bullets fly by my head, and I dive forward, crawling over to the couch. Two more gunshots follow me, barely missing my shoulder and my neck, and I roll over, aiming the pistol in the direction of the incoming shots, the couch obstructing my aim and view. I fire back and hear two bodies in fast motion.
Rising quickly, I pop up over the couch and look for a target. Spotting a moving suit, I squeeze off four shots, the man dropping to his knees. A fifth shot rings out, glancing my left shoulder and yet making a sizeable hole in the flesh and shattering bone. I collapse, letting out a cry of hot pain as the gun drops to the floor.
A woman dressed in a suit, blond hair in a ponytail and hardened gray eyes comes around the corner of the couch, kicking the gun away from me and leveling a gun at my head.
"I'm impressed, Shinji Ikari. However, I can't congratulate you for failing to kill me. Now, die quietly."
"No one messes with Shinji," I hear Asuka's voice, cold and deadly, followed by a shot that splatters the lady's face, blood landing on everything, including myself, "That's my job."
As the pain continues, I feel myself getting faint, the world starting to fade from sight. Asuka kneels above me, slaps me a couple of times to clear my head, and through teary eyes she talks to me, trying to keep me awake.
"Don't worry Shinji, I'll get help."