Note: My real name is NOT Hideaki Anno. I do not own Gainax or any of its
creations let alone Neon Genesis: Evangelion. Characters, locations,
themes, and ideas used in this fic are used without permission from Gainax
or Hideaki Anno.
Last time, on The Last Thing She Expected... Asuka passed her retest easily, and went to see the Commander. Of course, the Commander wouldn't be there, and it's a race against time for Shinji who has to intercept her before she manages to find his father's office! Also, Ritsuko gives Asuka an contraceptive injection, but not before she felt Asuka up! Feeling violated, will Asuka tell Shinji?
And without further ado...
The Last Gift She Expected, Chapter 5: Another Present : Seconds Out...
------------
Asuka walked around the long, similar-looking corridors of NERV Headquarters. [Verdamnt! Where is Gendo's office?] Rounding a corner, she spotted Shinji at the end of the identical corridor.
"Hey, Shinji!" Asuka called out to him. Shinji turned around, and waved. Walking toward each other, the first thing Shinji asked was "How'd you go?"
Asuka grinned from ear to ear. "Ha! I beat your record!"
Shinji already knew this, but played along. "What!? Aw, geez!"
Shinji's arm fell around Asuka's back, as did Asuka's around Shinji's. Asuka turned to Shinji. "Uh, do you know where your dad's office is?"
"Oh, yeah, he called you for a metting, didn't he? Anou, I'm not really sure, but I think it was on floor B-09." Of course it wasn't, but the Bridge was there, as was the surprise party.
"Well, I suppose we should head for an elevator, then." Asuka and Shinji walked forward, hunting down an elevator.
As they walked, the lovers get to talking. "Uh, Shinji, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Before I came here," Asuka began, "how well did you get along with Ritsuko?"
"Um..." This question's a bit out of the blue... "I...didn't...really know her...that well..."
"Oh." Asuka fell quiet for a little while. "It's just that...I think that...she might be...I mean..."
Shinji looked across at Asuka. "What?"
"I think...she might...bat for the wrong team...you know?"
Bat for the wrong team? What does she - oh... Memories from that early morning phone call flooded back into Shinji's mind.
"Come to think of it..." Shinji reminisced, "The other day, I called her house early on in the morning, and Maya picked up..."
"Maya picked up?" Asuka perked her ears. "You mean...?"
"Yeah, I think they were..." Shinji felt himself blush a little, "...I mean, over the line I heard all of the grunting and moaning and..."
"Oh, God, Shinji," Asuka groaned, "don't go into all of the details. I don't want to be sick in front of the Commander."
Shinji stifled a laugh. [Asuka isn't as invinvible as she lets on...] "The reason I asked..." Asuka thought about whether or not telling Shinji was the right thing to do.
[I mean he almost bit her head off two days ago, and that was just for hurting my feelings. I don't want to know what he'd do if he knew Ritsuko tried to feel me up...]
Shinji noticed the irregular pause in speech. "Something wrong, Asuka?"
"Oh no, no...hey, look, there's the elevator..."
Sure enough, the elevator was right in front of them. Shinji pressed the "Down" button, and they waited.
"It's just because...ah...because..."
"Asuka, just tell me. What happened?"
Shit! I've gotta tell him now! "Well, Ritsuko...I went to get a shot from her after my test..."
"A shot? What for?"
"For, uh..." Asuka wasn't sure of how to put it. "For...female matters..."
Shinji instantly regretted asking. Asuka continued.
"Well, anyway, she...oh, it was something about the way she looked at me...it was like some of those baka-hentai perverts at school..."
"...what?" Shinji felt rage build inside him...
"And...when she was done," Asuka continued, "She...touched me..."
Shinji was screaming inside. "How...dare she..."
"No, don't get upset..."
Shinji stared incredulous at Asuka. "Don't get upset? You should be angrier than anyone right now! First she bullies you around with the sync tests, now she's feeling you up!? You didn't used to put up with this kind of crap! Hell, it used to be that if I caught a glimpse, let alone a feel, I'd get bashed to kingdom-come!"
"Yes, but..."
"The Asuka I know...the Asuka I fell in love with...would never put up with this kind of bullshit."
Asuka fell silent. [He's right...]
"If you just put up with this, then it'll just get worse. People will start to walk all over you. Believe me, I know..."
Ding. The elevator door opened. They both looked up, and walked in. Shinji reached over to the elevator control panel, and pressed B-09.
"Wow..." Shinji looked across at Asuka. "You really have changed, Shinji. When I first got here you were a weak willed, whining idiot. And now..."
Shinji was speechless. "You've changed too..."
"I know..." Asuka knew that she had become more compassionate since the last angel attack. It was almost as if they'd unknowingly combined their identities...
The floor counter ticked over. B-04, B-05, B-06...
"Shinji?"
Shinji looked across at Asuka. Her demeanor had changed a lot over the last few days. The once confident Second Child looked nervous, her eyes glancing through the bottom of the elevator door and off into space. The door opened, but this didn't seem to affect Asuka's gaze.
"Thank you," Asuka said softly, "for helping me."
Shinji hugged Asuka a bit harder. "Don't worry," he assured, "You'll be fine."
-----------------
Shigeru was crouching over the security console, watching the blue dot that symbolised Shinji's tracing node. He knew that Shinji would be with Asuka. Meanwhile, other NERV staff were adding finishing touches to the NERV Central command post. The layers had already been raised and lowered to level out all of the different floors. Now, all three Magi were on the same layer, as well as the main exits, the commander's position above all other floors now towering even further above everything else. Many trays of food were atop Melchior and Caspar, while Balthasar was completely empty.
"Why are we loading up the two outer ones with food, and leaving the middle one with nothing on it?" Hikari asked Ritsuko.
"Almost every platform in this room can be shifted up and down," Ritsuko replied, "The plan is to have the platform with Balthasar..."
"The platform with who?"
Ritsuko sighed. "The middle one with the red box on it."
"Oh."
"We're gonna have that one drop down slightly below the other two, hopefully attracting Asuka to stand there. When it's surprise time, we raise the platform back up to this height, then turn on the lights."
"Ah, sounds good."
Elsewhere, Misato was glaring at Kaji, chatting across the room with a couple of Asuka's schoolfriends. [WHAT is that moron doing here?! Grrr, I'm gonna kill Shinji for inviting him!] Kaji looked across the crowd, and shot Misato a smile. [Yep, Shinji's definitely gonna die...]
Meanwhile, Kensuke was looking about the room with a worried look on his face. He walked over to Toji, who was chatting with the girls and Kaji. "Hey, Toji," Kensuke whispered.
Toji turned around. "Yeah, what?"
"Where the hell's Shinji?"
"I dunno...maybe he's still out getting a present..."
Meanwhile, all of the NERV members had gathered by the security console, so that Aoba could still monitor the...well...monitor.
"So, do you really think this was such a good idea?" Maya spoke first.
"It hasn't been that bad," Hyuga said, "Sure there have been a few questions about NERV, but that's to be expected..."
"Ritsuko turned to Hyuga. "By the way, how did that Visual Music program work out?"
"Complete. Runned a check through the Magi, all systems green."
"Good. Now all we're waiting for is Asuka and Shinji."
"Asuka and Shinji?" Aoba said, while watching out for Asuka, "Are you kidding?"
Misato jumped to Ritsuko's defence. "She's telling the truth..."
The small group hushed. They knew exactly how much Shinji and Asuka's personalities clashed. They found it hard to believe it was possible.
"No way!" Maya dismissed her sempai's claims.
"Care to wager on it?" Rei asked, sneaking up seemingly out of nowhere. The group looked at Rei as if she had seven eyes. "What?" she asked innocently, giving a smile.
"Uh, yeah, how about it?" Misat back up Rei's proposition.
Slowly, each of the group members nodded their heads.
"Then it's settled," Maya smiled, "If Shinji and Asuka pash by the end of the night, Misato, Sempai and Rei each get 100..."
Misato interrupted by saying "200."
"Okay, 200 yen from me, Makoto and Shigeru. If they don't then you owe us the same. Deal?"
"Deal!" Then, defying many laws of physics, a six-way handshake ensued
"Hey! Put me down for some of that too! 200 yen says Shinji'll have the balls!" Kaji piped in.
Hyuga grinned. "You're on!"
Aoba resumed his vigil over the screen. The dot had moved a fair way...
"Shit!" he said rather loudly, "Asuka's on this floor! She's headed this way!"
Ritsuko turned to the crowd of people. "Okay, everybody into the corridor on the right hand side! Aoba, cut the lights. Hyuga, run your ocean program over the holo-maps. Maya, lower the platform. Everyone else, outside!"
All of the other guests ran for the corridor, except for Misato, Kaji and Rei. The others carried out their orders, and then fumbled blindly for the corridor door. Finally, Rei found the door, and held it open.
"This way, quickly!" she said, and the rest of the adults hid in what turned out to be a broom closet.
"Hey! This isn't the corridor!" Kaji stated the obvious as Rei shut the door on the NERV employees. Rei smiled evilly, and walked to the emergency ladder, leading up to the command suite, where her surrogate father overlooked all of NERV's operations. Taking one last look at the amazing digital display in place of the regular holographic maps and radar, she ducked down underneath the desk.
A gasp of surprise shocked Rei, as she looked around. "A-Aida?" Rei stammered.
Kensuke stared back at Rei. "Rei? What are you doing...oh my god! I scared you! You...Rei Ayanami...showed emotion!"
Rei blushed. "Why? Aren't I allowed to?"
The sound of a door opening echoed through the giant room. [Shit! She's here!]
Kensuke shot back over the desk, aiming a camera at the door. The brightness from the corridor outside made it hard for Kensuke or his camcorder to focus on who exactly it was, but the red hair gave it away. [It's Asuka alright!]
Kensuke flicked a switch, operating the highly sensitive camcorder microphone. Meanwhile, from beneath the desk, Rei spoke.
"Aida, I fell that there is something you need to know about Pilot Sohryu..."
Kensuke didn't seem really interested. "Look, can it wait, Rei?"
"...No."
Kensuke ignored the blue-haired wonder, adjusting the distance estimator to "Auto". Now Kensuke could hear and record everything Asuka said.
"....ight be the right room..." Asuka muttered. [That's strange,] Kensuke thought, [I never knew Asuka to talk to herself...]
Rei continued. "Pilot Sohryu has established a relationship with..."
Kensuke heard Asuka say, "...don't you think, Shinji?"
"Shinji!?" Kensuke gasped.
"...Pilot Ikari..." Rei finished.
Kensuke watched the monitor in horror as Shinji walked in beside Asuka. [Shinji! How could you!? Don't you realise what you're doing?]
------------
At this point, Asuka noticed the strange blue light in the center of the room.
"Oh wow!" Asuka rushed forward and was mesmerised by the incredible display set up by Hyuga. The blue and green ripples generator by the holosuites in the room, usually used for maps and radar displays, gave the effect that the room was being flooded.
Shinji looked ahead in amazement. [Geez, Hyuga did a bang up job with this display...] Asuka looked back at Shinji, who walked forward, embracing her. They walked down the catwalk as one, reaching a command post-type area, with a small dip in the center oof that area. There were three strange looking red platforms behind the area, two of which were covered in dark red cloth. The center one was inscripted with a name, but in this light it was illegible.
Shinji felt inside his pocket. The small velvet box was still there. [Should I give this to her now? Or should I wait for all the other presents?]
Asuka nuzzled against his chest, purring in contentment. [Yep, now's the time...]
"Uh, Asuka?"
"Yes, Shinji?"
"I know I already got you your present for your birthday..."
"I know, thanks, Shinji..."
"No. There's something else..."
Shinji lifted the box out of his pocket. Asuka looked at it, realising that it contained jewelry. Asuka opened it in Shinji's hands. A magnificent gold heart, encasing a ruby, suspended on an intricate gold chain shone back in Asuka's face.
"Oh my God..." Asuka almost wept, "It's beautiful..." Tears sprung from her eyes. Looking back at Shinji, she said, "Thank you so much, Shinji!"
Shinji took hold of it, and Asuka turned around. Shinji fastened the necklace around her neck. She toyed with it around her neck, looking at it sparkle in the light of the holograph show.
-----------
[Shinji!? With Asuka?! No way!] Toji couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He had opened the door leading to the Bridge just enough to squeeze his head around the corner. Hikari and the other girls were relying on Toji to make reports of what was happening.
"What's going on, Toji?"
"Shin...ji...he's with..."
-----------
Kensuke zoomed in on the pair standing in front of the middle Magi, Balthasar. He watched as Shinji produced a small velvet box from him pocket, containing a necklace.
Kensuke couldn't believe it. "No...anyone but...HER!"
Rei looked on as Kensuke's legs began to give in on him, due to the shock of Asuka actually respecting one of the reknowned Three Stooges, let alone fall in love with one.
"Whoa! I've gotta sit down. Rei, can you take over?"
Rei debated in her mind whether or not to help Kensuke. [If I help him, it would be considered spying, but if I do it would make me seem more human.] Rei shifted over to him, and slid her hand into the padded strap, Kensuke took his hand out, and Rei was now in control of the camera. Kensuke staggered to a large padded chair, and sat down. When he sat down in it, he noticed that it was almost like a throne.
[Hm. Best seat in the house,] Kensuke thought to himself. In te same thought, he muttered, "I wonder who sits here?"
"I do." If a fifteen year old boy in such good health was capable of having a heart attack, then Kensuke would've had one when the cold, penetrating voice of Gendo Ikari reached his ears. Gendo smirked as he lifted the prone body of Kensuke Aida and let him flop to the ground.
Reclaiming his seat, he turned his head to Rei. "Hello, Rei," he said quietly.
"Hey, Commander," Rei said back, while listening in on Asuka blubbering over the necklace.-----------
Maya's eye was glued to the keyhole in the janitorial closet door.
"Asuka's putting on her necklace," Maya reported, "It looks like she likes it..."
"See? I told you they were together!" Misato said.
Aoba grumbled. "The bet still stands, though. They have to kiss before you get your money."
"Oh, I don't think we'll have to wait long for that," Ritsuko smiled. [The love is there, that's for sure..."
"Wait, something else's happening..."
------------
Shinji's arms were around Asuka's waist, the lovers looking out over the fake digital ocean. They looked at each other, a familiar feeling of butterflies building in their bodies.
"Thank you," Asuka muttered. They leaned closer...
------------
Eight schoolgirls gathered around the same crack in the door, leaning over a near-comatose Toji.
"Oh my God, they're gonna kiss!" Hikari half-whispered, half-squealed.
------------
Kensuke was back on his feet, or to be more accurate, his knees, leaning over Rei Ayanami's shoulder to look at the scene below with his camcorder.
"No, Shinji, don't do it..." Kensuke begged with Shinji from afar.
[Do it, Shinji,] Rei willed the Third Child on, [I've got 200 yen riding on you!]
Gendo's hand hovered over a button on the control panel in front of him.
[Come on, son,] Gendo thought, [You're a man now...no...you're an Ikari man now...]
-----------
Maya almost squealed. "They're gonna kiss!"
Shigeru and Makoto already had their wallets out, flicking through them to find 200 yen, as was Kaji, all three grumbling at their misfortune. Ritsuko took the liberty of retrieving Maya's purse and taking 200 from it.
[Good boy, Shinji,] Misato smiled, [Not everyday you pick up 200 yen...]
-----------
Asuka's and Shinji's lips met. If they weren't as deeply engrossed with each other, they would've heard various cries from the janitor's closet, some of victory, others of disappointment; a somewhat loud "Awww" emanating from the door to the corridor to the right of the couple, sounding as if at least half a dozen girls were harmonising; and the dull thud of an adolescent boy fainting again. Of course, neither Asuka nor Shinji could hear this, simply enjoying the moment.
-----------
Somewhere, deep in Gendo Ikari's cast-iron stone cold heart, a faint glow of pride in his son emanated warmth throughout his body. He smiled, not his regular malicious grin, but instead an honest, glad smile. It then twisted into the trademark Ikari Evil Smirk (c) as he pressed the button in front of him...
Back down at the fake ocean, Shinji and Asuka were still embracing, enjoying a loving liplock, when the blue light from the digital display that Asuka had grown accustomed to blinked out suddenly. Asuka noticed this, even with eyes closed. Asuka's eyes opened and widened.
"Mmph! Aagh!" Asuka broke her kiss with Shinji and shouted, clinging to Shinji harder.
"Hey! What's...huh?" Shinji had only just noticed the light, or lack thereof.
"What happened, Shinji?" Asuka panicked, "Who cut the lights!?"
"Shh, shh, it's okay, Asuka," Shinji comforted her. Inside, he smirked. [It's time...]
The floor beneath the pair shifted up about two feet. In the darkness, Asuka could hear the scampering of feet, and a few *chak chak* sounds. [Shit! Guns!] A spotlight shone down on the pair, blinding them. Asuka clung to Shinji harder, burying her head into Shinji's warm chest. Shinji looked ahead in fear, as the muzzles of two assault rifles aimed at his head. Sweat started to drip down his face. A voice broke the silence.
"Are you Shinji Ikari?" the gruff voice said. Shinji dumbly nodded.
Another voice spoke. "And that makes you Asuka Sohryu?"
[That's Asuka LANGLEY Sohryu!] "Uh...hu-uh..." Asuka let go of Shinji. She looked around. Shinji was standing there, arms in the air, a quiet but somewhat confident look on his face, despite the guns aimed at him.
"I'm afraid you're coming with us, Ms. Sohryu," the first man said. "If you'd come along quietly..."
It's amazing how much good fighting evil alien monsters can do for the body, especially the reflexes. Asuka watched in amazement as Shinji's arm came down on one of the rifles in front of him, apparently flicking the butt into one of the soldier's faces. Taking the rifle, he slammed the butt into another one, before copping a rabbit chop to the neck. He fell to the ground in a daze, his naive bravado over.
"Shinji-kun!" Asuka shouted before being grabbed by each of her arms, dragged forward...
Suddenly, the lights blinked on. Asuka looked across at her captors. She was being held in an armlock by...Aoba and Kaji... In front of her, Misato, Ritsuko and Maya were standing there, smiliing broadly. Unbeknownst to Asuka, Shinji was standing, and advancing towards Asuka.
"SUR-PRIIIIIIIIISE!" the whole crowd shouted. Asuka looked around in shock as streamers, balloons, and confetti were falling out of the sky. Asuka gasped in surprise as Shinji wrapped his arms around her again.
"Happy birthday, Asuka," Shinji said in Asuka's ear, "We do make so much of a big deal of them in Japan!"
Asuka looked around as Maya walked toward her with a birthday cake. "Oh my God!" Asuka cried.
Everyone cheered, as Gendo followed Kensuke down from their hiding spot, Rei opting for the more dramatic approach by vaulting over the edge and landing perfectly on top of Balthasar.
"Whose idea was this!?" Asuka asked no one in particular.
"It was I." Rei smiled broadly. Asuka looked at Rei strangely.
"What? Aren't I allowed to throw a party!?" Asuka look at Rei with even more suspicion.
"Okay, who killed Rei and replaced her with a human!?" This comment of Asuka's got a raucous laugh from everyone in the room, even the Second Child herself.
[He he he ha ha ha...wait a minute...did she call me not human?]
-------------
Finally the party is underway! But can Shinji try to negotiate his relationship with his friends? Or will Toji and Kensuke tear him apart? Can Rei keep up the whole human thing all night? Will Kaji get back together with Misato, despite having only one line to say so far in the story!? Whew, so many questions, so much story to get through...Don't miss the next The Last Gift She Expected!
Note: My real name is NOT Hideaki Anno. I do not own Gainax or any of its creations let alone Neon Genesis: Evangelion. Characters, locations, themes, and ideas used in this fic are used without permission from Gainax or Hideaki Anno.
Author's Note: I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reviewed by fic so far. I put a lot of effort into this, and to see so much positive support from other budding writers like myself is incredible. This definitely won't be my last fic, that's for sure. As for the minor plot inequities, they'll all be explained later on, just be patient. I would also like to thank ChiRho, Raiden-X and ravenman9898, whose fics inspired me to put this one up. Now, seeing as it is verging on midnight, I better go now. Sayonara!
Last time, on The Last Thing She Expected... Asuka passed her retest easily, and went to see the Commander. Of course, the Commander wouldn't be there, and it's a race against time for Shinji who has to intercept her before she manages to find his father's office! Also, Ritsuko gives Asuka an contraceptive injection, but not before she felt Asuka up! Feeling violated, will Asuka tell Shinji?
And without further ado...
The Last Gift She Expected, Chapter 5: Another Present : Seconds Out...
------------
Asuka walked around the long, similar-looking corridors of NERV Headquarters. [Verdamnt! Where is Gendo's office?] Rounding a corner, she spotted Shinji at the end of the identical corridor.
"Hey, Shinji!" Asuka called out to him. Shinji turned around, and waved. Walking toward each other, the first thing Shinji asked was "How'd you go?"
Asuka grinned from ear to ear. "Ha! I beat your record!"
Shinji already knew this, but played along. "What!? Aw, geez!"
Shinji's arm fell around Asuka's back, as did Asuka's around Shinji's. Asuka turned to Shinji. "Uh, do you know where your dad's office is?"
"Oh, yeah, he called you for a metting, didn't he? Anou, I'm not really sure, but I think it was on floor B-09." Of course it wasn't, but the Bridge was there, as was the surprise party.
"Well, I suppose we should head for an elevator, then." Asuka and Shinji walked forward, hunting down an elevator.
As they walked, the lovers get to talking. "Uh, Shinji, can I ask you something?"
"Shoot."
"Before I came here," Asuka began, "how well did you get along with Ritsuko?"
"Um..." This question's a bit out of the blue... "I...didn't...really know her...that well..."
"Oh." Asuka fell quiet for a little while. "It's just that...I think that...she might be...I mean..."
Shinji looked across at Asuka. "What?"
"I think...she might...bat for the wrong team...you know?"
Bat for the wrong team? What does she - oh... Memories from that early morning phone call flooded back into Shinji's mind.
"Come to think of it..." Shinji reminisced, "The other day, I called her house early on in the morning, and Maya picked up..."
"Maya picked up?" Asuka perked her ears. "You mean...?"
"Yeah, I think they were..." Shinji felt himself blush a little, "...I mean, over the line I heard all of the grunting and moaning and..."
"Oh, God, Shinji," Asuka groaned, "don't go into all of the details. I don't want to be sick in front of the Commander."
Shinji stifled a laugh. [Asuka isn't as invinvible as she lets on...] "The reason I asked..." Asuka thought about whether or not telling Shinji was the right thing to do.
[I mean he almost bit her head off two days ago, and that was just for hurting my feelings. I don't want to know what he'd do if he knew Ritsuko tried to feel me up...]
Shinji noticed the irregular pause in speech. "Something wrong, Asuka?"
"Oh no, no...hey, look, there's the elevator..."
Sure enough, the elevator was right in front of them. Shinji pressed the "Down" button, and they waited.
"It's just because...ah...because..."
"Asuka, just tell me. What happened?"
Shit! I've gotta tell him now! "Well, Ritsuko...I went to get a shot from her after my test..."
"A shot? What for?"
"For, uh..." Asuka wasn't sure of how to put it. "For...female matters..."
Shinji instantly regretted asking. Asuka continued.
"Well, anyway, she...oh, it was something about the way she looked at me...it was like some of those baka-hentai perverts at school..."
"...what?" Shinji felt rage build inside him...
"And...when she was done," Asuka continued, "She...touched me..."
Shinji was screaming inside. "How...dare she..."
"No, don't get upset..."
Shinji stared incredulous at Asuka. "Don't get upset? You should be angrier than anyone right now! First she bullies you around with the sync tests, now she's feeling you up!? You didn't used to put up with this kind of crap! Hell, it used to be that if I caught a glimpse, let alone a feel, I'd get bashed to kingdom-come!"
"Yes, but..."
"The Asuka I know...the Asuka I fell in love with...would never put up with this kind of bullshit."
Asuka fell silent. [He's right...]
"If you just put up with this, then it'll just get worse. People will start to walk all over you. Believe me, I know..."
Ding. The elevator door opened. They both looked up, and walked in. Shinji reached over to the elevator control panel, and pressed B-09.
"Wow..." Shinji looked across at Asuka. "You really have changed, Shinji. When I first got here you were a weak willed, whining idiot. And now..."
Shinji was speechless. "You've changed too..."
"I know..." Asuka knew that she had become more compassionate since the last angel attack. It was almost as if they'd unknowingly combined their identities...
The floor counter ticked over. B-04, B-05, B-06...
"Shinji?"
Shinji looked across at Asuka. Her demeanor had changed a lot over the last few days. The once confident Second Child looked nervous, her eyes glancing through the bottom of the elevator door and off into space. The door opened, but this didn't seem to affect Asuka's gaze.
"Thank you," Asuka said softly, "for helping me."
Shinji hugged Asuka a bit harder. "Don't worry," he assured, "You'll be fine."
-----------------
Shigeru was crouching over the security console, watching the blue dot that symbolised Shinji's tracing node. He knew that Shinji would be with Asuka. Meanwhile, other NERV staff were adding finishing touches to the NERV Central command post. The layers had already been raised and lowered to level out all of the different floors. Now, all three Magi were on the same layer, as well as the main exits, the commander's position above all other floors now towering even further above everything else. Many trays of food were atop Melchior and Caspar, while Balthasar was completely empty.
"Why are we loading up the two outer ones with food, and leaving the middle one with nothing on it?" Hikari asked Ritsuko.
"Almost every platform in this room can be shifted up and down," Ritsuko replied, "The plan is to have the platform with Balthasar..."
"The platform with who?"
Ritsuko sighed. "The middle one with the red box on it."
"Oh."
"We're gonna have that one drop down slightly below the other two, hopefully attracting Asuka to stand there. When it's surprise time, we raise the platform back up to this height, then turn on the lights."
"Ah, sounds good."
Elsewhere, Misato was glaring at Kaji, chatting across the room with a couple of Asuka's schoolfriends. [WHAT is that moron doing here?! Grrr, I'm gonna kill Shinji for inviting him!] Kaji looked across the crowd, and shot Misato a smile. [Yep, Shinji's definitely gonna die...]
Meanwhile, Kensuke was looking about the room with a worried look on his face. He walked over to Toji, who was chatting with the girls and Kaji. "Hey, Toji," Kensuke whispered.
Toji turned around. "Yeah, what?"
"Where the hell's Shinji?"
"I dunno...maybe he's still out getting a present..."
Meanwhile, all of the NERV members had gathered by the security console, so that Aoba could still monitor the...well...monitor.
"So, do you really think this was such a good idea?" Maya spoke first.
"It hasn't been that bad," Hyuga said, "Sure there have been a few questions about NERV, but that's to be expected..."
"Ritsuko turned to Hyuga. "By the way, how did that Visual Music program work out?"
"Complete. Runned a check through the Magi, all systems green."
"Good. Now all we're waiting for is Asuka and Shinji."
"Asuka and Shinji?" Aoba said, while watching out for Asuka, "Are you kidding?"
Misato jumped to Ritsuko's defence. "She's telling the truth..."
The small group hushed. They knew exactly how much Shinji and Asuka's personalities clashed. They found it hard to believe it was possible.
"No way!" Maya dismissed her sempai's claims.
"Care to wager on it?" Rei asked, sneaking up seemingly out of nowhere. The group looked at Rei as if she had seven eyes. "What?" she asked innocently, giving a smile.
"Uh, yeah, how about it?" Misat back up Rei's proposition.
Slowly, each of the group members nodded their heads.
"Then it's settled," Maya smiled, "If Shinji and Asuka pash by the end of the night, Misato, Sempai and Rei each get 100..."
Misato interrupted by saying "200."
"Okay, 200 yen from me, Makoto and Shigeru. If they don't then you owe us the same. Deal?"
"Deal!" Then, defying many laws of physics, a six-way handshake ensued
"Hey! Put me down for some of that too! 200 yen says Shinji'll have the balls!" Kaji piped in.
Hyuga grinned. "You're on!"
Aoba resumed his vigil over the screen. The dot had moved a fair way...
"Shit!" he said rather loudly, "Asuka's on this floor! She's headed this way!"
Ritsuko turned to the crowd of people. "Okay, everybody into the corridor on the right hand side! Aoba, cut the lights. Hyuga, run your ocean program over the holo-maps. Maya, lower the platform. Everyone else, outside!"
All of the other guests ran for the corridor, except for Misato, Kaji and Rei. The others carried out their orders, and then fumbled blindly for the corridor door. Finally, Rei found the door, and held it open.
"This way, quickly!" she said, and the rest of the adults hid in what turned out to be a broom closet.
"Hey! This isn't the corridor!" Kaji stated the obvious as Rei shut the door on the NERV employees. Rei smiled evilly, and walked to the emergency ladder, leading up to the command suite, where her surrogate father overlooked all of NERV's operations. Taking one last look at the amazing digital display in place of the regular holographic maps and radar, she ducked down underneath the desk.
A gasp of surprise shocked Rei, as she looked around. "A-Aida?" Rei stammered.
Kensuke stared back at Rei. "Rei? What are you doing...oh my god! I scared you! You...Rei Ayanami...showed emotion!"
Rei blushed. "Why? Aren't I allowed to?"
The sound of a door opening echoed through the giant room. [Shit! She's here!]
Kensuke shot back over the desk, aiming a camera at the door. The brightness from the corridor outside made it hard for Kensuke or his camcorder to focus on who exactly it was, but the red hair gave it away. [It's Asuka alright!]
Kensuke flicked a switch, operating the highly sensitive camcorder microphone. Meanwhile, from beneath the desk, Rei spoke.
"Aida, I fell that there is something you need to know about Pilot Sohryu..."
Kensuke didn't seem really interested. "Look, can it wait, Rei?"
"...No."
Kensuke ignored the blue-haired wonder, adjusting the distance estimator to "Auto". Now Kensuke could hear and record everything Asuka said.
"....ight be the right room..." Asuka muttered. [That's strange,] Kensuke thought, [I never knew Asuka to talk to herself...]
Rei continued. "Pilot Sohryu has established a relationship with..."
Kensuke heard Asuka say, "...don't you think, Shinji?"
"Shinji!?" Kensuke gasped.
"...Pilot Ikari..." Rei finished.
Kensuke watched the monitor in horror as Shinji walked in beside Asuka. [Shinji! How could you!? Don't you realise what you're doing?]
------------
At this point, Asuka noticed the strange blue light in the center of the room.
"Oh wow!" Asuka rushed forward and was mesmerised by the incredible display set up by Hyuga. The blue and green ripples generator by the holosuites in the room, usually used for maps and radar displays, gave the effect that the room was being flooded.
Shinji looked ahead in amazement. [Geez, Hyuga did a bang up job with this display...] Asuka looked back at Shinji, who walked forward, embracing her. They walked down the catwalk as one, reaching a command post-type area, with a small dip in the center oof that area. There were three strange looking red platforms behind the area, two of which were covered in dark red cloth. The center one was inscripted with a name, but in this light it was illegible.
Shinji felt inside his pocket. The small velvet box was still there. [Should I give this to her now? Or should I wait for all the other presents?]
Asuka nuzzled against his chest, purring in contentment. [Yep, now's the time...]
"Uh, Asuka?"
"Yes, Shinji?"
"I know I already got you your present for your birthday..."
"I know, thanks, Shinji..."
"No. There's something else..."
Shinji lifted the box out of his pocket. Asuka looked at it, realising that it contained jewelry. Asuka opened it in Shinji's hands. A magnificent gold heart, encasing a ruby, suspended on an intricate gold chain shone back in Asuka's face.
"Oh my God..." Asuka almost wept, "It's beautiful..." Tears sprung from her eyes. Looking back at Shinji, she said, "Thank you so much, Shinji!"
Shinji took hold of it, and Asuka turned around. Shinji fastened the necklace around her neck. She toyed with it around her neck, looking at it sparkle in the light of the holograph show.
-----------
[Shinji!? With Asuka?! No way!] Toji couldn't believe what he was seeing.
He had opened the door leading to the Bridge just enough to squeeze his head around the corner. Hikari and the other girls were relying on Toji to make reports of what was happening.
"What's going on, Toji?"
"Shin...ji...he's with..."
-----------
Kensuke zoomed in on the pair standing in front of the middle Magi, Balthasar. He watched as Shinji produced a small velvet box from him pocket, containing a necklace.
Kensuke couldn't believe it. "No...anyone but...HER!"
Rei looked on as Kensuke's legs began to give in on him, due to the shock of Asuka actually respecting one of the reknowned Three Stooges, let alone fall in love with one.
"Whoa! I've gotta sit down. Rei, can you take over?"
Rei debated in her mind whether or not to help Kensuke. [If I help him, it would be considered spying, but if I do it would make me seem more human.] Rei shifted over to him, and slid her hand into the padded strap, Kensuke took his hand out, and Rei was now in control of the camera. Kensuke staggered to a large padded chair, and sat down. When he sat down in it, he noticed that it was almost like a throne.
[Hm. Best seat in the house,] Kensuke thought to himself. In te same thought, he muttered, "I wonder who sits here?"
"I do." If a fifteen year old boy in such good health was capable of having a heart attack, then Kensuke would've had one when the cold, penetrating voice of Gendo Ikari reached his ears. Gendo smirked as he lifted the prone body of Kensuke Aida and let him flop to the ground.
Reclaiming his seat, he turned his head to Rei. "Hello, Rei," he said quietly.
"Hey, Commander," Rei said back, while listening in on Asuka blubbering over the necklace.-----------
Maya's eye was glued to the keyhole in the janitorial closet door.
"Asuka's putting on her necklace," Maya reported, "It looks like she likes it..."
"See? I told you they were together!" Misato said.
Aoba grumbled. "The bet still stands, though. They have to kiss before you get your money."
"Oh, I don't think we'll have to wait long for that," Ritsuko smiled. [The love is there, that's for sure..."
"Wait, something else's happening..."
------------
Shinji's arms were around Asuka's waist, the lovers looking out over the fake digital ocean. They looked at each other, a familiar feeling of butterflies building in their bodies.
"Thank you," Asuka muttered. They leaned closer...
------------
Eight schoolgirls gathered around the same crack in the door, leaning over a near-comatose Toji.
"Oh my God, they're gonna kiss!" Hikari half-whispered, half-squealed.
------------
Kensuke was back on his feet, or to be more accurate, his knees, leaning over Rei Ayanami's shoulder to look at the scene below with his camcorder.
"No, Shinji, don't do it..." Kensuke begged with Shinji from afar.
[Do it, Shinji,] Rei willed the Third Child on, [I've got 200 yen riding on you!]
Gendo's hand hovered over a button on the control panel in front of him.
[Come on, son,] Gendo thought, [You're a man now...no...you're an Ikari man now...]
-----------
Maya almost squealed. "They're gonna kiss!"
Shigeru and Makoto already had their wallets out, flicking through them to find 200 yen, as was Kaji, all three grumbling at their misfortune. Ritsuko took the liberty of retrieving Maya's purse and taking 200 from it.
[Good boy, Shinji,] Misato smiled, [Not everyday you pick up 200 yen...]
-----------
Asuka's and Shinji's lips met. If they weren't as deeply engrossed with each other, they would've heard various cries from the janitor's closet, some of victory, others of disappointment; a somewhat loud "Awww" emanating from the door to the corridor to the right of the couple, sounding as if at least half a dozen girls were harmonising; and the dull thud of an adolescent boy fainting again. Of course, neither Asuka nor Shinji could hear this, simply enjoying the moment.
-----------
Somewhere, deep in Gendo Ikari's cast-iron stone cold heart, a faint glow of pride in his son emanated warmth throughout his body. He smiled, not his regular malicious grin, but instead an honest, glad smile. It then twisted into the trademark Ikari Evil Smirk (c) as he pressed the button in front of him...
Back down at the fake ocean, Shinji and Asuka were still embracing, enjoying a loving liplock, when the blue light from the digital display that Asuka had grown accustomed to blinked out suddenly. Asuka noticed this, even with eyes closed. Asuka's eyes opened and widened.
"Mmph! Aagh!" Asuka broke her kiss with Shinji and shouted, clinging to Shinji harder.
"Hey! What's...huh?" Shinji had only just noticed the light, or lack thereof.
"What happened, Shinji?" Asuka panicked, "Who cut the lights!?"
"Shh, shh, it's okay, Asuka," Shinji comforted her. Inside, he smirked. [It's time...]
The floor beneath the pair shifted up about two feet. In the darkness, Asuka could hear the scampering of feet, and a few *chak chak* sounds. [Shit! Guns!] A spotlight shone down on the pair, blinding them. Asuka clung to Shinji harder, burying her head into Shinji's warm chest. Shinji looked ahead in fear, as the muzzles of two assault rifles aimed at his head. Sweat started to drip down his face. A voice broke the silence.
"Are you Shinji Ikari?" the gruff voice said. Shinji dumbly nodded.
Another voice spoke. "And that makes you Asuka Sohryu?"
[That's Asuka LANGLEY Sohryu!] "Uh...hu-uh..." Asuka let go of Shinji. She looked around. Shinji was standing there, arms in the air, a quiet but somewhat confident look on his face, despite the guns aimed at him.
"I'm afraid you're coming with us, Ms. Sohryu," the first man said. "If you'd come along quietly..."
It's amazing how much good fighting evil alien monsters can do for the body, especially the reflexes. Asuka watched in amazement as Shinji's arm came down on one of the rifles in front of him, apparently flicking the butt into one of the soldier's faces. Taking the rifle, he slammed the butt into another one, before copping a rabbit chop to the neck. He fell to the ground in a daze, his naive bravado over.
"Shinji-kun!" Asuka shouted before being grabbed by each of her arms, dragged forward...
Suddenly, the lights blinked on. Asuka looked across at her captors. She was being held in an armlock by...Aoba and Kaji... In front of her, Misato, Ritsuko and Maya were standing there, smiliing broadly. Unbeknownst to Asuka, Shinji was standing, and advancing towards Asuka.
"SUR-PRIIIIIIIIISE!" the whole crowd shouted. Asuka looked around in shock as streamers, balloons, and confetti were falling out of the sky. Asuka gasped in surprise as Shinji wrapped his arms around her again.
"Happy birthday, Asuka," Shinji said in Asuka's ear, "We do make so much of a big deal of them in Japan!"
Asuka looked around as Maya walked toward her with a birthday cake. "Oh my God!" Asuka cried.
Everyone cheered, as Gendo followed Kensuke down from their hiding spot, Rei opting for the more dramatic approach by vaulting over the edge and landing perfectly on top of Balthasar.
"Whose idea was this!?" Asuka asked no one in particular.
"It was I." Rei smiled broadly. Asuka looked at Rei strangely.
"What? Aren't I allowed to throw a party!?" Asuka look at Rei with even more suspicion.
"Okay, who killed Rei and replaced her with a human!?" This comment of Asuka's got a raucous laugh from everyone in the room, even the Second Child herself.
[He he he ha ha ha...wait a minute...did she call me not human?]
-------------
Finally the party is underway! But can Shinji try to negotiate his relationship with his friends? Or will Toji and Kensuke tear him apart? Can Rei keep up the whole human thing all night? Will Kaji get back together with Misato, despite having only one line to say so far in the story!? Whew, so many questions, so much story to get through...Don't miss the next The Last Gift She Expected!
Note: My real name is NOT Hideaki Anno. I do not own Gainax or any of its creations let alone Neon Genesis: Evangelion. Characters, locations, themes, and ideas used in this fic are used without permission from Gainax or Hideaki Anno.
Author's Note: I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has reviewed by fic so far. I put a lot of effort into this, and to see so much positive support from other budding writers like myself is incredible. This definitely won't be my last fic, that's for sure. As for the minor plot inequities, they'll all be explained later on, just be patient. I would also like to thank ChiRho, Raiden-X and ravenman9898, whose fics inspired me to put this one up. Now, seeing as it is verging on midnight, I better go now. Sayonara!
