Here it is, Chapter 4. Hope you like it.

--Fan Fiction--

"Crap" Shinji fell out of bed the second his exceptionally loud alarm clock started to ring. He got up and went for a quick shower. After that he got dressed and entered the kitchen, where Rei was quietly eating her breakfast.

"Good Morning Shinji"

"Hey Rei, did you make breakfast?"

"Yes, there's some for you too" She got up and handed him a plate.

"Thanks Rei"

The two ate, pretty much in silence, although it was comfortable. After that they made their way to school. Once they got there, Rei silently took her seat next to the window, and Shinji received his usual greeting.

"Hey Shin-man!"

"Hey Touji" Shinji looked around. "Where's Kensuke?"

"He's on some crappy military trip or something," He then turned to Shinji. "He'll be back tomorrow"

Shinji shrugged, and sat down. A few minutes later Asuka walked in. She walked up to the seat next to him and promptly collapsed on it.

"Man, that woman is crazy."

"Who?" Shinji asked as he looked at Asuka.

"Misato. her apartment is a damn mine field, and that bird almost gave me a heart attack!"

Shinji was just about to ask what bird she was referring to when his Cell phone rang, followed by Asuka's and then Rei's.

---

Shinji was in his plug suit, sitting in the entry plug of the Eva. He had been briefed on the situation, and was awaiting the drop-off at the intercept point. He didn't have to wait long, as all too soon his Evangelion was plummeting to the ground. He straightened it out, and landed gracefully with a minimal impact. Next to him, Evangelion unit 02 did the same.

"Here it comes." Shinji said, his voice flat, but his eyes were focused.

"Okay Third Child, watch this because you're only going to see it once" Asuka said as her Evangelion made several leaps towards the Angel.

---

"This is embarrassing." Stated a solemn looking Fuyutsuki. He then turned to the two Eva pilots who were seated behind him. His features produced a frown. "Do you two know what your job is?"

"Of course!" Replied Asuka with confidence. Shinji just looked on. "To pilot the Eva!" She finished.

"Wrong!" Fuyutsuki shouted. Both pilots cringed at this. "Your job is to defeat the Angels, and that is something you've both failed to do!"

"That's enough." Came a some-what quiet but firm voice. Everyone in the room turned to see Gendo Ikari himself walking in to the room. "I'll take it from here professor" Gendo said, after which Fuyutsuki exited the room. Both pilots faced the supreme commander of NERV. "Care to explain?"

"It was Shinji's fault! He messed up my debut battle in Tokyo 3!" Asuka shouted.

"What!" Shinji looked at her and then continued to shout. "It was your Fault Asuka!" He pointed his finger at her. "You disregarded procedure, ignored the orders sent to us and endangered your life along with the life of everyone else in this operation. That's not mentioning my own!"

Asuka looked at him and was about to explode in anger, but just before she did, the commander interrupted her.

"That's enough the both of you" He then looked from one to the other. "The Angel will be pre-occupied for the next four days. I hope by then we would have been able to formulate a plan." He turned to the door and spoke just before he exited. "You're free to return to your homes for now" He then left the room.

Asuka and Shinji looked at each other. "Well, we got off lighter then I would have thought." Shinji said.

"Oh shut up, Third" She snapped at him. Shinji shrugged it off and began to walk out; when he noticed that she was staring at the floor with empty eyes.

"Asuka?" When she looked up she was startled to see him so close to her. He had his eyes focused on hers, and she began to feel the same emotion she felt when she first met him on the 'Over the Rainbow'.

"Don't worry." He told her. "We'll beat this Angel the next time we fight it" He gave her a smile and then walked out.

Asuka stared at the door long after he had left. A small smile developed on her features as she decided it was time for her to go as well.

To be continued

In the next chapter, Gendo has a surprise in store for Shinji, and how will Asuka react to this development.