Disclaimer is chapter 1 so look there before whining about the weirdness that is this fanfic. I found listening to the eva song 'Bare foot in the park' really helped me set the mood for writing this.
Ok last place we left our valiant (and some what screwed up) heroes. They still had their bodies switched, and Asuka(being Asuka) was refusing all attempts by Shinji for asking someone for help. Regardless they are now walking(well Shinji's being dragged) towards the shopping mall after Asuka got another idea. *Sweat drops* I hope Shinji doesn't mind the idea of cross dressing... wait a minute... if he's in Asuka's body then technically he's a she... but she's still Shinji... so he'd be cross dressing with Asuka's body... no... but then *Brain explodes, fingers begin typing story*
*Shinji* stands for someone referring to Asuka in Shinji's body
*Asuka* stands for someone referring to Shinji in Asuka's body
Example/ "Yo *Asuka*!!" Shinji angrily turned around "I'm Shinji not Asuka, damnit!"
'...' stands for thought
"..." stands for talking
--?--?-- stands for beginning and end.
~~...~~ stands for author interruption(Me, making myself heard)
--- stands for... I guess the next Scene
Enjoy!
DrunkDrake
World from the eye's of Another
03 : Adventures in everyday life/ Secrets that tear the heart
--?--?--
"Asuka are you crazy!!" Shinji exclaimed rather loudly drawing some looks from fellow pedestrians. Shinji closed his mouth as Asuka stared back at Shinji.
"What?"
"Shopping?!?! We're going shopping!?" Asuka seemed to beam happily at him
"Of course! If you insist!" Asuka happy dragged Shinji another block
"It wasn't a statement! Why are we going shopping!!" Asuka stopped and sighed heavily. Shinji waited patiently for his answer.
"Shinji... As a girl there are some things you need to learn" Asuka started ticking her fingers off.
"Really and what would that be?"Shinji knew he'd be forced to agree anyway. 'Might as well get this over with'.
"Number 1: Beauty is everything" Shinji doubted this but nodded
"Number 2: Being the best is top order" Shinji raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"Number 3: Girl's are better then boys" Shinji again doubted this but wouldn't mention it in present company.
"Number 4: Asuka is the best" Shinji blinked and Asuka grinned.
"Asuka... your crazy..."
"Ok, ok so I made them all up except for the last one" Asuka flung her hands in the air. Shinji just crossed his arms.
"...SO WHAT!" Asuka piped up throwing an accusing finger at him. Shinji sighed and continued walking towards the mall.
Asuka leaped up and nearly toppled Shinji when she leaned on his shoulder.
"However a girl can never have too much clothing!" she whispered quietly, almost like it was a grand secret.
"Asuka... I've seen your shopping trips. More like spend every yen for the next three pay checks" Asuka glared at him and walked off.
"Your just a boy after all. You'd never appreciate the qualities every woman possesses" Shinji glowered at her. 'Perhaps she's already forgotten that I now posses all of the physical traits that made her better then me'
---
Misato stood stock still in a very large, black room. A room that expanded from the depths of the horizon to a door that hid itself behind her. The only light being the wall to wall windows that stretched from back to front. The tree of life on the roof and the divine ladder on the floor. She stood in the commanders office.
"Report Major" Misato maintained her wooden stance but retrieved the file under her arm
"Subjects Ikari and Sohryu show no signs of effect" Gendo Ikari commander of NERV narrowed his eyes
"Does this mean failure or lack of understanding"
"Further observation has been recommended by the head of science department"
"So it will be" the door opened behind Misato signalling her leave.
"Yes sir" Misato almost reached the door when the commander's voice spoke up again.
"Inform the head of science department to report at 13 hundred hours" Misato nodded affirmative and exited the room breathing a sigh of relief.
'Breathe girl breathe...'
Misato collected herself and walked down the halls towards Ritsuko's office. 'I wouldn't have agreed to this if that last attack hadn't occurred in that manner'. Misato walked through the door marked *Akagi R*.
---
"Asuka!! NO! Not there!" Asuka turned around and looked at the 14 year old girl that had the mind of 14 year old boy.
"Shinji... come on. It's only a clothing store!" Shinji paled as he looked at the sigh. No way she'd drag me through those doors.
"NO!! I'D RATHER DIE!"~~ Ok, so he didn't say that but I couldn't resist putting that speech from the 13th angel battle ^.^ ~~
"Victoria can keep her secrets for all I care!" Shinji stared at the store's name with absolute fear on his face.~~There now wasn't that original?~~
Asuka burst out laughing and they walked over to the nearest table in the food court. Asuka slowly settled down after nabbing a salad, and Shinji a soda, the bags all resting under the table.
"Bad enough you had me try on all 7 of those dresses" Asuka's giggling turned into laughing again. She'd purposely chosen some of the most revealing and difficult looking dresses for Shinji to try on. It had been very helpful for Asuka to better inspect if the dresses were any good.
"Sure beats the hell out of mirrors" Shinji perked an eyebrow but smirked at Asuka's words. It had been, well... not fun, but it'll bring a smile every time he remembers that little stint.
"So have we done enough? Can we go yet?" Asuka lifted the bags as if she was weighing her options to the question.
"Nope. We have at least half the mall to cover still" Shinji only finished his soda and picked up his bags to go. Asuka chucked the remains of the salad into the garbage and took off after him.
"So where's this new arcade you wanted to show me Toji?" Asuka froze. 'What are the the stooges doing here!?'. Asuka saw Kensuke walk around the corner before an arm dragged her through a store doorway. She looked at Shinji who had a stern look on his face and pressed a finger to his lips, demanding quiet.
"I don't know but..." Toji's voice suddenly stopped. 'Uh oh, busted!' Shinji thought 'and to think I'll be caught hiding in a corner with Asuka'. The foot steps edged nearer. Shinji saw a bead of sweat draw down her new features. The foot steps stopped and odd clinking noises were heard.
"Hey Kensuke you want something too?"
"Toji, I really do wonder how you eat that vending machine garbage. I mean you practically live of the stuff! We Gotta got to go to the south-east fast!"
"Where?"Toji's steps took them past where Shinji and Asuka were hiding. Toji was walking and blissfully munching some candy bar as Kensuke covered his eye's facing towards Toji, matching his pace. He was facing right at them!
"Toji, that's the..." Kensuke's voice faded off as Shinji and Asuka exited their hiding spot when Kensuke's voice faded off in the distance.
"Those dummkopf's are as thick as your eva's butt" Asuka said peering around the corner that the 2 stooges left behind. Shinji just sighed and caught his breath.
"Well this one time, I'm glad your right" Shinji's eye's popped open 'that's not something you say to Asuka!!'.
Indeed Asuka's eye's narrowed almost perceptibly.
"You don't really mean that do you Shinji..." Shinji could have sworn he felt venom dripping from her voice. 'Speak man! Her...woman... Distract her, comment do something! Red Alert! Code Red!'.
"No... Asuka I'm ahh..." Shinji some how got the idea this wasn't working.
"Your plan isn't working third" Shinji blinked 'damn how'd she do that!?'
"I think we should pay a visit to Victoria don't you?" Shinji felt panic 'RED ALERT' Shinji suddenly paused as he gave up and decided to give his reasons for avoiding Toji. 'If Asuka's going to do me a favour and dodge someone in my body, I may as well tell her why'.
"I'm not ready to... meet with Toji after the... accident" Asuka slowly nodded. She also remembered the possessed eva 03 "And our current situation makes this even harder"
"Toji looked perfectly fine. Hell he even had a smile on his face. Best if you go confront him so that you can get over it" Asuka nodded to herself, it was obvious that she was right. Shinji also agreed with her to a point anyway...'Did she forgot she's still got my body?'
"Asuka... your in my body though..."
"So, I'll just go make it up to him then!" Asuka didn't miss a beat.
"Your not serious are you..." Asuka grinned that annoying wicked grin again. She strictly outlined that she won't cover for his retreating tendencies.
'Dear god...'
---
"Hey Toji look at this... I recorded this in the east wing apparently" Kensuke was rewinding his camera and watching bits and pieces of today's records while Toji had a turn at the new Arcade game. Toji paused his button mashing competition long enough to peep into the camera.
"Where's that? Errr... Yeah??"
"Toji! The vending machines!!" Toji nodded sagely now but only until the game took his attention again "Lose that game already and look!" at Kensuke's words Toji did just that... just not on purpose 'Still Gotta get used to this thing...'.
"Damn and I was sure to get the new high score!" Kensuke motions to his camera and Toji once again watches the replay.
"Hey that kinda looks like Shinji... and Asuka... but there's something blocking the view..." Kensuke grinned
"That something blocking the view was you" Toji rubbed the back of his head.
"Why do you think that would be Shinji and the demon?" Toji looked almost scholarly "Cause if that was Shinji, wouldn't he have called out to us or something?"
"But the demon was there too! Perhaps she put some voodoo spell on him or something..." Kensuke's glasses flashed in the light "Perhaps they were doing something... PRIVATE"
"AH MAN NO WAY!" Toji shuddered at the thought "demon girl and Shinji? No self respecting human would ever stoop that low"
"Well, let's go look for them! I wanna see if she did do something to our fearful friend" Kensuke suddenly lit up again "Hell, If we rescue him from the demon Misato might reward me by making me an EVA pilot!!"
Toji, shook his head, he had another idea why Shinji might be avoiding him. Kensuke didn't entirely know what had happened 2 battles ago. With the new prosthetic limbs Toji had, Toji was almost at 100% from before the accident. 'It wasn't Shinji's fault. Though he has been avoiding me every since...'
"Well, let's go find them!"
---
"You know... You'd think looking for the only red headed demon in a mall would be easier then this" Kensuke widened his camera lens to continue his search. Toji was wondering if she was the devil, how else could she disappear into crowds?
"Your sure you saw them come this way?" Kensuke nodded before nearly flipping himself over the 2nd story railing on the inside pavilion, pointing to a mob exiting a store.
"Red demon sighting heading north-north west!" Toji only blinked at Kensuke before smiling
"The food court, what a great place to go!" Kensuke sighed. Of all the directions Kensuke would spout, it made sense that Toji would remember that one...
---
"So Asuka... Do you actually wear half the stuff you buy?" Shinji now had a total of 6 bags of assorted clothing while Asuka carried 5.
"You really should learn to stop asking those questions" Asuka really didn't like how Shinji was questioning everything she had done. Of course this all started with the earlier incident where Asuka had dragged Shinji in front of 'Victoria's' as they deemed it. It was only a joke and Asuka had loved it. She never planned to actually go in there... it just didn't seem, well like something she'd do.
"Perhaps I should be making you carry all the bags... after all I'm the girl now" however Asuka was seriously considering to drag Shinji through that store and make him try on everything there if he didn't shut up soon.
"You know what Shinji! We need to go back a few stores. I forgot to get something" Asuka mentally added 'revenge'. Shinji's inherent babbling was cut in half when he looked behind him. It wasn't the destination that stopped him, it was what was coming towards him. 'Damn it, I was hoping not to face Toji so soon!'.
"Oh no! Just perfect! Larry and Curly too!" Shinji wasn't really on par when it came to old American movies and it shows but something told him it was a reference to the stooges.
"Hey *Shinji*! What are you doing with the devil herself?" Toji managed to shovel his way through the crowd and stop in front of Asuka. Asuka had Shinji's classic 'deer caught in headlights' face on. She did it because if anything, it was most likely they would be found out now, well that's what Shinji told himself.
"Hey Kensuke... Toji..." Asuka was acting the part to say the least.
"Yo *Shinji*! What ya doing with the devil incarnation?" Toji whispered to Asuka. If not for the clothing bags she held, her fist would have added another shooting star to tonight's sky.
"Shopping, stooge" Asuka noticed Shinji didn't add the venom nor mocking tone that *should* have accompanied that line. Add to the fact that he was looking almost pathetic.
"Woah. What's with her?" Asuka peered over at Kensuke who was trying to get a close up of the unsettled *Asuka* in front of him. *Asuka's* arm shot forward knocking aside the camera and grabbed *Shinji* and headed to an unused corner. Toji and Kensuke were obviously confused. Kensuke leaned over to Toji.
"100 yen says they're *romantically* inclined now" Toji shook his head as Kensuke tried to back up his statement by zooming in on the huddled figures.
"Asuka... There's no way I can do it like this..." Asuka nodded. It wasn't a natural thing for her to act like Shinji. Add to the fact that Shinji himself couldn't directly deal with his issues with Toji. Asuka was willing to drop the facade if it meant they could deal with this Toji business, it really would only hinder what little they had going.
"I need to tell them the truth..." Asuka didn't react noticeably however Shinji had to wave his hand in her face before continuing "How should we go about it?"
Asuka had been pondering this before and decided to work with it "Fine, however I'll want Hikari to know... I need someone in my corner too you know..." Shinji nodded.
"Now to convince them that we're telling the truth..." They turned around and stopped in front of two confused stooges.
"We have something to tell you" Kensuke grinned and set his camera to record at Asuka's statement "however we won't tell you here" Kensuke's managed to keep his grin but Toji was still out of it.
"Come to our apartment at" Shinji looked at his watch " 3'o'clock, we'll tell you then"
Toji and Kensuke were confused but agreed. Both turned to leave but *Asuka* turned around and bowed to Toji before they left his sight "Toji... I am sorry for what I did..." *Asuka* then exited the door following *Shinji*.
---
Gendo sat at his desk waiting for 'doctor Akagi' to arrive. Fuyutsuki had decided to have a surprise visit just before hand though. The door whisked open and Fuyutsuki stopped in front of Gendo.
"How's the scenario" Gendo's eye's looked up from the designs on the floor to Fuyutsuki.
"I'm awaiting a more finalized report from the good doctor" Fuyutsuki nodded, Gendo's plans were being delayed by something... but what?
Ritsuko made her entrance now and Fuyutsuki went to his position at the commander's side. Ritsuko was the second person who could face Gendo without so much as flinching, Fuyutsuki obviously being the first.
"Doctor" Ritsuko handed the folder to Gendo and knew that he wouldn't read them. 'Bastard and his damn briefings'.
"The angel is currently in a coccoon like state. The Magi have estimated the fibres binding it could easily withstand any thing we currently have to use against it. The Magi also estimated that it will be ready to attack by Tuesday" Fuyutsuki mumbled '3 days' before she continued " However it's orbit may reach us as early as Monday evening"
Gendo didn't move an inch as he rolled this through his head. Fuyutsuki then asked the dreaded question. The mental 'attack' just sounded horrifying, but he watched a recording of it and he could barely manage to think what it would be like to experience it.
"And the pilots of 01 and 02?"
"It appears that nothing you've expected happened to the children" Gendo failed to make a response. Fuyutsuki raised his eyebrows as he questioned further.
"How so...?"
"They're perfectly fine"
---
"So Toji... just what did *Asuka* do to you? What did she apologize for?" Toji looked off in thought but came up with "I got no clue Kensuke..."
Toji was putting his heart and effort into figuring out way *Asuka* would apologize to him. 'It wouldn't be for the daily things... It's have to be for something really bad. But what?' Toji kept thinking back and back until he remembered the aftermath of the 13th angel. 'I lost both left limbs' Toji had been shifting said limbs while he thought that over. 'Why would *Asuka* apologize?! ARGH this is gonna drive me up the wall to figure out!'.
Kensuke and Toji walked through the door and entered the elevator.
"So what are you stooges doing?" Hikari asked, she had been in the elevator before them as it rose to the eva's pilots shared apartment.
"Well, we met Shinji and Asuka at the mall and acting weird too... they wouldn't tell us why but they asked us to come over around now" Hikari nodded to Kensuke's words as Toji continued thinking of *Asuka's* apology
"I was asked over too. *Shinji* called me over" Toji spared a glance at Hikari before returning to the flicking numbers over the door.
*DING*
They walked to the doorbell and pressed it as one. An odd "Com'ming..." came as a reply. The door opened and there was Shinji and Asuka standing side by side.
"So have you agreed to admit that you've betrayed us!" Kensuke's camera was plastered to his eye. *Shinji* glared at Kensuke while *Asuka* invited them in. Penpen stood watch at the door to the kitchen but gladly returned to his fridge after receiving several pats on head. Misato was still working at NERV. Shinji cringed when he remembered she was pulling a triple shift in order to clear out the paperwork that was slowly but surely growing on top of her desk.
The three guests sat the table while the host and hostess ~~Not the company that makes those yummy cheesy thingies~~ had a heated discussion in the next room. Hikari sipped her drink that Shinji left her while the remaining two stooges grunted at each other in a mockery of a conversation. All three turned around at once when a crash was heard through connecting door. They didn't know what caused the crash but regardless a blushing *Asuka* followed by a fuming *Shinji* was a rarity in itself, usually it was the other way around. They stood at the head of the table and the three looked at them.
"So what is it that you wanted to tell us *Asuka*?" Shinji muttered a soft reply as he faced the floor.
"Ah what'd ya say?" Toji blinked his eyes. Shinji repeated slightly louder, which was still softer then a whisper.
"...Right... I could have sworn you said your Shinji..." Hikari blinked as *Asuka* nodded an affirmative.
---
"Never again! I swear to never get suckered into another triple shift, as long as I live!" Misato glanced at her watch. "My god 5:28? I sure hope Shinji's got dinner ready"
Misato stopped in front of her door and deftly searched her pockets for the ever elusive keycard to her apartment. 'Ok... I didn't forget it at work did I? Oh wait' Misato lifted the keycard from her back pocket and gave a victory sign to herself. 'Damn... I'm delirious... wait no that's wrong... Is there a term for entertaining yourself when your this tired?'. Misato's thoughts were interrupted when the floor met her face.
"Ow!" Misato gently rubbed the small mark on her face and turned around to see the offending object that caused her to trip. She saw 5 pairs of shoes. 'Asuka's probably playing another trick on me... I'll get her back later at a more godly hour'. Misato picked herself up and dusted herself off before turning around the corner into a crowded kitchen.
"OH MISATO!" Kensuke and Toji leapt from their chairs and stood as statues would.
"Idiot duo strikes again..." *Shinji* muttered under his breath. Misato perked up just a touch. Though the red mark from the fall was still there the smile she put on diverted attention away from it.
"Hello boys!" Misato flaunted herself at them before sitting at a chair and grinning ear to ear. 'Triple shift or not at least I'll still be able to embarrass Shinji before I hit the sack'.
"So what are studs like you guys doing in my apartment with the girls?" Toji seemed to have flinched a bit but Kensuke replied immediately.
"*Shinji* called us up, some important" Kensuke mentally slapped himself. That was a bit too lose to the truth.
"What did ya need help with *Shinji*? Girl trouble?" Asuka snapped her head towards Misato with a look of shock on her face 'If only she knew'.
"I well, no... not really Misato" Misato perked an eyebrow up but then pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Where's dinner?" thankfully Shinji made his appearance now, and he held the meal out towards Misato.
"Hmmm... *Asuka* you cooked again? What's with the sudden interest in cooking? If I didn't know any better I'd say *Shinji* is rubbing off on you" Misato grinned as *Asuka* gave a little glare.
"Actually, I helped *Asuka* cook that... I needed to talk to her, so I had her help me out" Hikari said as she walked out holding another tray with dishes of food ready to be served. Toji humbly accepted one of offered dishes from Hikari, mumbling a slight thank you thus causing a touch of a blush to appear. As they sat around the table eating the meal small but every restrained conversations would pop up. Misato being the head of operations noticed that. Well that and how most lines of topic seemed to veer off away from some subjects. 'I'll have to look into this...'.
---
"Man... Shinji really screwed you realise that..." Toji walked out of the apartment's elevator followed by Kensuke and Hikari.
"Shinji? Just imagine Asuka!" Hikari put her hands over her eyes for a moment to emphasize her shock "I can't imagine what it would be like to enter the body of a boy!"
"It's gonna be really weird when they go to school on monday. I'm having a hard time picturing *Shinji* being a loud mouth while *Asuka* just takes abuse" Toji nodded his head with Kensuke's statement while Hikari continued to walk.
"But how are we supposed to help them?! I never even thought this was possible in the first place! How can we help?"
"I think they should have went straight to the hospital ward and asked for help from who ever could do something there Hikari... Who's idea was it to stay silent anyway"
" I don't remember Kensuke... when I finally believed what they said I think I zoned out for a moment. But it sounds like something Asuka would say"
"You know Toji you shouldn't have laughed so hard when they first told you the truth" Hikari shushed a defiant Toji with a wave of her hand " I never saw *Asuka* look so down trodden" Toji defended himself with several earlier mentioned lines but thinking back the 'tact' he'd shown wasn't that awe inspiring...
(FLASHBACK) "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Good one guys! You almost had me there for a second!" Toji wiped the tear forming from his eye before another fit of laughter over came him "The demon in wimpy Shinji! HA!"
At this *Shinji* swatted Toji once at the back of the head sending his face into the hardwood table "YOU CALLING ME A DEMON AGAIN!! I'LL SHOW YOU, YOU DAMNED STOOGE, WHAT A DEMON CAN DO!!!"
Toji's thoughts were brought back to the present when he realized he was rubbing the slightly bruised nose that *Shinji* so viciously sent to the table wood work.
"So we're going to have to cover them at school tomorrow then?" Toji was about to nod when Hikari piped up "Today's Saturday. No school on Sunday's remember? Well unless you want to go to school on Sundays, as class rep I could..."
"No, no! It's ok!" They said in perfect unison.
---
Shinji finished washing the dishes with Asuka's help, though he'd never have thought she'd do them ever, then again he never thought he'd be stuck in her body either. Asuka claimed it was a cover up, her helping him with the dishes and chores, but Shinji was grateful regardless. It was getting late by now and Shinji said his good nights as he headed for his room.
"Good night *Asuka*" Shinji turned around and stared almost dumbly at Asuka, until he realized that he had been heading towards *Shinji's* room. He gave a curt nod and walked into Asuka's room.
Some of this hadn't been missed by Misato. 'Who'd have thought my little charges would be falling in love!' Misato was starting to grin ear to ear at the thought. She started recalling the day and her smile faded from view. She said goodnight to *Shinji* and walked into her room. Reaching into her desk she pulled out 2 folders both with Project-E on them but one with Shinji Ikari and the other with Asuka Sohryu on the label underneath.
"Might as well get this over with too" Misato picked up a misplaced pencil and wrote a similar report for both.
Sunny day, with few clouds in sight. Children show little sighs of stress and they seem to behave as normal under the same circumstances. I had originally feared there would be damage, mentally most likely, that would cause child to behave out of character or lash out. Though there are small occurrences, nothing demands immediate attention as of yet. Perhaps the attack did more good then bad. I have drawn a hypothesis: seems to have unlocked several emotional layers between subjects and made them more open towards each other. Also noted is that subjects are more physically closer then before the attack. This hypothesis is yet to be seen through.
Misato closed the last report folder and stretched her aching muscles. 'I wonder what actually went through their minds during that time 2 days ago?'. All coherent thought was interrupting by blissful sleep reclaiming the tired Misato. Tonight was a goodnight for miss Misato Katsuragi, she didn't dream about her lost love Ryouji Kaji.
But she was the only one in that Apartment that was spared from the nightmares, that moonless night.
One young boy was racing through dark halls towards his hanging mother while a girl watched as her mother was swallowed by her future eva...
--?--?--
OOOHHH. Now I've gone an done it! I'm putting the dream sequence in the next chapter. So what'd ya think?! Good bad! I much rather dug myself into a deep hole in the ground several times but I think I managed to make this look rather good now didn't I? I felt that with Asuka backing Shinji, he would have faced Toji (mostly due to fear of Asuka doing something to him) and that's what I'm sticking to. I'm very sorry to all you Rei fans out their, I've had little chance to add everyone's favourite blue haired enigma to this fic. But considering that this mostly focuses on Asuka and Shinji's problem, I can't really see Asuka allowing Rei in on the action.
I've had a major debate with myself on where I should end this fic. Originally I had hoped to end it around the time they are 'restored' so to speak. But then I started to insert little conspiracy thingies every once in awhile... then I started to get interesting in what I 'accidently' added and started thinking maybe I should continue until it hit that classic EoE ending scene...
Hate it, love it? Gimme a review and tell me what ya think. You could also include whether you'd want this ended soon(when they get fixed up) or to continue through the other angel attacks and my funky version(well that's what It'll probably be by that time) of EoE. Oh and flames will be tolerated if they're more then one sentences.
Ok last place we left our valiant (and some what screwed up) heroes. They still had their bodies switched, and Asuka(being Asuka) was refusing all attempts by Shinji for asking someone for help. Regardless they are now walking(well Shinji's being dragged) towards the shopping mall after Asuka got another idea. *Sweat drops* I hope Shinji doesn't mind the idea of cross dressing... wait a minute... if he's in Asuka's body then technically he's a she... but she's still Shinji... so he'd be cross dressing with Asuka's body... no... but then *Brain explodes, fingers begin typing story*
*Shinji* stands for someone referring to Asuka in Shinji's body
*Asuka* stands for someone referring to Shinji in Asuka's body
Example/ "Yo *Asuka*!!" Shinji angrily turned around "I'm Shinji not Asuka, damnit!"
'...' stands for thought
"..." stands for talking
--?--?-- stands for beginning and end.
~~...~~ stands for author interruption(Me, making myself heard)
--- stands for... I guess the next Scene
Enjoy!
DrunkDrake
World from the eye's of Another
03 : Adventures in everyday life/ Secrets that tear the heart
--?--?--
"Asuka are you crazy!!" Shinji exclaimed rather loudly drawing some looks from fellow pedestrians. Shinji closed his mouth as Asuka stared back at Shinji.
"What?"
"Shopping?!?! We're going shopping!?" Asuka seemed to beam happily at him
"Of course! If you insist!" Asuka happy dragged Shinji another block
"It wasn't a statement! Why are we going shopping!!" Asuka stopped and sighed heavily. Shinji waited patiently for his answer.
"Shinji... As a girl there are some things you need to learn" Asuka started ticking her fingers off.
"Really and what would that be?"Shinji knew he'd be forced to agree anyway. 'Might as well get this over with'.
"Number 1: Beauty is everything" Shinji doubted this but nodded
"Number 2: Being the best is top order" Shinji raised an eyebrow but nodded.
"Number 3: Girl's are better then boys" Shinji again doubted this but wouldn't mention it in present company.
"Number 4: Asuka is the best" Shinji blinked and Asuka grinned.
"Asuka... your crazy..."
"Ok, ok so I made them all up except for the last one" Asuka flung her hands in the air. Shinji just crossed his arms.
"...SO WHAT!" Asuka piped up throwing an accusing finger at him. Shinji sighed and continued walking towards the mall.
Asuka leaped up and nearly toppled Shinji when she leaned on his shoulder.
"However a girl can never have too much clothing!" she whispered quietly, almost like it was a grand secret.
"Asuka... I've seen your shopping trips. More like spend every yen for the next three pay checks" Asuka glared at him and walked off.
"Your just a boy after all. You'd never appreciate the qualities every woman possesses" Shinji glowered at her. 'Perhaps she's already forgotten that I now posses all of the physical traits that made her better then me'
---
Misato stood stock still in a very large, black room. A room that expanded from the depths of the horizon to a door that hid itself behind her. The only light being the wall to wall windows that stretched from back to front. The tree of life on the roof and the divine ladder on the floor. She stood in the commanders office.
"Report Major" Misato maintained her wooden stance but retrieved the file under her arm
"Subjects Ikari and Sohryu show no signs of effect" Gendo Ikari commander of NERV narrowed his eyes
"Does this mean failure or lack of understanding"
"Further observation has been recommended by the head of science department"
"So it will be" the door opened behind Misato signalling her leave.
"Yes sir" Misato almost reached the door when the commander's voice spoke up again.
"Inform the head of science department to report at 13 hundred hours" Misato nodded affirmative and exited the room breathing a sigh of relief.
'Breathe girl breathe...'
Misato collected herself and walked down the halls towards Ritsuko's office. 'I wouldn't have agreed to this if that last attack hadn't occurred in that manner'. Misato walked through the door marked *Akagi R*.
---
"Asuka!! NO! Not there!" Asuka turned around and looked at the 14 year old girl that had the mind of 14 year old boy.
"Shinji... come on. It's only a clothing store!" Shinji paled as he looked at the sigh. No way she'd drag me through those doors.
"NO!! I'D RATHER DIE!"~~ Ok, so he didn't say that but I couldn't resist putting that speech from the 13th angel battle ^.^ ~~
"Victoria can keep her secrets for all I care!" Shinji stared at the store's name with absolute fear on his face.~~There now wasn't that original?~~
Asuka burst out laughing and they walked over to the nearest table in the food court. Asuka slowly settled down after nabbing a salad, and Shinji a soda, the bags all resting under the table.
"Bad enough you had me try on all 7 of those dresses" Asuka's giggling turned into laughing again. She'd purposely chosen some of the most revealing and difficult looking dresses for Shinji to try on. It had been very helpful for Asuka to better inspect if the dresses were any good.
"Sure beats the hell out of mirrors" Shinji perked an eyebrow but smirked at Asuka's words. It had been, well... not fun, but it'll bring a smile every time he remembers that little stint.
"So have we done enough? Can we go yet?" Asuka lifted the bags as if she was weighing her options to the question.
"Nope. We have at least half the mall to cover still" Shinji only finished his soda and picked up his bags to go. Asuka chucked the remains of the salad into the garbage and took off after him.
"So where's this new arcade you wanted to show me Toji?" Asuka froze. 'What are the the stooges doing here!?'. Asuka saw Kensuke walk around the corner before an arm dragged her through a store doorway. She looked at Shinji who had a stern look on his face and pressed a finger to his lips, demanding quiet.
"I don't know but..." Toji's voice suddenly stopped. 'Uh oh, busted!' Shinji thought 'and to think I'll be caught hiding in a corner with Asuka'. The foot steps edged nearer. Shinji saw a bead of sweat draw down her new features. The foot steps stopped and odd clinking noises were heard.
"Hey Kensuke you want something too?"
"Toji, I really do wonder how you eat that vending machine garbage. I mean you practically live of the stuff! We Gotta got to go to the south-east fast!"
"Where?"Toji's steps took them past where Shinji and Asuka were hiding. Toji was walking and blissfully munching some candy bar as Kensuke covered his eye's facing towards Toji, matching his pace. He was facing right at them!
"Toji, that's the..." Kensuke's voice faded off as Shinji and Asuka exited their hiding spot when Kensuke's voice faded off in the distance.
"Those dummkopf's are as thick as your eva's butt" Asuka said peering around the corner that the 2 stooges left behind. Shinji just sighed and caught his breath.
"Well this one time, I'm glad your right" Shinji's eye's popped open 'that's not something you say to Asuka!!'.
Indeed Asuka's eye's narrowed almost perceptibly.
"You don't really mean that do you Shinji..." Shinji could have sworn he felt venom dripping from her voice. 'Speak man! Her...woman... Distract her, comment do something! Red Alert! Code Red!'.
"No... Asuka I'm ahh..." Shinji some how got the idea this wasn't working.
"Your plan isn't working third" Shinji blinked 'damn how'd she do that!?'
"I think we should pay a visit to Victoria don't you?" Shinji felt panic 'RED ALERT' Shinji suddenly paused as he gave up and decided to give his reasons for avoiding Toji. 'If Asuka's going to do me a favour and dodge someone in my body, I may as well tell her why'.
"I'm not ready to... meet with Toji after the... accident" Asuka slowly nodded. She also remembered the possessed eva 03 "And our current situation makes this even harder"
"Toji looked perfectly fine. Hell he even had a smile on his face. Best if you go confront him so that you can get over it" Asuka nodded to herself, it was obvious that she was right. Shinji also agreed with her to a point anyway...'Did she forgot she's still got my body?'
"Asuka... your in my body though..."
"So, I'll just go make it up to him then!" Asuka didn't miss a beat.
"Your not serious are you..." Asuka grinned that annoying wicked grin again. She strictly outlined that she won't cover for his retreating tendencies.
'Dear god...'
---
"Hey Toji look at this... I recorded this in the east wing apparently" Kensuke was rewinding his camera and watching bits and pieces of today's records while Toji had a turn at the new Arcade game. Toji paused his button mashing competition long enough to peep into the camera.
"Where's that? Errr... Yeah??"
"Toji! The vending machines!!" Toji nodded sagely now but only until the game took his attention again "Lose that game already and look!" at Kensuke's words Toji did just that... just not on purpose 'Still Gotta get used to this thing...'.
"Damn and I was sure to get the new high score!" Kensuke motions to his camera and Toji once again watches the replay.
"Hey that kinda looks like Shinji... and Asuka... but there's something blocking the view..." Kensuke grinned
"That something blocking the view was you" Toji rubbed the back of his head.
"Why do you think that would be Shinji and the demon?" Toji looked almost scholarly "Cause if that was Shinji, wouldn't he have called out to us or something?"
"But the demon was there too! Perhaps she put some voodoo spell on him or something..." Kensuke's glasses flashed in the light "Perhaps they were doing something... PRIVATE"
"AH MAN NO WAY!" Toji shuddered at the thought "demon girl and Shinji? No self respecting human would ever stoop that low"
"Well, let's go look for them! I wanna see if she did do something to our fearful friend" Kensuke suddenly lit up again "Hell, If we rescue him from the demon Misato might reward me by making me an EVA pilot!!"
Toji, shook his head, he had another idea why Shinji might be avoiding him. Kensuke didn't entirely know what had happened 2 battles ago. With the new prosthetic limbs Toji had, Toji was almost at 100% from before the accident. 'It wasn't Shinji's fault. Though he has been avoiding me every since...'
"Well, let's go find them!"
---
"You know... You'd think looking for the only red headed demon in a mall would be easier then this" Kensuke widened his camera lens to continue his search. Toji was wondering if she was the devil, how else could she disappear into crowds?
"Your sure you saw them come this way?" Kensuke nodded before nearly flipping himself over the 2nd story railing on the inside pavilion, pointing to a mob exiting a store.
"Red demon sighting heading north-north west!" Toji only blinked at Kensuke before smiling
"The food court, what a great place to go!" Kensuke sighed. Of all the directions Kensuke would spout, it made sense that Toji would remember that one...
---
"So Asuka... Do you actually wear half the stuff you buy?" Shinji now had a total of 6 bags of assorted clothing while Asuka carried 5.
"You really should learn to stop asking those questions" Asuka really didn't like how Shinji was questioning everything she had done. Of course this all started with the earlier incident where Asuka had dragged Shinji in front of 'Victoria's' as they deemed it. It was only a joke and Asuka had loved it. She never planned to actually go in there... it just didn't seem, well like something she'd do.
"Perhaps I should be making you carry all the bags... after all I'm the girl now" however Asuka was seriously considering to drag Shinji through that store and make him try on everything there if he didn't shut up soon.
"You know what Shinji! We need to go back a few stores. I forgot to get something" Asuka mentally added 'revenge'. Shinji's inherent babbling was cut in half when he looked behind him. It wasn't the destination that stopped him, it was what was coming towards him. 'Damn it, I was hoping not to face Toji so soon!'.
"Oh no! Just perfect! Larry and Curly too!" Shinji wasn't really on par when it came to old American movies and it shows but something told him it was a reference to the stooges.
"Hey *Shinji*! What are you doing with the devil herself?" Toji managed to shovel his way through the crowd and stop in front of Asuka. Asuka had Shinji's classic 'deer caught in headlights' face on. She did it because if anything, it was most likely they would be found out now, well that's what Shinji told himself.
"Hey Kensuke... Toji..." Asuka was acting the part to say the least.
"Yo *Shinji*! What ya doing with the devil incarnation?" Toji whispered to Asuka. If not for the clothing bags she held, her fist would have added another shooting star to tonight's sky.
"Shopping, stooge" Asuka noticed Shinji didn't add the venom nor mocking tone that *should* have accompanied that line. Add to the fact that he was looking almost pathetic.
"Woah. What's with her?" Asuka peered over at Kensuke who was trying to get a close up of the unsettled *Asuka* in front of him. *Asuka's* arm shot forward knocking aside the camera and grabbed *Shinji* and headed to an unused corner. Toji and Kensuke were obviously confused. Kensuke leaned over to Toji.
"100 yen says they're *romantically* inclined now" Toji shook his head as Kensuke tried to back up his statement by zooming in on the huddled figures.
"Asuka... There's no way I can do it like this..." Asuka nodded. It wasn't a natural thing for her to act like Shinji. Add to the fact that Shinji himself couldn't directly deal with his issues with Toji. Asuka was willing to drop the facade if it meant they could deal with this Toji business, it really would only hinder what little they had going.
"I need to tell them the truth..." Asuka didn't react noticeably however Shinji had to wave his hand in her face before continuing "How should we go about it?"
Asuka had been pondering this before and decided to work with it "Fine, however I'll want Hikari to know... I need someone in my corner too you know..." Shinji nodded.
"Now to convince them that we're telling the truth..." They turned around and stopped in front of two confused stooges.
"We have something to tell you" Kensuke grinned and set his camera to record at Asuka's statement "however we won't tell you here" Kensuke's managed to keep his grin but Toji was still out of it.
"Come to our apartment at" Shinji looked at his watch " 3'o'clock, we'll tell you then"
Toji and Kensuke were confused but agreed. Both turned to leave but *Asuka* turned around and bowed to Toji before they left his sight "Toji... I am sorry for what I did..." *Asuka* then exited the door following *Shinji*.
---
Gendo sat at his desk waiting for 'doctor Akagi' to arrive. Fuyutsuki had decided to have a surprise visit just before hand though. The door whisked open and Fuyutsuki stopped in front of Gendo.
"How's the scenario" Gendo's eye's looked up from the designs on the floor to Fuyutsuki.
"I'm awaiting a more finalized report from the good doctor" Fuyutsuki nodded, Gendo's plans were being delayed by something... but what?
Ritsuko made her entrance now and Fuyutsuki went to his position at the commander's side. Ritsuko was the second person who could face Gendo without so much as flinching, Fuyutsuki obviously being the first.
"Doctor" Ritsuko handed the folder to Gendo and knew that he wouldn't read them. 'Bastard and his damn briefings'.
"The angel is currently in a coccoon like state. The Magi have estimated the fibres binding it could easily withstand any thing we currently have to use against it. The Magi also estimated that it will be ready to attack by Tuesday" Fuyutsuki mumbled '3 days' before she continued " However it's orbit may reach us as early as Monday evening"
Gendo didn't move an inch as he rolled this through his head. Fuyutsuki then asked the dreaded question. The mental 'attack' just sounded horrifying, but he watched a recording of it and he could barely manage to think what it would be like to experience it.
"And the pilots of 01 and 02?"
"It appears that nothing you've expected happened to the children" Gendo failed to make a response. Fuyutsuki raised his eyebrows as he questioned further.
"How so...?"
"They're perfectly fine"
---
"So Toji... just what did *Asuka* do to you? What did she apologize for?" Toji looked off in thought but came up with "I got no clue Kensuke..."
Toji was putting his heart and effort into figuring out way *Asuka* would apologize to him. 'It wouldn't be for the daily things... It's have to be for something really bad. But what?' Toji kept thinking back and back until he remembered the aftermath of the 13th angel. 'I lost both left limbs' Toji had been shifting said limbs while he thought that over. 'Why would *Asuka* apologize?! ARGH this is gonna drive me up the wall to figure out!'.
Kensuke and Toji walked through the door and entered the elevator.
"So what are you stooges doing?" Hikari asked, she had been in the elevator before them as it rose to the eva's pilots shared apartment.
"Well, we met Shinji and Asuka at the mall and acting weird too... they wouldn't tell us why but they asked us to come over around now" Hikari nodded to Kensuke's words as Toji continued thinking of *Asuka's* apology
"I was asked over too. *Shinji* called me over" Toji spared a glance at Hikari before returning to the flicking numbers over the door.
*DING*
They walked to the doorbell and pressed it as one. An odd "Com'ming..." came as a reply. The door opened and there was Shinji and Asuka standing side by side.
"So have you agreed to admit that you've betrayed us!" Kensuke's camera was plastered to his eye. *Shinji* glared at Kensuke while *Asuka* invited them in. Penpen stood watch at the door to the kitchen but gladly returned to his fridge after receiving several pats on head. Misato was still working at NERV. Shinji cringed when he remembered she was pulling a triple shift in order to clear out the paperwork that was slowly but surely growing on top of her desk.
The three guests sat the table while the host and hostess ~~Not the company that makes those yummy cheesy thingies~~ had a heated discussion in the next room. Hikari sipped her drink that Shinji left her while the remaining two stooges grunted at each other in a mockery of a conversation. All three turned around at once when a crash was heard through connecting door. They didn't know what caused the crash but regardless a blushing *Asuka* followed by a fuming *Shinji* was a rarity in itself, usually it was the other way around. They stood at the head of the table and the three looked at them.
"So what is it that you wanted to tell us *Asuka*?" Shinji muttered a soft reply as he faced the floor.
"Ah what'd ya say?" Toji blinked his eyes. Shinji repeated slightly louder, which was still softer then a whisper.
"...Right... I could have sworn you said your Shinji..." Hikari blinked as *Asuka* nodded an affirmative.
---
"Never again! I swear to never get suckered into another triple shift, as long as I live!" Misato glanced at her watch. "My god 5:28? I sure hope Shinji's got dinner ready"
Misato stopped in front of her door and deftly searched her pockets for the ever elusive keycard to her apartment. 'Ok... I didn't forget it at work did I? Oh wait' Misato lifted the keycard from her back pocket and gave a victory sign to herself. 'Damn... I'm delirious... wait no that's wrong... Is there a term for entertaining yourself when your this tired?'. Misato's thoughts were interrupted when the floor met her face.
"Ow!" Misato gently rubbed the small mark on her face and turned around to see the offending object that caused her to trip. She saw 5 pairs of shoes. 'Asuka's probably playing another trick on me... I'll get her back later at a more godly hour'. Misato picked herself up and dusted herself off before turning around the corner into a crowded kitchen.
"OH MISATO!" Kensuke and Toji leapt from their chairs and stood as statues would.
"Idiot duo strikes again..." *Shinji* muttered under his breath. Misato perked up just a touch. Though the red mark from the fall was still there the smile she put on diverted attention away from it.
"Hello boys!" Misato flaunted herself at them before sitting at a chair and grinning ear to ear. 'Triple shift or not at least I'll still be able to embarrass Shinji before I hit the sack'.
"So what are studs like you guys doing in my apartment with the girls?" Toji seemed to have flinched a bit but Kensuke replied immediately.
"*Shinji* called us up, some important" Kensuke mentally slapped himself. That was a bit too lose to the truth.
"What did ya need help with *Shinji*? Girl trouble?" Asuka snapped her head towards Misato with a look of shock on her face 'If only she knew'.
"I well, no... not really Misato" Misato perked an eyebrow up but then pointed an accusing finger at him.
"Where's dinner?" thankfully Shinji made his appearance now, and he held the meal out towards Misato.
"Hmmm... *Asuka* you cooked again? What's with the sudden interest in cooking? If I didn't know any better I'd say *Shinji* is rubbing off on you" Misato grinned as *Asuka* gave a little glare.
"Actually, I helped *Asuka* cook that... I needed to talk to her, so I had her help me out" Hikari said as she walked out holding another tray with dishes of food ready to be served. Toji humbly accepted one of offered dishes from Hikari, mumbling a slight thank you thus causing a touch of a blush to appear. As they sat around the table eating the meal small but every restrained conversations would pop up. Misato being the head of operations noticed that. Well that and how most lines of topic seemed to veer off away from some subjects. 'I'll have to look into this...'.
---
"Man... Shinji really screwed you realise that..." Toji walked out of the apartment's elevator followed by Kensuke and Hikari.
"Shinji? Just imagine Asuka!" Hikari put her hands over her eyes for a moment to emphasize her shock "I can't imagine what it would be like to enter the body of a boy!"
"It's gonna be really weird when they go to school on monday. I'm having a hard time picturing *Shinji* being a loud mouth while *Asuka* just takes abuse" Toji nodded his head with Kensuke's statement while Hikari continued to walk.
"But how are we supposed to help them?! I never even thought this was possible in the first place! How can we help?"
"I think they should have went straight to the hospital ward and asked for help from who ever could do something there Hikari... Who's idea was it to stay silent anyway"
" I don't remember Kensuke... when I finally believed what they said I think I zoned out for a moment. But it sounds like something Asuka would say"
"You know Toji you shouldn't have laughed so hard when they first told you the truth" Hikari shushed a defiant Toji with a wave of her hand " I never saw *Asuka* look so down trodden" Toji defended himself with several earlier mentioned lines but thinking back the 'tact' he'd shown wasn't that awe inspiring...
(FLASHBACK) "HAHAHAHAHAHA! Good one guys! You almost had me there for a second!" Toji wiped the tear forming from his eye before another fit of laughter over came him "The demon in wimpy Shinji! HA!"
At this *Shinji* swatted Toji once at the back of the head sending his face into the hardwood table "YOU CALLING ME A DEMON AGAIN!! I'LL SHOW YOU, YOU DAMNED STOOGE, WHAT A DEMON CAN DO!!!"
Toji's thoughts were brought back to the present when he realized he was rubbing the slightly bruised nose that *Shinji* so viciously sent to the table wood work.
"So we're going to have to cover them at school tomorrow then?" Toji was about to nod when Hikari piped up "Today's Saturday. No school on Sunday's remember? Well unless you want to go to school on Sundays, as class rep I could..."
"No, no! It's ok!" They said in perfect unison.
---
Shinji finished washing the dishes with Asuka's help, though he'd never have thought she'd do them ever, then again he never thought he'd be stuck in her body either. Asuka claimed it was a cover up, her helping him with the dishes and chores, but Shinji was grateful regardless. It was getting late by now and Shinji said his good nights as he headed for his room.
"Good night *Asuka*" Shinji turned around and stared almost dumbly at Asuka, until he realized that he had been heading towards *Shinji's* room. He gave a curt nod and walked into Asuka's room.
Some of this hadn't been missed by Misato. 'Who'd have thought my little charges would be falling in love!' Misato was starting to grin ear to ear at the thought. She started recalling the day and her smile faded from view. She said goodnight to *Shinji* and walked into her room. Reaching into her desk she pulled out 2 folders both with Project-E on them but one with Shinji Ikari and the other with Asuka Sohryu on the label underneath.
"Might as well get this over with too" Misato picked up a misplaced pencil and wrote a similar report for both.
Sunny day, with few clouds in sight. Children show little sighs of stress and they seem to behave as normal under the same circumstances. I had originally feared there would be damage, mentally most likely, that would cause child to behave out of character or lash out. Though there are small occurrences, nothing demands immediate attention as of yet. Perhaps the attack did more good then bad. I have drawn a hypothesis: seems to have unlocked several emotional layers between subjects and made them more open towards each other. Also noted is that subjects are more physically closer then before the attack. This hypothesis is yet to be seen through.
Misato closed the last report folder and stretched her aching muscles. 'I wonder what actually went through their minds during that time 2 days ago?'. All coherent thought was interrupting by blissful sleep reclaiming the tired Misato. Tonight was a goodnight for miss Misato Katsuragi, she didn't dream about her lost love Ryouji Kaji.
But she was the only one in that Apartment that was spared from the nightmares, that moonless night.
One young boy was racing through dark halls towards his hanging mother while a girl watched as her mother was swallowed by her future eva...
--?--?--
OOOHHH. Now I've gone an done it! I'm putting the dream sequence in the next chapter. So what'd ya think?! Good bad! I much rather dug myself into a deep hole in the ground several times but I think I managed to make this look rather good now didn't I? I felt that with Asuka backing Shinji, he would have faced Toji (mostly due to fear of Asuka doing something to him) and that's what I'm sticking to. I'm very sorry to all you Rei fans out their, I've had little chance to add everyone's favourite blue haired enigma to this fic. But considering that this mostly focuses on Asuka and Shinji's problem, I can't really see Asuka allowing Rei in on the action.
I've had a major debate with myself on where I should end this fic. Originally I had hoped to end it around the time they are 'restored' so to speak. But then I started to insert little conspiracy thingies every once in awhile... then I started to get interesting in what I 'accidently' added and started thinking maybe I should continue until it hit that classic EoE ending scene...
Hate it, love it? Gimme a review and tell me what ya think. You could also include whether you'd want this ended soon(when they get fixed up) or to continue through the other angel attacks and my funky version(well that's what It'll probably be by that time) of EoE. Oh and flames will be tolerated if they're more then one sentences.