Chapter 4

"Asuka Wait!"

Asuka finally stopped after walking a block from the school. Shinji came up behind her.

"What do you want?" she asked, not turning to face him.

"I want to explain what happened."

"I 'saw' what happened Third Child!" replied Asuka, her voice full of scorn. "You don't need to explain."

"But Asuka...."

"Just leave me the HELL alone!" Asuka stormed off down the street. Shinji watched for several seconds before following, but at a much slower pace. Above, on a streetlight, the foot tall figure watched and laughed.

"YES! Finally! I can't believe I pulled it off! I just might get that promotion!" the figure started to dance happily on top of the lamp. "Oh Yeah! Who's the Nasty Demon! Who's the Nasty Demon! Oh YEAH!" The figure then turned and looked at the rapidly disappearing figures. "I got to follow them! It's just like a soap opera!"

With that she vanished.

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Slowly, a group of 4 walked along a different sidewalk towards a different apartment. Sayoko was being helped along between Touji and Rei, Hikari following from behind.

"This is going to take us all night!" mumbled Touji.

"I still think we should call someone." said Hikari.

"No."

Everyone looked at Sayoko, who was holding her head.

"No calling anyone. Just get me home."

They group started walking again.

"Why don't you just heal yourself?" asked Touji. "It would be a lot easier then carrying you home."

Sayoko stiffened up when Touji mentioned her powers. "I..."

"She can't"

Hikari and Touji looked at Rei in surprise. "Why not?"

Rei looked at Sayoko, who was looking down at the sidewalk. "She's been suspended. She has no powers right now."

"Who told you?" asked Sayoko quietly, still refusing to look at anyone.

"Skuld did, about a week ago."

Sayoko remained quiet. Hikari looked at Touji for a few moments before she looked back at Sayoko.

"Why didn't you tell us? Aren't we your friends?"

"You are my friends," said Sayoko quietly, "But...I just...I just couldn't tell you."

"Why not?"

"Everyone had high expectations of me. I didn't want to let you all down."

The group continued along in silence for several moments. A car soon passed by them. Rei looked up and noticed that the car was familiar.

"Uh oh."

"What?" asked Hikari.

The car slammed on its brakes and immediately backed up to them. The driver's side window rolled down to reveal Misato.

"What the hell happened!?!"

The children looked at each other nervously for several seconds, all except Sayoko who continued to look at the pavement..

"Well, see.....Sayoko fell at the dance and hit her head pretty hard." said Hikari.

Misato looked at Sayoko. "Sayoko, look up."

When Sayoko did not do so, Misato spoke again in her Major voice. "Fifth Child! Look up!"

Sayoko looked up to reveal a badly bruised cheek, and a fat upper lip. Dried blood could be seen on the front of her dress. Misato gasped in surprise, before she brought herself back under control.

"That did not come from a fall!" Misato got out of her car and moved to Sayoko. "Come on, I'm giving you a ride to your Aunt's. Rei, help me get her in the passenger seat, then you get in back. You're going to tell me exactly what happened!" Misato then turned to Hikari and Touji. "As for you two, Touji take Hikari home. I'm sure Rei will let you know what happens."

After getting Sayoko into the car, Misato and Rei got in and drove off. Misato adjusted her rearview mirror so that Rei's face filled it.

"Ok Rei. What the hell happened?"

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1 hour later.

Shinji sat on the couch, his head in his hands. The sound of the door opening caused him to look up. Misato entered with Rei right behind her. Misato went straight to the refrigerator and immediately downed 3 beers. She then walked out to the living room. Rei was now sitting next to Shinji on the couch. Misato sat down on a nearby chair.

"Alright Shinji. Tell me exactly what happened."

Shinji let out a sigh, "Asuka wanted me to dance with Sayoko. She had been sitting at the table all night and..."

"I got that much." interrupted Misato, "Explain the 'incident'."

"We had been dancing for a bit when someone bumped into Sayoko. Then when we started to separate, someone bumped into me and......" Shinji looked down at the floor. "I didn't mean to...it was an accident."

"Shinji." Shinji looked over at Rei and saw her frowning at him. "There was no one else near you."

Shinji stared at Rei shocked. "But there was! Someone bumped into us!"

"I was right next to Asuka. We both had a clear view right to you two. No one bumped you."

Shinji was stunned, "But that's....that's not possible." Suddenly Shinji perked up. "I know Kensuke! He was recording the dance! I can have him bring the tape over in the morning! I can prove that someone bumped us!"

Misato nodded, "You do that. By the way, where is she?"

"I think she's in her room. The door's locked."

"Alright, let her be for tonight." said Misato, "I want to talk to her in the morning when she's cooled off."

Shinji nodded, "How is Sayoko?"

"She's going to have a nasty bruise on the right side of her face for a while. She's also got a concussion from her head hitting the floor." Misato got up and headed for her room, leaving Shinji alone with Rei. Shinji glanced at Rei who was still frowning at him.

"It really was an accident."

"Not from what Asuka and I saw."

Shinji let out a sigh, "About Sayoko, why didn't she heal herself? I thought she could do that now."

"She's been suspended. Apparently for that thing with the car." replied Rei.

Shinji looked down at the floor. "Oh."

Rei got up and headed towards her room. She stopped just as she entered the hallway.

"You should get some sleep Shinji. If that recording confirms your story, ok. But if it does not, Asuka is going to skin you alive, and Misato just might help." Rei then turned and entered her room, closing the door behind her.

Shinji sat back on the couch and stared at the ceiling. "Great.....Something to look forward to."

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Sayoko had gotten back on her feet, "Asuka, please I didn't....." Sayoko was silenced as Asuka backhanded her. Sayoko was sent flying towards the edge of the dance floor, several feet away.

"YOU BITCH!" Asuka dove at Sayoko. Holding her down, Asuka repeatedly punched Sayoko in the face, until the goddess' face was a bruised and bloody mess. "Serves you right......" Asuka turned to face Shinji. He slowly backed away from her. Asuka brought her fist up and was about to hit him when an alarm went off.

Asuka sat up in bed and brought her fist down on her alarm clock, shattering it.

'Dammit! That was a good dream!' Asuka looked around the room. Her dress was right where she had left it, draped over a chair. As she looked at the dress, she remembered the events from the night before, the surprise, and the humiliation. 'Last time I'll wear THAT dress.....'

Asuka got up and got dressed. She glanced at her clock to see what time it was, but the clock was no longer able to do much of anything. She stepped out into the hall, and headed towards the kitchen, hoping that a certain male roommate was not in there. As she passed through the living room a voice from the couch stopped her.

"Good morning Mohammed Ali. Any good knock outs lately?"

Asuka turned to face Misato. "Morning Misato. Anything good on TV?"

"I'd rather talk about last night."

"I want to forget about last night."

"What?" asked Misato, her eyes narrowing at Asuka, "Afraid to tell me about your handy work? How you basically KO'd one of your friends?"

Asuka glared at Misato, "She's not my friend. Not after what she did."

"We'll see."

"What do you mean by that?"

Misato took a sip from her beer can. "Shinji and Rei went over to Kensuke's this morning to get the tape of the dance. He says it was an accident and someone bumped into him." The sound of the front door opening reached their ears. "There they are now."

Shinji entered the living room, followed by Rei, Kensuke, Hikari, and Touji.

"Why are they here?" asked Asuka.

"They were already at Kensuke's when we got there." said Shinji, "They wanted to come."

"Actually, we wanted to see Ikari squirm when he's proven wrong." said Kensuke. He then held up his camera. "Then I wanted to record what the de...what Asuka does to him."

"Thanks for your support." mumbled Shinji.

"Alright!" shouted Misato, "Play the tape!"

Kensuke walked over to the TV. Soon the events from the night before began to play on the screen. Several couples appeared on the screen as Kensuke panned across the dance floor. He then followed Shinji and Asuka as they danced. Shinji looked down at the floor, while Asuka began to feel her eyes tear up. She quickly wiped the developing tears away and shouted. "Fast forward it stooge!"

Kensuke complied. Images quickly flashed by on the screen. Finally, Asuka saw something familiar.

"Here! Play it here!"

On the screen, Shinji and Sayoko danced. Both were smiling and having a good time. Suddenly, another couple bumped into Sayoko, causing to move into Shinji's arms.

"SEE!" shouted Shinji standing up and pointing. "I TOLD YOU!"

The other 5 children stared in shock, "Where the hell did they come from?" they all asked in unison.

Seconds later, Shinji was hit by another couple, causing him to grab Sayoko. Misato spit out her beer and began coughing. She turned and stared at Shinji.

"SHINJI?!? You grabbed her there!?!??!"

Shinji turned beet red, "It was an accident. I was falling."

"Shinji was right." Rei said quietly, "It was an accident."

"But where did the other couples come from?" asked Hikari, "Why didn't we see them last night?"

Asuka glared at the screen. "You still grabbed her! And she grabbed you!"

"But Asuka, " began Shinji, "It wasn't like tha......."

"HOLY SHIT!" shouted Misato.

Shinji and Asuka turned back to the screen just in time to see Asuka backhanding Sayoko, sending her flying. Everyone winced as they watched Sayoko's head bounce off the floor. They then watched as Asuka stormed out of the gym. Everyone turned and faced Asuka. Asuka got up and walked towards the door.

"Where do you think your going?!" shouted Misato.

"Out for a walk." replied Asuka, as she put on her shoes. "All that Video proved was Sayoko was putting the moves on MY boyfriend." She then left.

Everyone left in the apartment was in shock.

"Did she even pay attention to that video?" asked Touji.

"Give her some time." said Misato, "She knows it was an accident. She just needs time for that fact to sink in."

"You'd have to hammer it into that thick head of hers for her to realize it." said Kensuke, "That's why she's the Demon!"

Kensuke soon found himself buried in pillows and cushions from the couch and chairs.

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Monday found Asuka and Shinji walking to school by themselves. Rei had left early to try and meet up with Sayoko. Shinji kept glancing at Asuka as they walked. Finally Asuka couldn't stand it anymore.

"WHAT?!!?" she shouted, "What is it Third Child?!?"

Shinji stared at her stunned. She hadn't spoken to him like that since before Sayoko arrived at Tokyo-3.

"I was just wondering....Asuka, What's wrong?"

"What do you mean?" asked Asuka. "I'm fine."

"You're acting strange."

Asuka stopped walking and glared at Shinji, "Are you telling me how I should act? Me? The Great Asuka Langley Sohryu? The Second Child and designated Pilot of Eva 02? Hmm?!"

Shinji backed away, "No! Of course not!"

"Good." Asuka turned on her heel and began walking away quickly, "Hurry up Third Child. I don't want to be late."

Shinji could only stare as Asuka walked off.

'What the hell is going on?' Shinji wondered.

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"It is weird Sayoko," said Rei, "She is acting like she did just before you arrived. She even called me Wondergirl again."

Sayoko sat next to Rei in the classroom. The right side of her face now showed the full effect of an Asuka slap, having developed a large bruise.

"I think the dance effected her more then we think." said Sayoko, "She's trying to hide her hurt the only way she knows how."

Rei let out a sigh, "Great, the Demon has been revived."

"Rei!"

"Well it is true! You never experienced her the way we did back then. After you arrived she calmed down."

Both girls shivered as the room temperature seemed to drop. All conversation in the class had also stopped.

Asuka had entered the class.

She walked straight to her desk, not even glancing at Sayoko, and sat down, immediately immersing herself in her laptop. Shinji then came in and sat down at his desk, right behind Sayoko. Soon, class began, and within moments of the teacher speaking, Shinji received a chat request. With a sigh, he agreed to join.

Ikari S has joined the chat.

Suzuhara Hey Shinji

Ikari S Hey

Suzuhara How's Asuka?

Ikari S ......

Horaki Still?

Ikari S Hikari? Who else is here?

Adia me

Ikari R me

Morisato ....

Shinji glanced up towards the person sitting in front of him.

Ikari S Are you alright Sayoko?

Morisato I'll survive

Adia What are we going to do about the demon?

Ikari S .....

Horaki .....

Ikari R ......

Morisato .......

Suzuhara Dude... you're dead.

Kensuke began to sweat profusely and look about for the nearest exit.

Ikari S I think we should let her be. She should cool off eventually. At least she has in the past. Besides, her birthday is in a week.

Horaki Asuka always loves a party

Suzuhara Especially when she is the center of attention.

Horaki Touji!

Suzuhara What!? It's true!

Ikari R He does have a point.

Horaki ..... So... Where and when?

Ikari S Misato is planning it for the day of her birthday. You're all invited. Sayoko, I'd understand if you didn't want to come, but I'm sure Rei would want you to come. Misato also would appreciate it if Skuld could come, she wants someone her own age to be there to keep her company.

Ikari R Please Sayoko?

Horaki It wouldn't be the same without you there.

Shinji noticed Sayoko take a deep breath and then let it out in a sigh.

Morisato Alright..... I'll come.

Ikari R You won't be sorry.

Morisato Famous last words......

Horaki Asuka should have cooled off by then. Don't worry.

Morisato I won't, so long as I have the Valkyries on speed dial.

Ikari S We wont let her do anything to you.

Ikari S Oh and Kensuke.

Adia ?

Ikari S You have 5 seconds from the bell

RING

Kensuke shot out of his seat like a rocket, Hikari and Shinji giving chase.

Asuka frowned and looked at Rei.

"What'd he say?"

"The D-word." replied Rei.

Asuka's eyes lit up as if on fire. "Excuse me. I have a stooge to kill."

Asuka turned and started to head toward the door when she collided with Sayoko. Asuka glared at Sayoko, causing the Goddess to take several steps back. Asuka then moved past her and out the door, not even taking a second glance at the Goddess.

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Shinji sat with his eyes closed, giving himself fully to his music. He hadn't played his cello all that much in the last few months, but the events of the day and past weekend had caused him to seek refuge in his cello. With it he was able to express himself more deeply then any words.

Right now that emotion was sorrow.

Sorrow that something he had always hoped for seemed to be over. Asuka had refused to speak with him for the rest of the weekend. When she finally did speak that morning, it was as if the past year had never happened. Now it was 'Third Child this' and 'Third Child that'. If only he had fought harder against dancing with Sayoko.

Sayoko......... There was another problem.

He felt really bad about what had happened to her. He knew Asuka could get violent, but he'd never seen her get THAT mad. Other then the brief IM conversation he hadn't been able to speak to her. That was on the advice of Rei.

"Asuka is obviously still upset about the dance." Rei had said, "Why get her even more worked up."

Shinji still didn't have any clue what he would say to Sayoko. When he was in her arms, it felt........... good, like all his problems and worries went away. He knew it had to be because she's a goddess, but still............. A part of him longed for that feeling again.

'No.......Bad Shinji.' Shinji shook his head, 'What about Asuka? You're still technically with her.'

Shinji let out a sigh and finished the song. As soon as he had finished the sound of clapping reached his ears. Surprised that someone had arrived home without him knowing, Shinji turned to see who it was. Shinji almost dropped his cello.

"Very nice Shinji." said Asuka, a smile on her face, "I don't know how you found the time to practice."

Shinji quickly looked away and stood up. "I was just in the mood for it." He started to walk away.

Asuka grabbed him, "What's wrong?"

Shinji continued to look away, "Nothing."

Asuka frowned, "It isn't nothing, talk to me Shinji. What's wrong?"

"So now you want me to talk to you?" Shinji turned back and faced her. "You haven't wanted to talk to me for the past 3 days and now you want to talk?" Shinji shrugged her hand off and headed towards his room.

"I'm sorry Shinji."

Shinji froze. He slowly turned to face Asuka, who was looking down at the ground.

"You're.....what?"

Asuka continued to look at the floor. "I said I'm sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn't have forced you to dance with that....."

Shinji placed his cello on the floor and walked up to Asuka. "Asuka?"

Asuka jumped at him, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm sorry Shinji. I blamed you and it wasn't your fault." Tears fell onto his shoulder. "I don't want to lose you. Not to her or anyone."

Shinji placed his arms around her. "It's alright Asuka. I forgive you."

Asuka sniffed and continued to hold on to him. "You mean it?"

"Yes."

Asuka released Shinji and wiped away the tears from her cheeks. "Thank you Shinji." She started to walk to her room.

"Asuka?"

Asuka stopped and turned back to Shinji.

"What about Sayoko?"

A large frown appeared on Asuka's face. "That slut? She can rot in hell."

"What?!?!?"

"She knew you were mine! That whore needs to keep her hands off of other people's men!" Asuka went into her room and slammed the door, leaving Shinji standing in the hallway stunned and confused.

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December 3rd

Misato sat at the table while Shinji stood patiently in the kitchen. In her hands was a large check list.

"Snacks?" called out Misato.

Shinji moved to find the items. "Check."

"Beer?"

"Check."

"Punch?"

"Kensuke's bringing it."

"Soda?"

"Check."

"Beer?"

"Uhh Check."

"Party hats?"

"Hikari has them."

"Banner?"

"Hikari."

"Beer?"

"Misato, that's the third time you've said beer."

Misato smiled, "I know. I just making sure we have enough." She set the list down. "Alright, you are going to make sure she is out of the house while we set up right?"

Shinji nodded. "I'm gonna take her out for a picnic and then a movie. That should be enough time."

"Right. Remember, come back after 6. Everything should be ready by then."

Shinji nodded. Then a worried look appeared on his face. "Are you sure it's alright for Sayoko to come? I mean, after what happened and what she's said....."

"Shinji," Misato said quietly, "You and I both know Asuka has a temper. It's been a week, she's had time to think about it and to cool off. All of her friends agree it was an accident, she'll come around."

"I don't know Misato." said Shinji, "She hasn't said a word to Sayoko all week and ignores any attempts Sayoko makes to talk to her."

"Well Shinji, maybe she..."

"I'M HOME!" hollered Asuka as she walked through the front door.

"Welcome home!" replied Misato. To Shinji, "Well finish this later."