Anrui / Kanrui: Chapter 05
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion. Please don't sue.
A/N: *munches happily on a cookie from a reviewer, keeping the second one for later* M'phl... mf, rmfufmph *cookie crumbs sputter from the writer's lips* *finishes cookie* *drinks some milk* *sighs happily* So, as I was saying... M'phl mf, rmfufmph...
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As class let out for lunch Hikari glanced down to retrieve her lunchbox and other essentials for their midday repast but was startled when she glanced back up to see Asuka standing over her already. "A-Asuka!" she greeted softly, then her face softened at the look on the girl's face.
Asuka's visage was set in grim determination, a darkness about her indicated her inner thoughts and feelings. Hikari had intended to ask Asuka to sit with her during lunch so they could talk about it but found she was too slow on the draw. They normally sat together but Hikari was afraid Asuka might want to be alone and hoped to catch her before she left.
"Hikari..." Asuka started, almost sheepishly. Her face showed the pain from earlier with a thin coat of her normal confidance and anger covering it. "Would you mind if I shared your-"
Hikari, suddenly realizing one of the things that was wrong spoke up quickly and cut Asuka off, "Asuka! Would you like to eat with me? I'd like you to try my lunch. I tried something new and..." she trailed off as Asuka's face softened and the barest hint of a smile came through.
"Thanks Hikari..." Asuka said quietly.
Hikari smiled reassuringly and led the german girl from the classroom. She wasn't sure where Ikari and the two other boys were but hoped they wouldn't run into them outside. She decided to take Asuka around the corner of the building towards the back where they might have a bit of privacy.
When they arrived Hikari sat down in the grass under a tree leaving enough room for Asuka next to her. She unwrapped her bento and opened it as Asuka sat beside her. She wasn't sure how to start things off so decided eating was first priority, hoping for an appropriate chance to bring things up. Even if there was no chance, or Asuka didn't want to talk of it, she hoped just being there would help at least.
She handed the bento to her friend and said warmly, "Take what you like..." then remembering her 'reason' for doing this (other than helping save Asuka's mighty pride) she added, "and please tell me what you think."
Asuka smirked slightly at the obvious game being played for her benefit, but did so in a warm manner, and took the proffered (no, that's not a typo) food. She timidly took a few pieces and chewed them thoroughly. After a few moments she forced a smile, which didn't fool the school representative at all, and said, "It's delicious, Hikari."
Hikari smiled back and as the corners of her mouth slipped back down she stated, "You don't have to smile about it... you don't seem to want to smile right now."
Asuka's face fell and what appeared to be a deep, brooding frown adorned it. Hikari was shocked at the look on the girl's face. Something was troubling her more than Hikari had ever seen. Asuka never let anyone see her feelings other than anger and mirth. The class representative felt flattered that Asuka's comfort with her allowed her to do so. She took it as a compliment to their friendship and steeled herself to help in any way she could. Asuka WAS a good person, she had seen it numerous times.
Seeing that Asuka wasn't initiating a conversation about it Hikari decided to take the first step. "Is... is it about Ikari?" She promptly wished she had kept her mouth shut.
Asuka's face twisted into a look of pure hatred, through gritted teeth she hissed, "Yes, it's about HIM... that... that..." here she paused, her free hand motioning for more words, hateful words, deeply hurtful words to come forth but with her limited japanese slang vocabulary she finally settled on shouting, "BAKA!"
Hikari, throughout that spectacle had leaned away from Asuka, not so much for safety but in shock. "I thought you two liked each other! You were having so much fun..." She thought back to the time that she and Asuka, Ikari and Suzuhara had gone to the movies together. To get Suzuhara there they had said it was just the four of them going as friends but Ikari and Asuka had spent much of the time enjoying each other's company. Not enough to make Hikari and Suzuhara feel unwelcome, but enough for them to have to interact more than normal. It was one of the best times she could remember. A small blush creeped across her cheeks as she thought about it.
Hikari's countenance suddenly turned cold, "Did Ikari do something?" her anger apparent in her tone.
Asuka had continued eating a little and alternated between clenching the chopsticks in her fist and muttering under her breath between mouthfulls.
Hikari could see inner turmoil, a battle of thoughts in Asuka's actions. She didn't know what was going on but hoped Asuka spoke of it before it destroyed her sensibility... more so.
Finally Asuka growled to herself and said, "No... well, yes... he... I..." then let out a frustrated, "AUGH!" and handed the bento back to Hikari. Hikari dimly noticed that Asuka had only eaten a little and had spared the things she knew Hikari liked. Somewhere in her mind that registered and gave another point to her friend for ammunition against any who might say bad things of her.
Hikari watched Asuka as she stared out across the grass, her bento forgotten for the moment while she hoped Asuka would explain everything. After a long while, in a quiet voice Asuka did finally speak.
"I can't figure out what's going on." she said softly, thinking about it with all her might. "We were having fun, I see that now and... it irritates me." Hikari frowned, demurely taking small bites of food as she listened.
"Hikari... those two weeks Shinji and I were together like that..." she paused, "it was my attempt at a joke."
Hikari's chopsticks clattered against her bento as she dropped them. The sound caused Asuka to turn and look at the girl. The brown haired girl was staring back at her with a look of utter shock on her face."
"N-no..." Hikari whispered. "Y-you couldn't..."
Asuka frowned, then shouted, "He had it coming! Don't you see that!?" Her fists clenched, the ire rising again causing her to hate the situation, and all involved... like always...
"He's always showing off! 'Invincible Shinji, Third Child and Pilot of Unit 01'... The ALL IMPORTANT Unit 01! THE ALL IMPORTANT IKARI SHINJI!!!" Her voice was a wailing screech now as she trembled at the vehemence of her words. Hikari sat, shocked, her head slowly shaking back and forth.
"No..." Hikari's reply was small and weak compared to Asuka's outburst. "Asuka... how could you?"
Asuka glared at her friend, the fire normally reserved for The Three Stooges or Ikari alone was directed at the class representative. Something neither girl thought would ever happen.
"So, you're on his side too?" The question was cold and unfeeling, as though both their combined futures rested on the answer. Hikari continued to stare at Asuka and finally replied, "No... I... I don't know all the details, yet. I can say, though..." here she paused and fixed a determined stare at her redheaded friend, meeting her glare with one of her own and a deep scornful frown, "at the moment, I find your actions appalling."
Asuka blinked, her glare dying down under the ferocity of Hikari's own. The reprieve was enough to get her to think again about her actions without her pride or cocksure attitude interfering. It seemed to be held at bay by the simple fact of losing a close friend, perhaps her only friend. It was something Asuka had been dreading and avoiding all day. The simple idea of how wrong she might have been in her actions. She hated being wrong, it made her want to lash out... to strike things, hurt things, hurt what made her BE wrong. At this moment, on this day, she was unable to lash out at the kind girl who shared her lunch. She was unable, on this day, to ignite a fire against her friend who had told her what she already knew.
With gritted teeth and as low as she could Asuka said something that day that Horaki Hikari would never forget and would cement their friendship for years to come. It tallied up many points in favor of the red-haired girl and gave whole wharehouses of ammunition for her defense, which had been depleted considerably after finding out Asuka's recent actions and intents.
Sohryu Asuka Langley said, "I think I was wrong."
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A/N: Alrighty... I know there has been comments of longer chapters but unfortunately I haven't been able to deliver yet. If the ball begins rolling properly in future installments then you may see the chapters double in length. This one, however, began and ended about where I wanted. I know I left out much of what I wanted but I'm fairly happy with the flow. As much as I can be anyway. If I start editing I end up ruining everything (yes, every time... trust me) and then I have to delete it and restart. If you like, think of all this as a rough draft that I would love to go back through and flesh out properly when the time and desire arise.
I received two cookies from a reviewer (Thanks Rudy!) and I'm holding off on eating the second. They were for keeping people in character. I think I've done an adequate job of it but I see a few nigglings that make me think otherwise. It can't be 100% since Asuka most likely wouldn't do something like what she did, and people grow with experiences. Add in any change and characters could spiral out of control in different "OOC" directions. Luckily that's part of fanfiction, if not we'd just be rehashing the series, ne? Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone for reading... REALLY thank everyone for reviewing, and to tell you that I'm trying to keep everyone... themselves. I will give up my second cookie if I fail at any time. (Which is saying alot, those are some damn delicious cookies) *drool*
Disclaimer: I don't own Evangelion. Please don't sue.
A/N: *munches happily on a cookie from a reviewer, keeping the second one for later* M'phl... mf, rmfufmph *cookie crumbs sputter from the writer's lips* *finishes cookie* *drinks some milk* *sighs happily* So, as I was saying... M'phl mf, rmfufmph...
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As class let out for lunch Hikari glanced down to retrieve her lunchbox and other essentials for their midday repast but was startled when she glanced back up to see Asuka standing over her already. "A-Asuka!" she greeted softly, then her face softened at the look on the girl's face.
Asuka's visage was set in grim determination, a darkness about her indicated her inner thoughts and feelings. Hikari had intended to ask Asuka to sit with her during lunch so they could talk about it but found she was too slow on the draw. They normally sat together but Hikari was afraid Asuka might want to be alone and hoped to catch her before she left.
"Hikari..." Asuka started, almost sheepishly. Her face showed the pain from earlier with a thin coat of her normal confidance and anger covering it. "Would you mind if I shared your-"
Hikari, suddenly realizing one of the things that was wrong spoke up quickly and cut Asuka off, "Asuka! Would you like to eat with me? I'd like you to try my lunch. I tried something new and..." she trailed off as Asuka's face softened and the barest hint of a smile came through.
"Thanks Hikari..." Asuka said quietly.
Hikari smiled reassuringly and led the german girl from the classroom. She wasn't sure where Ikari and the two other boys were but hoped they wouldn't run into them outside. She decided to take Asuka around the corner of the building towards the back where they might have a bit of privacy.
When they arrived Hikari sat down in the grass under a tree leaving enough room for Asuka next to her. She unwrapped her bento and opened it as Asuka sat beside her. She wasn't sure how to start things off so decided eating was first priority, hoping for an appropriate chance to bring things up. Even if there was no chance, or Asuka didn't want to talk of it, she hoped just being there would help at least.
She handed the bento to her friend and said warmly, "Take what you like..." then remembering her 'reason' for doing this (other than helping save Asuka's mighty pride) she added, "and please tell me what you think."
Asuka smirked slightly at the obvious game being played for her benefit, but did so in a warm manner, and took the proffered (no, that's not a typo) food. She timidly took a few pieces and chewed them thoroughly. After a few moments she forced a smile, which didn't fool the school representative at all, and said, "It's delicious, Hikari."
Hikari smiled back and as the corners of her mouth slipped back down she stated, "You don't have to smile about it... you don't seem to want to smile right now."
Asuka's face fell and what appeared to be a deep, brooding frown adorned it. Hikari was shocked at the look on the girl's face. Something was troubling her more than Hikari had ever seen. Asuka never let anyone see her feelings other than anger and mirth. The class representative felt flattered that Asuka's comfort with her allowed her to do so. She took it as a compliment to their friendship and steeled herself to help in any way she could. Asuka WAS a good person, she had seen it numerous times.
Seeing that Asuka wasn't initiating a conversation about it Hikari decided to take the first step. "Is... is it about Ikari?" She promptly wished she had kept her mouth shut.
Asuka's face twisted into a look of pure hatred, through gritted teeth she hissed, "Yes, it's about HIM... that... that..." here she paused, her free hand motioning for more words, hateful words, deeply hurtful words to come forth but with her limited japanese slang vocabulary she finally settled on shouting, "BAKA!"
Hikari, throughout that spectacle had leaned away from Asuka, not so much for safety but in shock. "I thought you two liked each other! You were having so much fun..." She thought back to the time that she and Asuka, Ikari and Suzuhara had gone to the movies together. To get Suzuhara there they had said it was just the four of them going as friends but Ikari and Asuka had spent much of the time enjoying each other's company. Not enough to make Hikari and Suzuhara feel unwelcome, but enough for them to have to interact more than normal. It was one of the best times she could remember. A small blush creeped across her cheeks as she thought about it.
Hikari's countenance suddenly turned cold, "Did Ikari do something?" her anger apparent in her tone.
Asuka had continued eating a little and alternated between clenching the chopsticks in her fist and muttering under her breath between mouthfulls.
Hikari could see inner turmoil, a battle of thoughts in Asuka's actions. She didn't know what was going on but hoped Asuka spoke of it before it destroyed her sensibility... more so.
Finally Asuka growled to herself and said, "No... well, yes... he... I..." then let out a frustrated, "AUGH!" and handed the bento back to Hikari. Hikari dimly noticed that Asuka had only eaten a little and had spared the things she knew Hikari liked. Somewhere in her mind that registered and gave another point to her friend for ammunition against any who might say bad things of her.
Hikari watched Asuka as she stared out across the grass, her bento forgotten for the moment while she hoped Asuka would explain everything. After a long while, in a quiet voice Asuka did finally speak.
"I can't figure out what's going on." she said softly, thinking about it with all her might. "We were having fun, I see that now and... it irritates me." Hikari frowned, demurely taking small bites of food as she listened.
"Hikari... those two weeks Shinji and I were together like that..." she paused, "it was my attempt at a joke."
Hikari's chopsticks clattered against her bento as she dropped them. The sound caused Asuka to turn and look at the girl. The brown haired girl was staring back at her with a look of utter shock on her face."
"N-no..." Hikari whispered. "Y-you couldn't..."
Asuka frowned, then shouted, "He had it coming! Don't you see that!?" Her fists clenched, the ire rising again causing her to hate the situation, and all involved... like always...
"He's always showing off! 'Invincible Shinji, Third Child and Pilot of Unit 01'... The ALL IMPORTANT Unit 01! THE ALL IMPORTANT IKARI SHINJI!!!" Her voice was a wailing screech now as she trembled at the vehemence of her words. Hikari sat, shocked, her head slowly shaking back and forth.
"No..." Hikari's reply was small and weak compared to Asuka's outburst. "Asuka... how could you?"
Asuka glared at her friend, the fire normally reserved for The Three Stooges or Ikari alone was directed at the class representative. Something neither girl thought would ever happen.
"So, you're on his side too?" The question was cold and unfeeling, as though both their combined futures rested on the answer. Hikari continued to stare at Asuka and finally replied, "No... I... I don't know all the details, yet. I can say, though..." here she paused and fixed a determined stare at her redheaded friend, meeting her glare with one of her own and a deep scornful frown, "at the moment, I find your actions appalling."
Asuka blinked, her glare dying down under the ferocity of Hikari's own. The reprieve was enough to get her to think again about her actions without her pride or cocksure attitude interfering. It seemed to be held at bay by the simple fact of losing a close friend, perhaps her only friend. It was something Asuka had been dreading and avoiding all day. The simple idea of how wrong she might have been in her actions. She hated being wrong, it made her want to lash out... to strike things, hurt things, hurt what made her BE wrong. At this moment, on this day, she was unable to lash out at the kind girl who shared her lunch. She was unable, on this day, to ignite a fire against her friend who had told her what she already knew.
With gritted teeth and as low as she could Asuka said something that day that Horaki Hikari would never forget and would cement their friendship for years to come. It tallied up many points in favor of the red-haired girl and gave whole wharehouses of ammunition for her defense, which had been depleted considerably after finding out Asuka's recent actions and intents.
Sohryu Asuka Langley said, "I think I was wrong."
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A/N: Alrighty... I know there has been comments of longer chapters but unfortunately I haven't been able to deliver yet. If the ball begins rolling properly in future installments then you may see the chapters double in length. This one, however, began and ended about where I wanted. I know I left out much of what I wanted but I'm fairly happy with the flow. As much as I can be anyway. If I start editing I end up ruining everything (yes, every time... trust me) and then I have to delete it and restart. If you like, think of all this as a rough draft that I would love to go back through and flesh out properly when the time and desire arise.
I received two cookies from a reviewer (Thanks Rudy!) and I'm holding off on eating the second. They were for keeping people in character. I think I've done an adequate job of it but I see a few nigglings that make me think otherwise. It can't be 100% since Asuka most likely wouldn't do something like what she did, and people grow with experiences. Add in any change and characters could spiral out of control in different "OOC" directions. Luckily that's part of fanfiction, if not we'd just be rehashing the series, ne? Anyway, I wanted to thank everyone for reading... REALLY thank everyone for reviewing, and to tell you that I'm trying to keep everyone... themselves. I will give up my second cookie if I fail at any time. (Which is saying alot, those are some damn delicious cookies) *drool*
