I don't own NGE or RK I wish I did but I don't.

Shinji and Rei did not have the dreams like on the bus but instead it was another restful night in each other's company. This restful sleep, however, was ended in a slightly unpleasant manner.

"Shinji! Rei! Breakfast is ready!"

Shinji's eyes shot open and he would have bolted out of bed except he was detained by Rei, who was still lying on top of him. Slowly regaining his composer Shinji gently attempted to extract himself from Rei' grip. Shinji failed miserably at this and only managed to make the girl hold on tighter. Sighing he gently rubbed the side of her face with his thumb. The blue haired girl slowly came out of the dreamless sleep and would be content to remain in the same spot for several days however she was slightly disappointed when the Major called again.

"You two better hurry breakfast is getting cold. Unless you two are doing something hot, wet, and juicy you might want breakfast!"

Shinji turned a nice shade of red at Misato's comment. Rei didn't understand but she would ask later seeing Shinji's discomfort.

"You can take the shower first, Rei."

"Should we not get our morning meal from the Major?"

"Um no. Misato can't cook very well."

"I see. We still require a meal."

"Don't worry about it. I'll make our breakfast and lunch too. That is if you don't mind."

"That is agreeable."

Rei headed to the bathroom and Shinji made his way to the kitchen. Shinji nervously eyed the lavender haired Major attempt at cooking. Curry or at least it started out as curry. Shinji wondered where she got it because he never cooked with it and after the first incident he made sure there wasn't any in the apartment.

"Misato you didn't have to cook."

"Nonsense, you cook all the time. And besides you and Rei looked so cute I didn't want to disturb you."

"You were watching us?!"

"Of course! I may be fun loving and laid back but I'm not irresponsible."

Misato was a little too happy with that answer for Shinji to not be the slightest bit nervous.

"Still I think that your cooking might be to spicy for Rei. So if you don't mind I'll cook breakfast and lunch."

"Oh don't bother with lunch you and Rei won't be going to school today. Ritsuko called and said that all three of you have sync tests this morning."

"Ok"

Shinji threw out the vial substance that once went by the name of curry. Breakfast was a simple bowl of Miso Soup. Rei walked out into the living room with the towel draped lazily over her form got one of her school uniforms out of her bag which was lying on the couch. She ignored the stunned Major and the gawking penguin that followed her every move.

"I believe that our meal is ready Major."

Misato blinked a few times to bring her out of the shock Rei' act put her in.

"When we're not at NERV call me Misato."

"Rei, Misato breakfast is ready."

"Wark!"

"Oh don't worry Pen-Pen I haven't forgot about you I've got some sardines already in your bowel and an open beer next to it."

"Wark!"

The flightless bird hurried off into the kitchen at the promise of booze and fish.

"Oh Rei we have sync tests today so we won't be going to school today."

"Alright Shinji."

Despite Misato's valiant attempts at teasing the young pilots they ate breakfast in mostly silence. After the quiet breakfast Shinji took a shower and dressed in the old gi with the Sakabato at his side. Misato didn't think that the simple items he has showed her last night could make such a difference in the young man but she was wrong. She looked into his eyes looking for the old Shinji and found the sadness and pain that was always there just not as much as it was in the past.

"Did you call Asuka and tell her of the tests today?"

Misato didn't here him she just continued to stare.

"Misato?"

Shinji waved his hand in front of her face, nothing. He waved a can of beer in front of her face that did it.

"What?"

"Did you tell Asuka about the tests today."

"Not yet I guess I should probably do that."

Shinji sweat dropped at Misato's nervous laugh. After a quick call to Hikari' house the thee exited the apartment and made piled into the small blue car. After a race with a yellow Vespa, who's driver appeared to have gone to the same driving school as Misato, they arrived at NERV. Shinji got a few stares from the other employees as the gi clashed greatly with the uniforms the rest of them wore. He knew that the Sakabato would raise suspicion so he hid it against his side well. Shinji and Rei donned their plug-suits and got in the entry plugs.

"Hay Ritsuko has Asuka arrived yet?"

"No not yet. Don't worry about it, Shinji; I'm sure she'll show up. We'll just start without her though."

"Ok."

Shinji started to synchronize with giant purple biomechanical weapon when he started to feel odd.

"Shinji's sync ratio is unusually high today and it's continuing to rise."

"What's it right now?"

"70%...80%...and continuing to rise"

The entire control room had a single collective thought.

'Oh crap! Not again!'

And indeed everyone was correct Unit 01 was pulling Shinji into the core... again. Everyone watched in horror as Shinji's body started to go transparent but this time it didn't disappear completely.

Shinji found himself not in the entry plug but on a grassy hill with an old cherry tree gracing the top. He also saw two other people on the hill one he recognized as his mother from the various odd accidents he had while in the giant purple robot the other he didn't know but recognized the cloths he was wearing as those he had received in Kyoto. The man had long unruly red hair and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek.

"What are you doing in my son's mind?"

"I am sorry, that I am!"

"Who are you?"

"Himura Kenshin I was a wanderer. That I was."

"Ok Mister Himura, tell me what you are doing in my son's mind?"

"My soul has been waiting to merge with another pure of heat like your son."

"I'm glad you think so highly of my little Shinji."

"Mom please."

"Oh sorry Shinji."

Kenshin smiled at the mother son interaction

"So where is this place anyway?"

"Well it's kind of complicated. Do you remember that giant purple human looking thing we got in?"

"The thing with the horn?"

"Ya that well this is the core of it where my mother's soul resides."

"So then why are we on a hill?"

"I can choose what the surroundings look like. I've spent ten years in here now I have to keep my self amused some how."

Shinji and Kenshin sweat dropped.

"What?"

"Nothing. Can we go now I think the outside world is getting worried."

"Oh sure. See you later son!"

Shinji's transparent body became solid once more in the entry plug much to everyone's relief.

"Shinji!"

Misato opened the hatch and dragged Shinji out and began squeezing him as tight as she could.

"O...R...O...!"

"Major I believe your suffocating Shinji."

"Oh! Sorry Shinji."

"It's alright Misato."

"Good then go get changed we're going home."

"Doesn't Ritsuko have tests to run on me?"

"I convinced her to do them tomorrow. She is going to run tests on Unit 01 the rest of today."

"Do you think Asuka will come home today?"

"I don't know she is still unstable. She may need some more time alone."

"Aw is baka Shinji worried for me?"

Asuka was standing behind them in the same outfit as before and a smirk on her face.

"Well? Are you ready for our fight now?"

"If I fight you will you come home and be nice to Rei?"

Asuka thought for a second.

"If you beat me I'll come home but I won't promise anything about Wonder girl."

Shinji got up and extracted himself from Misato's death grip and reluctantly prepared to fight Asuka. Asuka was about to attack when she wrinkled her nose.

"First go take a shower and throw away that plug suit I won't fight you if you smell like LCL."

Shinji took a shower and changed into the cloths of Kenshin. Shinji made his way to one of the conference rooms that had been cleared out for the fight. Misato sat in her chair and fidgeted nervously worried about both children. She had seen what one flick from Asuka could do but she hadn't seen Shinji's skills yet. Rei on the other hand had complete confidence that Shinji would win she was just worried about the injuries he would suffer at the hands of the Second Child.

"Well Baka Shinji it looks like you finally got some new cloths!"

Asuka eyed him carefully sizing up how well he could fight. She, however, failed to notice the Sakabato at his side.

"Are you ready? I'm not going to lose to a wimp like you!"

Asuka charged the young man and tried to punch him in the gut. Expecting to hit soft flesh Asuka was slightly surprised when she hit the handle of a sword she never noticed before.

"Asuka I do not wish to hurt you but you leave me no choice."

Asuka' eyes widened and she jumped back barley avoiding the sword as Shinji drew it. Shinji's presence seemed to grow then he disappeared. Asuka barley had time to process what was happening when she heard a shout from above her.

"Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu, Ryu Tsui Sen."

Shinji brought his sword down on her collarbone and landed a few feet away. Asuka' pride and determination keep her standing if just barely.

"NO! I will not lose to you!"

Shinji sheathed the sword.

"This fight is over. Don't be stooped."

Asuka made one final charge at Shinji aiming her punch for his head. Shinji dodged her punch and brought the hilt of the Sakabato into her stomach. That was it Asuka was done she didn't have the strength left to hold herself up she collapsed onto Shinji.

"We'll get you to Ritsuko and then you can come home."

"No. I don't deserve to live after being defeated."

"Asuka! You will not think like that, that you won't."

"But..."

"You will let Ritsuko treat your wounds and then you will come home and rest so you can continue to live and maybe someday defeat me."

Asuka would have resisted but she didn't have the strength to. On the way to the infirmary Asuka passed out witch made putting her on the infirmary bed even harder. Shinji, Rei, and Misato sat out side Asuka' room for twenty minuets while Ritsuko examined and patched up Asuka' injuries. When Ritsuko came out Misato began the bombardment of questions.

"Is she alright? Can we see her? Is she awake? When can she come home?"

"Slow down Misato! She'll be fine after some rest. You can't see her right now because she is asleep. She will be able to go home when she wakes up. I'm surprised at how much control Shinji has he could have easily killed her instead of just knocking her out."

Shinji blushed at the complement.

In a dark room eleven black monoliths appeared each with the letters SEELE above a number and the words 'Sound Only' below that.

"The Third Child has become a problem."

"He will be taken care of."

"An agent has already been sent."

"Will the other children be a problem?"

"The First is Gendo' pet she will pose no problem."

"The Second is strong willed she may pose a problem in the future."

"Detour the agent to eliminate the Second while she is injured."

The monoliths disappeared and the meeting was adjourned.

Outside of Asuka' room Shinji was sitting quietly with Rei and Misato. Shinji bolted upright and ran into Asuka' room. His narrowed eyes searched the room for anything that didn't belong. Asuka was asleep, the monitors were beeping recording Asuka' vital information, the window was open allowing the breeze to rustle the curtains...

All you people please review!