I hope you guys appreciate what I'm doing here. Four updates in two days, no matter how small, is still a pretty damn impressive feat, and I do have a social life I "should" be getting on with.

Anyway, before I get on with this chapter, I would like to mention that the name I used for one of Shinji's classmates: "Goro", has been taken from a fic called Eva-R, by Maher Al Samkari or what-ever his name is. And now, without further ado:

-Chapter 4-

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As usual, the lesson was a boring one. The sensei blabbered on, and on, and on about his childhood before: "the tragedy known as second impact."

Shinji had fallen asleep long ago, and was snoring lightly using his folded arms as a pillow. He was currently turned facing towards Asuka's desk.

Asuka herself was still awake. Awake for one purpose, and one purpose only. She wasn't paying attention to the class, or to the hundreds of messages that kept on appearing on her computer, demanding to know: "what's going on". She was simply watching Shinji as he slept.

'He's so cute!' She thought as his brow furrowed for a moment before he resumed his peaceful sleep again.

In the meantime, there was an entirely different presence keeping a watch on the whole class. The being known as Cupid had taken the shape of a cardboard box that was situated atop one of the shelves at the back of the room (yes he can shape shift). He surveyed the class, and read their emotions. Currently no one was thinking about love, so he just lay back (or just stood there), and waited until he could act.

The bell soon rang, and Shinji bolted up. The first thing he saw when he regained his senses was a smiling Asuka. Although he still wasn't used to this, he had to admit it was better then her shouting and hitting him all the time.

He stood up and both him and Asuka walked out of the class with the rest of the students to get their lunch, leaving only Rei and another boy who most people knew as Goro in the class. Cupid was also there.

Rei was oblivious to anything around her as usual, and just stared out of the window. It seemed as though the boy was nervous abound something. Cupid immediately felt something from him. 'He likes the girl with the red eyes!' He thought happily.

Goro approached Rei and pulled a chair from an adjacent desk and sat in front of her. She didn't even turn to look at him.

"Um, Ayanami?" He began.

Slowly, almost grudgingly, Rei finally turned to him, but her expression was one of indifference.

"Rei, I know we haven't really spoken before." He gulped. "But I really like you and the whole mysterious girl thing."

Rei thought about this for a second. "Is there a point to this?" She asked him in a very flat voice.

"Um." The boy gulped again. "I was wondering if maybe we could go out and see a movie together or something?" He finished that last part very quietly. Rei did not look impressed, in fact she didn't look anything.

"If I'm ordered to I will." She replied finally. The boy's expression fell.

"So that's a no?" He asked, dreading the worst.

"For now it seems so." She answered him, and then turned back to her window gazing.

The boy sighed, pain clearly showing on his face as he stood up and walked out of the room.

'Now that wasn't very nice!' Cupid thought angrily. 'She needs to learn a lesson in love!'

Another semi transparent arrow appeared out of thin air. Cupid, or rather the cardboard box, took aim, and the arrow soared through the air directly towards Rei.

'Easy money' Cupid thought to himself, but to his horror, just before the arrow reached its target, it ricochet off of and invisible wall. 'What in the world?'

Again, to Cupid's horror, something he did not expect happened. Rei: the girl he was aiming for, stood up, turned around and looked straight towards him.

"You are exposed." She said. "Show yourself."

'Uh oh, better do a runner!' He thought desperately, but when he tried to teleport he found himself being locked in his place, un-able to transport himself. 'An AT field?'

"I won't ask you again." Rei said, this time in a surprisingly menacing voice, considering whom it was coming from.

Cupid felt the AT field around him shimmer and then disappear, and he floated off the shelf and towards the girl. Half way through the flight the cardboard box transformed back in to it's dark shadow form.

Rei now stood face to shadow with Cupid.

"Who are you?" She asked him.

"I'm Cupid." The shadow replied.

"I see." Rei fell silent for a moment. She had read about Cupid in books, but did not believe him to be a real entity.

"You were foolish to try and manipulate me." Rei told him.

"Yeah, now you tell me." The shadow said with a somewhat sarcastic tone.

"You manipulated Pilot Sohruy?" Rei enquired.

"Yes I did." Cupid replied, feeling somewhat proud of his handiwork.

"You should not have done that." Rei told him. "Shinji will be hurt deeply when he learns her feelings are not real."

Cupid could see where she was coming from, but he had justified his actions long ago.

"I wouldn't worry about that." Cupid told her. "I didn't make Asuka love him. I simply unleashed the feelings she kept secret."

"Pilot Sohruy has feelings for Ikari?" Rei asked in surprise.

"That's right. She holds a great deal of love for him in her heart." He paused for a second as though to collect his thoughts. "She kept it hidden even from herself, I simply let her see it."

Rei thought about this for a moment. "It still doesn't justify the manipulation of other's emotions." She said finally.

"Hey, I'm only doing my job." Cupid said somewhat angrily.

"You are not an Angel?" She asked, although she already knew the answer.

"Those guys that go around wrecking cities?" Cupid sounded offended. "Hell no! I bring love, not destruction!"

"What are you then?" Rei demanded.

"Just that." He replied simply. "A bringer of love."

The bell rang and Rei turned around for a second to see if anyone was coming, but when she turned back, Cupid was gone. He had gotten away. Somewhat cross with herself she went back to her seat and resumed her window gazing as though nothing un-usual had ever happened.

Soon enough, the students started flooding back.

When Asuka and Shinji finally entered, the whole class was filled with whispering again.

"Look!" She suddenly shouted at everyone. "Me and Shinji are going out! There's nothing more to it!"

Although Shinji had never said anything of the sort, he didn't really want to burst her bubble.

Asuka turned back to him and smiled. "Well, let's go and take our seats!" She exclaimed happily.

"Sure Asuka." Shinji said.

The last two people to enter the class were Touji and Kensuke, who shot extremely dirty glances at Shinji and Asuka.

-To be continued-

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Ooh, what a twist! Don't mess with Rei people, that girl's got style!

Next chapter coming soon!