To all the reviewers: Domo Arigato Goizaimasu! I would have made this
Chapter sooner, but unfortunately the evils of Finals have reared their
ugly heads...ah well... Hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Hououza: Well, if I were to tell you that then no one would read my stuff!
Dennisud: That's the point! If it's throwing you for a loop, then it
probably is doing the same to everyone else, which means that all of you
will keep on reading! I don't want to reveal any of the story, but know
that everything will be explained! (or as much explained as Eva can get...)
Shinji the good sharer: Why? Why not?!
Dark-Titan: I think saying that Shinji has some work to do is an
understatement, even with Asuka acting the way she is.
Asuka-uk: Well, all of that will be revealed in due time!
Thanks again, and on to the story!
Gendo's Desk: A Jungle Home
-three days later-
For the past few days neither Asuka nor Shinji mentioned the 'River incident'. After sleeping on the jungle floor several times, Asuka had finally lost it.
"Shinji-chan..."
"Yes, Asuka?"
"I'm...*yawn*...tired."
"Well...goodnight..."
"You would let me just sleep on the ground?!"
"What do you want me to do?"
An evil grin spreads across Asuka's face as she unveils her plan
"Well, we're going to need some kind of shelter, obviously."
"But...how would we move it? We still need to find a way out of here..."
"It shouldn't be that heavy... so hop to it!"
"Why do I have to build it?"
Asuka puts on the cutest face she can muster "Oh, Shinji-chan... please?"
Shinji desperately tries not to faulter, but finally hangs his head in defeat and walks to a nearby tree. Asuka, satisfied, relaxes against a tree trunk as she observes Shinji.
"Shinji...I'm thirsty, I'm gonna get a drink from the river. Don't let me catch you slacking off now!"
Shinji sighs as he tries to pull off a large leaf from a tree. Asuka takes one last look at Shinji before turning her back and heading the short distance to the river. Upon bending over and taking a sip of some water she had taken in her hands, Asuka begins to feel a familiar presence.
'Why do this to yourself, my child?'
'Who are you?! Stop trying to get inside my mind.'
'Child, you already know who I am, but that is unimportant, for there is little I can do to help you now... (A/N: it really is important, so you'll find out soon enough!) Why do you treat him so? How would you feel if he hated you?'
'That Baka? I could care less...'
'No, if he truly hated you, if he would never allow you near him again?'
'I don't need anyone! I don't care if he hates me!'
'Asuka, you must let go of the past! There is nothing left there for you, only for us sprites is there comfort in it. Please child, allow your mind to dwell on your poor mother no longer!'
Asuka takes a step back from the river, tears forming in her crystal blue eyes.
'What would you know about my mother?! I didn't need anyone then, and I don't need anyone now! My mother never loved me; she was too wrapped up in her work to notice anything! I won't let anyone hurt me like that again!'
'My child, you know not how it pains me to hear those words... but you have another chance for happiness, Asuka! Do you not think your mama would not be proud to see you happy? Please, for if only your sake, please do not allow yourself to stay cocooned up to the one who loves you. Find comfort in him, not hate. If perhaps I was there for you, dearest one... but that time is long gone, and you must look to your future!'
Asuka slowly crouches to the river, tears flowing from her eyes.
'I do love him, and I want to be with him so much...but if I lose him...I don't know what I'd do...'
'Eventually you both shall die, but fearing death is unimportant! Asuka- chan, you mustn't run away from yourself and he any longer.'
Asuka raises her head quickly, the tears beginning to subside, as she comes to a sudden realization, "Mama..." With a smile on her face, Asuka leaves the river back towards the struggling Shinji with a small puddle of water held in her palms. As Shinji struggles with the last leaf for the roof, he notices Asuka's face streaked with dried tears. "Asuka! What's wrong?" Shinji finally manages to place the leaf on top of the 'house'.
"I...brought you some water..."
Shinji is slightly a taken back at first, then begins to feel how dry his throat really is. Asuka smiles and walk next to Shinji, at the same time admiring Shinji's work. Asuka looks to Shinji again and raises her palms to his lips, tilting them upwards to allow the water to flow into his mouth. Shinji, completely stunned, slowly drinks the water from Asuka's soft hands. Upon emptying her hands, Asuka begins to inspect the 'home' of leaves, a bright smile upon her face.
"A...Asuka, were you...crying?"
"You did a great job on this, Shinji. Sorry that I made you do it alone.but I needed some time to think."
"Oh...well it's nearly finished, I'll just need to tie a few more leaves on, but..."
Shinji is interrupted when Asuka suddenly embraces him, a large smile on her face.
"Shinji-chan...I...spoke with my mother..."
"But...how? We're the only ones here...how would she be here? (A/N: Shinji never really finds out what happened to Asuka's mother in the series)"
"Shinji-chan, my mother is dead...she committed suicide when I was very young, four, I think..."
"Then..."
"That doesn't matter, Shinji-chan. I want you to know...that I'm sorry for all the things I've done to you...But I know now...that I was just running away..."
'Where have I heard that before?' "Asuka...-chan...Thank you, but..."
"*yawn* oh...sorry, Shinji...I'm just tired...I guess *yawn*. Can I go to sleep inside there now?" Asuka says as she points to the crudely made house.
"Hold on for just a sec."
Shinji undoes Asuka's grip and runs off into the forest, leaving Asuka to contemplate several events as of late.
'Why didn't I say that I loved him? I do...so why didn't I tell him? And how was I able to talk with mama? She was right, though...he's warm...'
Meanwhile, Shinji is searching through the forest for various foliage, a huge smile on his face.
'I can't believe it! Maybe getting stuck down here wasn't so bad!'
As Shinji comes close to the small clearing he had built the house, he notices a beautiful red flower swaying gently I the wind. He smiles brightly as he picks the flower. As Shinji comes into the small clearing, he notices that Asuka is no longer standing out there. He peeks into the house and notices Asuka lying on the ground, sleeping. Shinji chuckles as he shifts the pile of leaves underneath his shoulder. Bending over, Shinji places the red flower behind Asuka's ear. She shifts slightly, but does nothing more. Afterwards, Shinji lays the leaves out next to Asuka to form a bed and pillow. They wouldn't need a blanket; it never got cold. Finally, with some effort, Shinji picks up Asuka's prone form and lays her on the bed of leaves. Tired, worn out, and amazed at the day's turn of events, Shinji lies next to Asuka and soon drifts into sleep.
***
-Misato's apartment-
"WHAT?!?!?!" Misato screams. Standing at her door was Rei Ayanami, her book bag held in front of her.
"They are orders straight from the commander."
"I know that.but what about Asuka and Shinji?! Is he just giving them up for dead?!"
"I do not know, and I do not believe that it is your job to figure out what the commander is thinking. Now, could you move from the door?"
Upset, both at Gendo and Rei, Misato storms into the kitchen. Seconds later the sound of released carbonation can be heard. Without a word, Rei steps inside the apartment, closing the door behind her, and walks to Shinji's room, where she unpacks her miniscule amount of personal items.
***
Okay, okay, I'm sure you're all thinking 'What the hell?! The last chapter was way better than this!' I'm sorry, but this is what you're gonna get! Things should be much more interesting in the next chapter, so I guess it's time for the standard 'Next Episode' thing! 'How will Asuka react to Shinji? Was her silent confession enough to prevent her from ripping Shinji's head off for sleeping next to her? Why wasn't Gendo in the last chapter? Why is Rei moving in with Misato, and more importantly, who's going to cook and clean?! Find out next time with # fuemf, 'Girls of Blue and Red' See ya then!
Gendo's Desk: A Jungle Home
-three days later-
For the past few days neither Asuka nor Shinji mentioned the 'River incident'. After sleeping on the jungle floor several times, Asuka had finally lost it.
"Shinji-chan..."
"Yes, Asuka?"
"I'm...*yawn*...tired."
"Well...goodnight..."
"You would let me just sleep on the ground?!"
"What do you want me to do?"
An evil grin spreads across Asuka's face as she unveils her plan
"Well, we're going to need some kind of shelter, obviously."
"But...how would we move it? We still need to find a way out of here..."
"It shouldn't be that heavy... so hop to it!"
"Why do I have to build it?"
Asuka puts on the cutest face she can muster "Oh, Shinji-chan... please?"
Shinji desperately tries not to faulter, but finally hangs his head in defeat and walks to a nearby tree. Asuka, satisfied, relaxes against a tree trunk as she observes Shinji.
"Shinji...I'm thirsty, I'm gonna get a drink from the river. Don't let me catch you slacking off now!"
Shinji sighs as he tries to pull off a large leaf from a tree. Asuka takes one last look at Shinji before turning her back and heading the short distance to the river. Upon bending over and taking a sip of some water she had taken in her hands, Asuka begins to feel a familiar presence.
'Why do this to yourself, my child?'
'Who are you?! Stop trying to get inside my mind.'
'Child, you already know who I am, but that is unimportant, for there is little I can do to help you now... (A/N: it really is important, so you'll find out soon enough!) Why do you treat him so? How would you feel if he hated you?'
'That Baka? I could care less...'
'No, if he truly hated you, if he would never allow you near him again?'
'I don't need anyone! I don't care if he hates me!'
'Asuka, you must let go of the past! There is nothing left there for you, only for us sprites is there comfort in it. Please child, allow your mind to dwell on your poor mother no longer!'
Asuka takes a step back from the river, tears forming in her crystal blue eyes.
'What would you know about my mother?! I didn't need anyone then, and I don't need anyone now! My mother never loved me; she was too wrapped up in her work to notice anything! I won't let anyone hurt me like that again!'
'My child, you know not how it pains me to hear those words... but you have another chance for happiness, Asuka! Do you not think your mama would not be proud to see you happy? Please, for if only your sake, please do not allow yourself to stay cocooned up to the one who loves you. Find comfort in him, not hate. If perhaps I was there for you, dearest one... but that time is long gone, and you must look to your future!'
Asuka slowly crouches to the river, tears flowing from her eyes.
'I do love him, and I want to be with him so much...but if I lose him...I don't know what I'd do...'
'Eventually you both shall die, but fearing death is unimportant! Asuka- chan, you mustn't run away from yourself and he any longer.'
Asuka raises her head quickly, the tears beginning to subside, as she comes to a sudden realization, "Mama..." With a smile on her face, Asuka leaves the river back towards the struggling Shinji with a small puddle of water held in her palms. As Shinji struggles with the last leaf for the roof, he notices Asuka's face streaked with dried tears. "Asuka! What's wrong?" Shinji finally manages to place the leaf on top of the 'house'.
"I...brought you some water..."
Shinji is slightly a taken back at first, then begins to feel how dry his throat really is. Asuka smiles and walk next to Shinji, at the same time admiring Shinji's work. Asuka looks to Shinji again and raises her palms to his lips, tilting them upwards to allow the water to flow into his mouth. Shinji, completely stunned, slowly drinks the water from Asuka's soft hands. Upon emptying her hands, Asuka begins to inspect the 'home' of leaves, a bright smile upon her face.
"A...Asuka, were you...crying?"
"You did a great job on this, Shinji. Sorry that I made you do it alone.but I needed some time to think."
"Oh...well it's nearly finished, I'll just need to tie a few more leaves on, but..."
Shinji is interrupted when Asuka suddenly embraces him, a large smile on her face.
"Shinji-chan...I...spoke with my mother..."
"But...how? We're the only ones here...how would she be here? (A/N: Shinji never really finds out what happened to Asuka's mother in the series)"
"Shinji-chan, my mother is dead...she committed suicide when I was very young, four, I think..."
"Then..."
"That doesn't matter, Shinji-chan. I want you to know...that I'm sorry for all the things I've done to you...But I know now...that I was just running away..."
'Where have I heard that before?' "Asuka...-chan...Thank you, but..."
"*yawn* oh...sorry, Shinji...I'm just tired...I guess *yawn*. Can I go to sleep inside there now?" Asuka says as she points to the crudely made house.
"Hold on for just a sec."
Shinji undoes Asuka's grip and runs off into the forest, leaving Asuka to contemplate several events as of late.
'Why didn't I say that I loved him? I do...so why didn't I tell him? And how was I able to talk with mama? She was right, though...he's warm...'
Meanwhile, Shinji is searching through the forest for various foliage, a huge smile on his face.
'I can't believe it! Maybe getting stuck down here wasn't so bad!'
As Shinji comes close to the small clearing he had built the house, he notices a beautiful red flower swaying gently I the wind. He smiles brightly as he picks the flower. As Shinji comes into the small clearing, he notices that Asuka is no longer standing out there. He peeks into the house and notices Asuka lying on the ground, sleeping. Shinji chuckles as he shifts the pile of leaves underneath his shoulder. Bending over, Shinji places the red flower behind Asuka's ear. She shifts slightly, but does nothing more. Afterwards, Shinji lays the leaves out next to Asuka to form a bed and pillow. They wouldn't need a blanket; it never got cold. Finally, with some effort, Shinji picks up Asuka's prone form and lays her on the bed of leaves. Tired, worn out, and amazed at the day's turn of events, Shinji lies next to Asuka and soon drifts into sleep.
***
-Misato's apartment-
"WHAT?!?!?!" Misato screams. Standing at her door was Rei Ayanami, her book bag held in front of her.
"They are orders straight from the commander."
"I know that.but what about Asuka and Shinji?! Is he just giving them up for dead?!"
"I do not know, and I do not believe that it is your job to figure out what the commander is thinking. Now, could you move from the door?"
Upset, both at Gendo and Rei, Misato storms into the kitchen. Seconds later the sound of released carbonation can be heard. Without a word, Rei steps inside the apartment, closing the door behind her, and walks to Shinji's room, where she unpacks her miniscule amount of personal items.
***
Okay, okay, I'm sure you're all thinking 'What the hell?! The last chapter was way better than this!' I'm sorry, but this is what you're gonna get! Things should be much more interesting in the next chapter, so I guess it's time for the standard 'Next Episode' thing! 'How will Asuka react to Shinji? Was her silent confession enough to prevent her from ripping Shinji's head off for sleeping next to her? Why wasn't Gendo in the last chapter? Why is Rei moving in with Misato, and more importantly, who's going to cook and clean?! Find out next time with # fuemf, 'Girls of Blue and Red' See ya then!