Why?
Why why why?
Why did the sun have to rise?
Why couldn't it have stayed dark for a few more hours?
Shinji lied in bed, with his eyes half open. He was in the same position he had slept in all night. Rei had just gotten up, and was bathing and cleaning up in the bathroom.
He still remembered how it felt to have her lying next to him. So warm, so comfortable...
The instant she had gotten out of the bed, he had felt it.
The cold.
No, wait... not really cold, but... a lack of warmth. Like a baby that was just torn from the warmth of its mother's womb.
Shinji shivered slightly, and rolled to face the other side. He took a deep breath, and sighed. He could still barely detect Rei's scent on the spot where she had slept last night.
It was odd; the scent was so... unique. He couldn't even begin to compare it to any other smell.
That was probably because he had never sensed anything like it before. It was wonderful; that's all he could say about it.
Shinji was pulled from his meandering thoughts as Rei returned to the room. Noticing that he was finally awake, she sat at the edge of the bed.
"Good morning, Ikari-kun."
Shinji blinked, and rubbed his eyes. "G'morning..." he said tiredly.
They stared at each other for a moment.
"Ikari-kun," Rei began, "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine..."
She shook her head slightly. "No... I meant... what are you feeling now?"
He looked down and thought. "Well... um... I'm glad that you slept next to me last night... but I'm also displeased that we had to get up."
Rei's brow furrowed slightly. "Those are opposing emotions..."
"Yeah... well... it may seem strange, but it's common to have something like that. There are a lot of times when we may feel completely different emotions like these..."
Rei's mouth turned up into a small smile. "Good. Because I feel the same way."
Shinji blinked at her as she stood and headed towards the door.
"Please hurry, Ikari-kun. We should not be late for school," she said as she left and shut the door.
He sighed, scratched the back of his head, and got out of bed.
]|[
As Shinji walked with Rei to school, he tried as hard as he could to remain facing forward. He kept getting the urge to turn and say something to her... but every time he looked over, his mouth kinda just... stopped working.
It wasn't really something new for him. He had always been shy – and even more so when in the presence of a member of the opposite sex. But that didn't mean it got easier to deal with.
Shinji sighed, and absently scratched his cheek.
Unfortunately, he scratched the injured one.
"Ow! Crap!" he exclaimed, pulling his hand away from his face abruptly. Instinctively, his other hand came up to cover the wound. He looked down and saw the small amount of blood on his fingers.
Mental note. Don't scratch an injured cheek.
"Ikari-kun? Ikari-kun?"
He looked up and saw Rei looking at him, her eyes wide with... concern.
"Ikari-kun... please... let me see..." She reached up and put her arms between his, parting them to gently ease his hands away from his face. Then... she reached up and held his face in her hands, leaning to the side as she examined the wound.
Subconsciously, he shut his eyes as her hands touched his face, focusing in on the sensation...
"It... does not seem to be too bad..." Rei said, as she continued to examine him.
Her hands were so soft...
"Only part of it has been damaged again – it should be all right; it is not too serious," she continued.
So... so... comforting...
"Ikari-kun?"
"This is nice..." he whispered quietly.
His eyes shot open. Did he just say that out loud? He went to nervous and embarrassed immediately... Oh crap, here it comes...
But it didn't come. Rei's eyes were wide, staring into his... though no longer out of concern, but out of... something else...
In those few seconds, it seemed like time slowed down in the world around him and only his thoughts remained the same speed.
Red. Eyes. Deep red. Red. Deep. Can't look away. Can't... don't want to...
Rei stepped back and pulled her hands away from his face, a slight blush on her face. "We... we should be... going to school now..." she said quietly.
Shinji was blushing so much he thought his head would explode. He could feel the burning heat radiating off of his red face. But he could also feel the two spots where Rei's hands were... and they weren't burning, but... warm... and... and he could still recall the sensation...
"H-Hai," he got out nervously.
The rest of the trip went in an uncomfortable silence – and both Children were content to watch the ground in front of them, instead of having to... to look at each other...
]|[
For the first time since arriving at Tokyo-3, Shinji hated school. Well, not really... more specifically... he hated his seat.
Rei sat a couple of rows back and to the right. She stared out of the window as usual.
Shinji kept feeling the urge to turn around. Turn to face her general direction. It was like some invisible force was pulling his ear, pushing his head to that direction...
Until, of course, the force became real...
"Ow! Hey!"
He looked up at the man holding his ear. Damn substitute teacher. They didn't even need him anyway; all they have to do is play a video on Second Impact whenever the old guy's not in. But it seemed like this guy was actually trying to get something done.
The relatively young substitute teacher looked at a paper in his hand. "Mr... Ikari," he said condescendingly as he finally found the name. He kept looking down at the paper, and then looked up with a smirk as he released the boy's ear.
"Mr. Ikari. If you would please stop ogling Miss Ayanami and pay attention. At least wait until lunch; it's only half an hour away."
He grinned and headed back to the front of the room, as the rest of the classroom exploded in laughter and cheers.
Shinji blushed deeply as he sunk down into his seat, wishing he could just disappear. He desperately wondered how Rei was reacting... but he also desperately tried to remain facing forward. With all the attention drawn to him now, he didn't dare look at Rei because of the way it could... no, would be misconstrued.
He stared at the clock. As the time came closer and closer to lunch, the minute hand seemed to be getting slower and slower...
]|[
"Ikari-kun..."
Shinji looked up from his desk and saw Rei standing there. "Yes, Ayanami?"
She blushed slightly as her eyes dropped. "I... you were... you woke up late, so I..." She hesitantly produced a bento (boxed lunch, for those of you who don't know), and held it out to him. "I made... this... I know you usually... cook for yourself and Soryu..."
'How did she know that?' Shinji asked himself. Had she been watching him... before this incident?
Before she could stumble over any more words, he carefully reached up and took a gentle hold of the box, their fingers brushing and sending a slight tingle through both of them... "Thanks a lot, Ayanami," he said reassuringly.
As she released the box to him, her eyes widened with joy and relief as he opened it and began to eat, obviously enjoying it. "This is great, Rei!"
She looked at her feet as she tried to hide her blush and smile from anyone who may have been nearby. "I... you..." She paused and took a breath, steadying herself. "...Thank you.." she was finally able to get out timidly.
She quietly moved and sat at the desk next to him. Shinji looked up and blinked, before going back to his food. Her actions lately hadn't really surprised him... as much, at least...
He looked up again a little later to see her with her lunch out... but she wasn't eating, just staring at the desk...
"Ayanami? What's wrong?"
A few seconds passed until her brow furrowed slightly... it seemed like she had come to a decision. "Ikari-kun... why did the substitute say you were... o-..." She paused as she tried to recall the word.
Shinji slumped. "... ogling... ?" he asked timidly.
"Hai. Why did the substitute say you were... ogling... me?"
Shinji went to 'embarrassed' mode. "I think... that he... uh... was just... just making fun of me... "
She nodded. "I understand that... but... if you had not been doing something similar, it would have only been a lie."
"... uh..."
She looked up at him. "So you were looking at me, then..."
Shinji just seemed to shrink even more. "... h-hai... "
"Why?"
He blinked as he heard a response he wasn't expecting at all. "Huh?"
"Why were you looking at me?"
He desperately tried to think of an excuse.
... and realized he had none. There was no way that-
For once, unlike his previous bout with Asuka, it was fortunate that he opened his mouth without really thinking. "Because you're beautiful..." He stopped and blinked at what he just said. "What I mean... uhh... I mean..." He began fidgeting uncomfortably...
As Shinji returned to his embarrassed and incoherent stutter, Rei looked up at him in shock. She stared at him for a minute, eyes wide, before she could respond. "... t-thank you... I find you... a-... attractive also... " she said quietly – once again with a blush.
Shinji froze and stared back, mouth hanging open in mid-stutter. "I..."
They remained like that for a couple seconds... until, on some unspoken cue, they both turned to their food and continued eating in an embarrassed silence.
]|[
Misato grinned. It was really cute.
Ever since she had gotten back to the apartment, she had noticed it. It was the first and most obvious thing she had noticed, too.
Rei and Shinji were sitting and watching TV... though it was obvious that neither of them were really watching. Their minds were racing in high gear – both about the other. It was causing a rather tense quiet, and it seemed it had been going for quite some time.
Obviously, something had happened since she left them last night. And she was certain it hadn't been... uh... last NIGHT. After all, she had gone and listened in after them, interested... AHEM... I mean, concerned for their safety as the adult in the house.
It was obvious; they were crazy about each other.
Though nothing would happen at this rate. Third Impact would COME and GO before those two did anything.
A devious grin came onto her face. She just had to help those two along. After all, she had been running out of things to tease Shinji about.... AHEM... I mean, she was a NERV officer, and this would help him deal with that fight with Asuka, thus improving his sync rate...
]|[
"Hey Shinji, Rei? Since you two don't really seem to be doing much, do you want to watch a movie?"
They turned as they saw Misato enter the room, DVD case in hand.
"Ritsuko lent me this and said it was pretty good," she continued. "I've got paperwork to do, but I can let you two watch it, if you want..."
Shinji narrowed his eyes. "It's not... you know... inappropriate... , is it?"
"Oh no, no," Misato responded offhandedly. "She keeps those sorted by category in pink-" She froze.
Then she quickly put the movie on the table and left the room, mumbling about work to do.
Shinji and Rei looked at each other.
"That was weird," he said.
Rei only nodded.
]|[
Shinji snorted mentally.
Yeah, right.
Figures it'd be a romance movie.
Figures it would be an extra sappy one.
Figures it would be presented at the perfect time.
Figures that Dr. Akagi probably hates this kind of stuff anyway.
Shinji sighed, having done more than enough figuring. Misato was at it again.
He decided to complain later, and tried to pay attention.
Perfect timing; it was the first kiss scene. As soon as they saw it. Shinji and Rei each turned to the person beside them, obviously thinking the same thing... and just as quickly turned back, blushing.
But the seed was planted...
Shinji watched the tv, frozen. Then, having waited a few minutes and believing it to be safe, he turned and looked at her again.
She was looking at him with a determined expression.
Shinji began to sweat. Oh sh-
Before he could do anything else, she reached behind his head. He could only stare helplessly into her eyes as she leaned towards him and her lips met his...
Shinji's eyes almost fell out as he tensed, and whimpered slightly at being surprised like that. As he adjusted, his senses came back to him. He saw her pleased expression, eyes closed. He noticed her arms around his neck, and his instinctively around her waist.
But the feel. Oh God, the feel! Her... his... warm... soft... ... uh....
Enjoying it far too much, he lost rational thought as he returned the kiss.
Finally she pulled away, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Now I see why this emotion and sensation was used in the movie as it was..."
Shinji grinned widely. "Yeah, but I haven't gotten it yet."
Rei barely had time to smile back before he leaned in again.
-TBC
TT
xiphux@planetjurai.com
Why why why?
Why did the sun have to rise?
Why couldn't it have stayed dark for a few more hours?
Shinji lied in bed, with his eyes half open. He was in the same position he had slept in all night. Rei had just gotten up, and was bathing and cleaning up in the bathroom.
He still remembered how it felt to have her lying next to him. So warm, so comfortable...
The instant she had gotten out of the bed, he had felt it.
The cold.
No, wait... not really cold, but... a lack of warmth. Like a baby that was just torn from the warmth of its mother's womb.
Shinji shivered slightly, and rolled to face the other side. He took a deep breath, and sighed. He could still barely detect Rei's scent on the spot where she had slept last night.
It was odd; the scent was so... unique. He couldn't even begin to compare it to any other smell.
That was probably because he had never sensed anything like it before. It was wonderful; that's all he could say about it.
Shinji was pulled from his meandering thoughts as Rei returned to the room. Noticing that he was finally awake, she sat at the edge of the bed.
"Good morning, Ikari-kun."
Shinji blinked, and rubbed his eyes. "G'morning..." he said tiredly.
They stared at each other for a moment.
"Ikari-kun," Rei began, "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine..."
She shook her head slightly. "No... I meant... what are you feeling now?"
He looked down and thought. "Well... um... I'm glad that you slept next to me last night... but I'm also displeased that we had to get up."
Rei's brow furrowed slightly. "Those are opposing emotions..."
"Yeah... well... it may seem strange, but it's common to have something like that. There are a lot of times when we may feel completely different emotions like these..."
Rei's mouth turned up into a small smile. "Good. Because I feel the same way."
Shinji blinked at her as she stood and headed towards the door.
"Please hurry, Ikari-kun. We should not be late for school," she said as she left and shut the door.
He sighed, scratched the back of his head, and got out of bed.
]|[
As Shinji walked with Rei to school, he tried as hard as he could to remain facing forward. He kept getting the urge to turn and say something to her... but every time he looked over, his mouth kinda just... stopped working.
It wasn't really something new for him. He had always been shy – and even more so when in the presence of a member of the opposite sex. But that didn't mean it got easier to deal with.
Shinji sighed, and absently scratched his cheek.
Unfortunately, he scratched the injured one.
"Ow! Crap!" he exclaimed, pulling his hand away from his face abruptly. Instinctively, his other hand came up to cover the wound. He looked down and saw the small amount of blood on his fingers.
Mental note. Don't scratch an injured cheek.
"Ikari-kun? Ikari-kun?"
He looked up and saw Rei looking at him, her eyes wide with... concern.
"Ikari-kun... please... let me see..." She reached up and put her arms between his, parting them to gently ease his hands away from his face. Then... she reached up and held his face in her hands, leaning to the side as she examined the wound.
Subconsciously, he shut his eyes as her hands touched his face, focusing in on the sensation...
"It... does not seem to be too bad..." Rei said, as she continued to examine him.
Her hands were so soft...
"Only part of it has been damaged again – it should be all right; it is not too serious," she continued.
So... so... comforting...
"Ikari-kun?"
"This is nice..." he whispered quietly.
His eyes shot open. Did he just say that out loud? He went to nervous and embarrassed immediately... Oh crap, here it comes...
But it didn't come. Rei's eyes were wide, staring into his... though no longer out of concern, but out of... something else...
In those few seconds, it seemed like time slowed down in the world around him and only his thoughts remained the same speed.
Red. Eyes. Deep red. Red. Deep. Can't look away. Can't... don't want to...
Rei stepped back and pulled her hands away from his face, a slight blush on her face. "We... we should be... going to school now..." she said quietly.
Shinji was blushing so much he thought his head would explode. He could feel the burning heat radiating off of his red face. But he could also feel the two spots where Rei's hands were... and they weren't burning, but... warm... and... and he could still recall the sensation...
"H-Hai," he got out nervously.
The rest of the trip went in an uncomfortable silence – and both Children were content to watch the ground in front of them, instead of having to... to look at each other...
]|[
For the first time since arriving at Tokyo-3, Shinji hated school. Well, not really... more specifically... he hated his seat.
Rei sat a couple of rows back and to the right. She stared out of the window as usual.
Shinji kept feeling the urge to turn around. Turn to face her general direction. It was like some invisible force was pulling his ear, pushing his head to that direction...
Until, of course, the force became real...
"Ow! Hey!"
He looked up at the man holding his ear. Damn substitute teacher. They didn't even need him anyway; all they have to do is play a video on Second Impact whenever the old guy's not in. But it seemed like this guy was actually trying to get something done.
The relatively young substitute teacher looked at a paper in his hand. "Mr... Ikari," he said condescendingly as he finally found the name. He kept looking down at the paper, and then looked up with a smirk as he released the boy's ear.
"Mr. Ikari. If you would please stop ogling Miss Ayanami and pay attention. At least wait until lunch; it's only half an hour away."
He grinned and headed back to the front of the room, as the rest of the classroom exploded in laughter and cheers.
Shinji blushed deeply as he sunk down into his seat, wishing he could just disappear. He desperately wondered how Rei was reacting... but he also desperately tried to remain facing forward. With all the attention drawn to him now, he didn't dare look at Rei because of the way it could... no, would be misconstrued.
He stared at the clock. As the time came closer and closer to lunch, the minute hand seemed to be getting slower and slower...
]|[
"Ikari-kun..."
Shinji looked up from his desk and saw Rei standing there. "Yes, Ayanami?"
She blushed slightly as her eyes dropped. "I... you were... you woke up late, so I..." She hesitantly produced a bento (boxed lunch, for those of you who don't know), and held it out to him. "I made... this... I know you usually... cook for yourself and Soryu..."
'How did she know that?' Shinji asked himself. Had she been watching him... before this incident?
Before she could stumble over any more words, he carefully reached up and took a gentle hold of the box, their fingers brushing and sending a slight tingle through both of them... "Thanks a lot, Ayanami," he said reassuringly.
As she released the box to him, her eyes widened with joy and relief as he opened it and began to eat, obviously enjoying it. "This is great, Rei!"
She looked at her feet as she tried to hide her blush and smile from anyone who may have been nearby. "I... you..." She paused and took a breath, steadying herself. "...Thank you.." she was finally able to get out timidly.
She quietly moved and sat at the desk next to him. Shinji looked up and blinked, before going back to his food. Her actions lately hadn't really surprised him... as much, at least...
He looked up again a little later to see her with her lunch out... but she wasn't eating, just staring at the desk...
"Ayanami? What's wrong?"
A few seconds passed until her brow furrowed slightly... it seemed like she had come to a decision. "Ikari-kun... why did the substitute say you were... o-..." She paused as she tried to recall the word.
Shinji slumped. "... ogling... ?" he asked timidly.
"Hai. Why did the substitute say you were... ogling... me?"
Shinji went to 'embarrassed' mode. "I think... that he... uh... was just... just making fun of me... "
She nodded. "I understand that... but... if you had not been doing something similar, it would have only been a lie."
"... uh..."
She looked up at him. "So you were looking at me, then..."
Shinji just seemed to shrink even more. "... h-hai... "
"Why?"
He blinked as he heard a response he wasn't expecting at all. "Huh?"
"Why were you looking at me?"
He desperately tried to think of an excuse.
... and realized he had none. There was no way that-
For once, unlike his previous bout with Asuka, it was fortunate that he opened his mouth without really thinking. "Because you're beautiful..." He stopped and blinked at what he just said. "What I mean... uhh... I mean..." He began fidgeting uncomfortably...
As Shinji returned to his embarrassed and incoherent stutter, Rei looked up at him in shock. She stared at him for a minute, eyes wide, before she could respond. "... t-thank you... I find you... a-... attractive also... " she said quietly – once again with a blush.
Shinji froze and stared back, mouth hanging open in mid-stutter. "I..."
They remained like that for a couple seconds... until, on some unspoken cue, they both turned to their food and continued eating in an embarrassed silence.
]|[
Misato grinned. It was really cute.
Ever since she had gotten back to the apartment, she had noticed it. It was the first and most obvious thing she had noticed, too.
Rei and Shinji were sitting and watching TV... though it was obvious that neither of them were really watching. Their minds were racing in high gear – both about the other. It was causing a rather tense quiet, and it seemed it had been going for quite some time.
Obviously, something had happened since she left them last night. And she was certain it hadn't been... uh... last NIGHT. After all, she had gone and listened in after them, interested... AHEM... I mean, concerned for their safety as the adult in the house.
It was obvious; they were crazy about each other.
Though nothing would happen at this rate. Third Impact would COME and GO before those two did anything.
A devious grin came onto her face. She just had to help those two along. After all, she had been running out of things to tease Shinji about.... AHEM... I mean, she was a NERV officer, and this would help him deal with that fight with Asuka, thus improving his sync rate...
]|[
"Hey Shinji, Rei? Since you two don't really seem to be doing much, do you want to watch a movie?"
They turned as they saw Misato enter the room, DVD case in hand.
"Ritsuko lent me this and said it was pretty good," she continued. "I've got paperwork to do, but I can let you two watch it, if you want..."
Shinji narrowed his eyes. "It's not... you know... inappropriate... , is it?"
"Oh no, no," Misato responded offhandedly. "She keeps those sorted by category in pink-" She froze.
Then she quickly put the movie on the table and left the room, mumbling about work to do.
Shinji and Rei looked at each other.
"That was weird," he said.
Rei only nodded.
]|[
Shinji snorted mentally.
Yeah, right.
Figures it'd be a romance movie.
Figures it would be an extra sappy one.
Figures it would be presented at the perfect time.
Figures that Dr. Akagi probably hates this kind of stuff anyway.
Shinji sighed, having done more than enough figuring. Misato was at it again.
He decided to complain later, and tried to pay attention.
Perfect timing; it was the first kiss scene. As soon as they saw it. Shinji and Rei each turned to the person beside them, obviously thinking the same thing... and just as quickly turned back, blushing.
But the seed was planted...
Shinji watched the tv, frozen. Then, having waited a few minutes and believing it to be safe, he turned and looked at her again.
She was looking at him with a determined expression.
Shinji began to sweat. Oh sh-
Before he could do anything else, she reached behind his head. He could only stare helplessly into her eyes as she leaned towards him and her lips met his...
Shinji's eyes almost fell out as he tensed, and whimpered slightly at being surprised like that. As he adjusted, his senses came back to him. He saw her pleased expression, eyes closed. He noticed her arms around his neck, and his instinctively around her waist.
But the feel. Oh God, the feel! Her... his... warm... soft... ... uh....
Enjoying it far too much, he lost rational thought as he returned the kiss.
Finally she pulled away, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Now I see why this emotion and sensation was used in the movie as it was..."
Shinji grinned widely. "Yeah, but I haven't gotten it yet."
Rei barely had time to smile back before he leaned in again.
-TBC
TT
xiphux@planetjurai.com