"speaking out loud"
'thinking internally'
Through the Mind of One
by: brindani
Chapter 5
(Misato residence)
Shinji wasn't very happy about Asuka's cruel predicament and he wanted to help. It just didn't seem right for her to be stuffed into a cramped little apartment with all those boxes and be forced to eat ramen for every meal. He was so engrossed trying to come up with some good arguments to persuade Misato to change her mind that he didn't notice her sitting on the couch, watching his arrival, until she spoke. "So, how was Asuka?"
He jumped at her unexpected voice. "How did you know I was at Asuka's?"
Misato smiled and took another swig of the beer she held in her right hand before replying "You forget, Shinji, I have Asuka's apartment under constant observation. I know about anyone that goes in or out." Her comment reminded him of the arguments he had come up with. Shinji was about to go into detail when Misato preemptively cut him off. "By the way, a moving truck will be waiting at Asuka's apartment after school tomorrow to pick up any extra boxes."
Shinji stared at her dumbfounded. 'How did she know what I was thinking?'
"Uh… ok. But Asuka needs better food. She has practically nothing over there to eat."
Misato looked down at her beer, slowly twirling it back and forth with a small frown. "It couldn't be helped really. I couldn't find a specialist in nutrition, so I was forced to order the groceries myself." Shinji looked upset at Misato.
'How can she say that so casually? Doesn't she care about Asuka at all?'
"Of course, if I could find someone to manage the grocery shopping for me, I wouldn't mind letting them take over."
Shinji blinked. "I could do that."
Misato looked up as if inspiration had just hit her. "Oh, you would do that Shinji? You would be perfect for the job, you know all about nutrition. So it's settled then, you will be responsible for ordering Auska's groceries." Shinji looked at her bright smiling face even more dumbfounded than before. This was just a too much. He had expected, at the very least, a heavy argument and here she was handing everything to him on a silver platter.
With the details behind this newest situation swirling through his mind, Shinji decided it might be a good idea to get a drink. "Ok, thanks" Shinji shook his head, trying it of the confusion, before turning towards the kitchen.
"Sure thing, Shinji." Misato said absently while hiding a small satisfied smile behind the beer she held.
In the kitchen, Shinji found Rei sitting at the table with several neat stacks of paper beside her.
"Hey Rei, what are you up to?"
Rei briefly glanced at him. "…the essay due this Friday."
Shinji went over to look at the various papers that lay before her. He was rather impressed by the nice and neat handwriting. Taking a cursory glance over one of the pages, he noticed several places where a small rephrasing could convey her meaning a little better.
"If you like we could work on it together?" He offered with a hopeful smile.
Rei looked at him, her head tilted to the side. "That will not..." she stopped herself. looking at his sudden disappointed face from the expected rejection. "That would be…appreciated." A light blush bloomed on her face when Shinji's face split into a wide, almost childlike, smile.
(School)
It was nearing the end of the day. As usual, the students were doing everything from sleeping to messaging each other, everything except listening, of course. Asuka sat in her desk in a happy mood. Hikari had finally felt well enough to return to school. That meant Asuka could eat lunch with her, making for a nice change.
As the bell rang, everyone started to get up, more then ready to leave the dull lecture behind. Asuka had almost made it to the waiting agents before Shinji remembered something.
"Hey Asuka! Wait up, I have something to tell you."
Asuka stopped and turned around with a questioning expression. "What is it Shinji?"
"I forgot to tell you that Misato appointed me as your new nutritional expert. I've already placed an order for groceries that should arrive at your apartment sometime tonight."
Asuka's face lit up. "You mean no more ramen?! That's wonderful!" She said, grabbing Shinji into a spontaneous hug. She was so happy it took nearly five seconds for her to realize what she had done. Hastily, she stepped back. "Got a little carried away, I guess."
"Uh, that's alright." He shuffled his feet for a second before remembering what else he needed to say. "Oh before I forget, Misato said that she would have a truck outside your apartment after school to move those boxes." He stood awkwardly, trying to summon up enough courage to continue. "Would you like some help?"
"Oh, if you insist." Asuka said in mock agitation, quickly turning away hoping to hide a rising blush. Unfortunately for her, someone else caught it.
"Hey Shinji, you two making a little love nest?" Touji hollered from across the room. The comment sparked numerous laughs from all sides, making both of their cheeks flare bright red.
"It's… not like that." Shinji managed to stammer with his head down. Atypical of Asuka, she didn't even bother to reply. This might have had something to do with Hikari elbowing Touji in the side. He gave a little grunt, but didn't seem displeased. Shinji, seeing Asuka leaving without him, rushed out the door to catch up.
The agents stood by, watching these events take place. They had been informed that the nutritional expert would be allowed to escort the subject if he so desired. As this was the case, their presence became unnecessary, thus they departed to take up their other duties.
Hikary, never noticed the agents leave, turned angrily towards Touji. "What do you think you are doing!? You just embarrassed Asuka in front of everyone for no reason." With that, she spun around to leave the room herself, making it very clear that she wouldn't he wouldn't be allowed to walk her home even after her long absence.
Touji looked after her. "Gees, the sacrifices I make for that guy. I just hope he ends up choosing right. Oh well, guess I had better head to the candy store to pick up some chocolates and maybe…" Touji rambled on, forming his plans to regain Hikari's good graces.
(On the street outside Apartment 402)
When Shinji and Asuka arrived, they found a large moving truck sitting in front of the apartment. The driver jumped out of his seat as he saw them approach. "Hello, would you be…" He paused briefly to take a glance at his schedule sheet. "…Ms. Asuka Langley Soryu?"
"Ya, that's me."
"I've got your delivery here."
"Delivery? I thought you were going to take the boxes we packed up."
"Yes, ma'am, I am, but I was also instructed to deliver these boxes to you. It seems they were sent to the wrong address by mistake. We only figured it out yesterday." He finished with an apologetic smile.
Asuka glanced inside the truck. The detailed labels on the boxes left her a little stunned. "These are all my clothes. So this is where they have been all this time."
Shinji saw Asuka's eyes quickly glaze over as she gazed longingly at all the boxes. 'She'll take them all, if I don't do something fast.' "Asuka, how about you pick a few of these and leave the rest? I mean, we just managed to get some breathing room up there, there's no need to fill it up so soon."
Asuka cast one last longing look at the boxes before turning back. "Oh I suppose. I'll start sorting here. Could you start bringing some of the boxes we packed last night down?"
Shinji nodded, with a smile. He appreciated Asuka asking him nicely for a change. 'Her smile is kinda nice too.' He thought absently. "Ok, I'll get started on that."
Asuka was very proud of herself as she browsed through the great heap of boxes that represented her substantial wardrobe. She only picked out the ones that she felt she would need. 'Casual clothes, a box of formal dresses, some school uniforms. These sundresses looked nice on me. Extra undergarments…"
Periodically, she would hear a small grunt as Shinji put down several more boxes outside. When Asuka was done, she looked at her selection, very satisfied that most of the boxes were in the "to go" pile. When she hopped out of the back of the truck, she found several neat stacks of boxes nicely lined up against the truck 'Wow, he is fast.'
She then started up the stairs to help out. What she found along the way was both a little amusing and distressing to her. Shinji was carrying three obviously heavy boxes by himself. He stopped when Asuka stepped in front of him. "You know you don't have to take that many at once, right?"
"Sure, but the faster we go the quicker we finish."
Asuka smiled. "Give it a rest why don't you? It's not like we are in a rush or anything. I don't want you breaking your back here," she said before taking the top box from his arms.
After that, time seemed to fly by as they continued their box deposits. At least until the phone rang.
Asuka picked it up while wiping some sweat from her brow. "Hello?"
"May I speak with Shinji?" Rei's voice came through the phone.
"Hey Shinji, Wondergirl's on the line." Asuka called in an irritated voice, which Shinji completely missed.
"Ok, I'll be right there." After running the last flight of stairs, Shinji took the phone, a little out of breath. "Hello?"
"Major Katsuragi has requested your presence in the kitchen."
Shinji glanced at his watch and winced. "Oh shoot, I totally lost track of the time. I'll be right there, ok?"
"That will be acceptable."
Shinji put down the phone. "Asuka? I have to get going."
Asuka put down the box she was holding and walked over.
"Thanks for helping, Shinji." With that, she leaned over and lightly hugged him. "There, that should be good for payment," she said after releasing him.
"yy…a, ssssure." He stuttered in response before visible shaking towards the door. He was so distracted that he never noticing the annoyed expression that quickly grew on Asuka's face.
(School)
Asuka was deliberating with herself as the time for the last bell approached. 'It was nice to just talk with someone, maybe he wouldn't mind coming again today?'
Her mind made up, she stood to approach Shinji.
"Hey, Shinji, do you want to walk home with me today?"
Shinji smiled and was about to reply when a hand lightly settled on his shoulder. Turning, he found Rei looking into his eyes.
"Shinji, we are to study for the test tomorrow and we are to continue our mutual assistance with the essay."
Shinji's smile grew a little brighter "Oh ya, I almost forgot." He returned his attention to Asuka. "I'm sorry Asuka, Rei is going to help me study for that physics test tomorrow and we're helping each other out with our essays."
Without a second glance, both Shinji and Rei walked out together.
'Rei this, Rei that. What's so great about that Wonderdoll?' Asuka didn't know why, but she was becoming a little frustrated. Typically, she released such frustration on Shinji. This time, however, it didn't seem appropriate. Now she just had to figure out what to do…
(The streets of Tokyo 3)
Shinji and Rei walked together towards the apartment they now shared with Misato. 'It feels kind of nice to walk with Rei' Shinji thought to himself. Shinji happened to glance off to the side at a small park they were passing. In it there were some large toys for children and a sturdy swing set. When he saw this last item, Shinji got an idea.
"Have you ever been on a swing, Rei?"
Noticing his movements divert from their original course, she responded. "Shinji, we have studying…"
"Have you?"
"No, it is not a pertinent activity."
"If you've never tried it, how could you know?"
"It serves no logical purpose other then the rise and fall of a person going nowhere."
"Many things serve no purpose, but are still fun and interesting anyway. Do you want to give it a go?" Rei looked doubtful at the swing and then back to Shinji with a reluctant expression. After a few seconds Shinji decided he needed to continue his argument. "How about this, you try it and if don't like it, then we'll stop, but only if you give it a chance."
Rei looked slightly annoyed or at least as annoyed as she ever did. But seeing, as Shinji didn't look like he was going to let up on the matter, she decided to humor him for the few minutes it would take to confirm her original assessment of this pointless activity. She proceeded to walk over to one of the swings, followed closely by Shinji. She seated herself and waited a little impatiently for instruction. She wasn't quite expecting the large push from behind that forced her to strengthen her grip on the chain. She went up for a little, then came back down where she received another larger push sending her higher yet. She quickly got over her initial surprise as she felt the wind blow through her hair and the exhilaration as she went higher and higher. She lost herself in the experience letting herself be enwrapped within the sensations . She was rather disappointed when the pushes ceased and she slowly came to a stop.
"Why did you stop?" She asked curiously as she turned towards him.
Shinji was panting next to her, but managed to raise his head to meet her eyes. "We've been here for nearly fifteen minutes, Rei."
Rei gazed at him puzzled. "Are you sure that we have been here that long?"
"Yes, see." He said holding up his watch for her to confirm.
"It did not seem that long." She said absently.
"Time flies when you're having fun." Shinji said happily before turning around to pick up both of their bags.
'Fun? Yes,that was…fun.' Rei assessed briefly, rather startled with this new experience.
(Misato's apartment)
Shinji and Rei sat side by side, working on their essays. Shinji had already helped Rei reform her essay to better express her ideas. Rei, on the other hand, had explained Newton's third law and a specific aspect of thermal expansion. Rei didn't really understand why, but the topic seemed to illicit a bright blush from Shinji, especially when she had difficulty finding a real example to help him with the concept. Eventually, both ended up working on their seperate essays in the other's company.
Shinji was feeling prepared for the physics exam. It was the first time he had ever felt so in his life. Heck, earlier that day he had managed to help some of his classmates with several problems, while Rei looked on with…a sense of pride? He was never quite sure with her, but it kind of looked like that.
The phone rang.
"I'll get it." Shinji said. Rei merely nodded without shifting her attention. "Hello, Katsuragi residence."
"Hey, Shinji, that you?" Asuka's voice asked
"Ya, what's up, Asuka?"
"Could you walk home with me tomorrow?" Shinji frowned. He had really hoped to surprise Rei by treating her to an ice-cream cone on the way home from school tomorrow. Not hearing a reply, Asuka quickly continued before he could refuse. "Don't worry, Wondergirl can tag along if she likes. I'm just sick of the goon squad manhandling me home everyday."
"Just a sec." Shinji put down the phone to look over at Rei. "Rei? Asuka wants to know if we could walk home with her tomorrow after school. What do you think?"
Rei looked up and seemed to consider for a moment before nodding her head in consent promptly returning to the paper beneath her.
"Sure Asuka, Rei doesn't have any problem with that."
"What is she your owner now?"
Shinji blinked in surprise. "No, but it's good to know if she wants to come or not."
"Gees, I was just kidding. Anyway thanks for helping me have at least one day without being marched all over town."
"Sure, see you tomorrow." He then set the phone down before returning to the table.
(School)
"So how do you think you did?" Touji asked with a small scowl on his face.
"I think I aced it" Shinji said very pleased with himself as the final bell rang. He felt like he had breezed right through the physics test.
"Aced it? You?" Kensuke asked in disbelief.
Shinji simply smiled, ignoring their continued incredulous comments. 'Everything seems to be going right for a change. Asuka seemed very happy about the new food I ordered. She's even trying to cook now.' He briefly fought to prevent a smile from forming when several comical images of the likely charred results came to mind. It took a little while to settle down from that mental assault. 'Rei is even opening up to new experiences. She seems to be actually enjoying them too,' he finished with a happy expression.
Shinji contemplated all this while packing his various second impact textbooks. At the same time Asuka came up to him from behind. "There is something I need to discuss with Wondergirl. Why don't you wait for us at the school gates?" She said almost casually to Shinji.
"But I thought…" Shinji tried to say as he turned around to face her.
"Don't worry, we won't be long." Asuka assured him, giving him a small push to help him out the door.
"Well, ok" Shinji briefly shrugged before continuing to exit the classroom, taking a little time to tell the agents that he would walk Asuka home.
Asuka then turned to Rei with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Shall we?"
Rei hesitantly nodded rather curious as to why Asuka would wish to converse with her.
They walked out of the classroom, turning in the opposite direction Shinji had. Since Asuka remained silent, Rei decided to find out what was going on.
"What did you wish to discuss?"
"Hold on, I know a place where we won't be disturbed."
'Disturbed?' Rei thought silently as they entered a good sized grove that rested next to school grounds. They continued into the brush until they came across a small clearing. Asuka stopped and spun around to face Rei.
"Ok, Wondergirl, what is going on between you and Shinji?"
Rei tilted her head. "There is nothing…"
"Don't give me that crap. You forced Shinji to leave two days ago when you called and yesterday you deliberately sidetracked him from walking home with me."
Rei stood considering. Asuka's already frayed temper was beginning to quickly boil over. "Shinji and I…we are friends." The trace of pink on Rei's face snapped Asuka's patience. She shot forward, her school dress bellowing out behind her as she raced the short distance across the glade. Rei automatically shifted her weight bringing her arms into a fighting stance. Gracefully, she dodging the first punch and ducked under the foot going through where her head once was. She rolled away from the next punch. At the end of her roll she pushed off with her arms sending her feet flying directly towards Asuka's stomach forcing her to twirl out of the way. Asuka quickly recovered sending a foot where Rei should have come up. Instead of coming up, however, Rei turned in mid-air landing in a squatting position instantly pushing off with her toes to shoot herself right by Asuka's kick in perfect alignment for an uppercut. Asuka barely managed to block, the momentum forcing her to take a few steps back.
Rei stood several feet away, already back in her fighting stance. "Why are you doing this Soryu?"
Asuka's only reply was to jump back in with a fierce scream. Her anger almost seemed tangible as a fierce fire surrounding her. The cool calculated precision Rei used to block and counter seemed to lend her a similar feeling of being enwrapped in ice.
Asuka's hand snapped out. Once again, Rei ducked out of the way, but Asuka delivered a back kick faster then expected, managing to score a hard hit on Rei's side. Rei grunted before going to her knees. Asuka stepped a little away. "What's wrong? Does Commander Ikari's little dolly have a booboo?" Rei cried out bringing her hands to her head. "Give me a break. Your precious commander can't help you now."
At the second mention of the commander Rei abruptly stopped her squirming. When she looked back up, Asuka took an involuntary step back. She had never seen such a fierce gaze.
She quickly regained her composer "Looks like I might actually get a workout out of this yet." Asuka said as Rei slowly stood. Rei didn't stay there long as she shot forward sending a vicious kick straight at Asuka. What seemed like ice before flashed into a blazing flame of emotional rage. Kicks and punches blurred towards Asuka, unbelievable fast. Asuka was no longer smug as it took everything she had simply to block. Each successive attack came faster then the last making her defense more desperate by the second.
In less than fifteen seconds, Asuka's defenses shattered. She suffered a hit to the thigh followed swiftly by a kick to the stomach and, finally, a hard side kick to the head. This last completely stunning Asuka. She stood dazed and disoriented barely holding onto consciences.
Everything seemed to slow as Rei's fist started directly towards Asuka's temple, in a potentially lethal strike. Asuka could see it coming, knew it meant serious trouble, but she could not seem to move. Just before the punch reached her, a blurred form ran in front of Asuka covering her body with his own.
"REI!" Shinji cried out.
Rei's fist stopped, millimeters from Shinji's head. Rei looked dazed at her own fist. "Shinji? What…what is happening?" She managed to say before returning her hands to her head, shouting in agony only to abruptly faint. Shinji barely managed to catch her while keeping Asuka upright.
As Shinji attempted to stager out of the grove, carrying both girls, he didn't notice the small glint coming from a nearby shrub. Hiding behind the shrub Kensuke was catching everything with his video recorder.
(Deep within Terminal Dogma)
Gendou remained unmoving as he watched the fight between Rei and Asuka.
"It seems that he found something useful for once. Why did you request him to do this anyway?" Fuyutsuki asked
"All of our agents may be able to keep a watch on the children but only from a distance making it difficult to observe their actions and behaviors up close. What better way to observe them then by a friend?"
"I see, how did you manage to get him to do it?"
"A simple thing, the promise to become the pilot of the next Eva with reassurances that his mission was important to the children's safety, is all it took."
"I'm sure you failed to mention that no other Eva's are likely to be delivered."
Gendou merely smirked beneath his crossed hands.
"It looks like this one's memory blocks won't last much longer. Should I proceed to activate a new one?" Fuyutsuki continued
"No."
"What? If she gets her memories back, it could cause problems."
"Rei is not replaceable."
"But the spare parts, the dummy plug system?"
"Rei's purpose lies beyond merely piloting Eva. None of the clones have the necessary spark to fulfill that purpose."
"What do you plan to do then?"
"For now, nothing. Any overt action could break what little remains of my control over her. That would be…inconvenient."
(Hospital room)
Shinji sat with a worried expression between two of the most important people in his life. Rei lay on his left, Asuka on his right. He didn't know what had happened back there, but he was very glad he had seen them entering the glad or he might have been too late. 'I've never seen Rei that…enraged. What could Asuka have done to provoke that?'
He looked up as Asuka slowly brought herself up into a sitting position. "Where am I?"
"The hospital. Asuka, what happened back there?"
Asuka instantly became focused. "I…that is we…"
"Had a disagreement." Rei finished as the room's two other occupants noticed her beginning to sit up as well.
"About what?"
Rei looked at Asuka as she fidgeted not quite looking at her. "It was of no consequence." Asuka brought her head up quickly in surprise. "I believe we have settled our dispute for the time being." Asuka just stared, shocked by her response.
Shinji could tell something didn't add up, but as both seemed to want to drop the matter, he thought he might as well too.
A nurse entered the room. "Is there a Shinji Ikari here?"
Surprised, Shinji stood up. "Yes, that's me."
"You have an urgent telephone call, here" The nurse finished handing him a cell phone.
"Yes?" Shinji spoke into the phone. .
"The next angel has appeared." Gendou's cold voice answered before hanging up.
Shinji looked out the window next to him where he could see, far off in the distance, a small bright circle slowly flying their way. "Oh, no."
End chapter 5
Post-authors notes:
Well we can finally look forward to a little more action happening. As always your reviews are deeply appreciated and help me immensely in adjusting my story. They also help with motivation too which is nice.
Thanks,
brindani