Water Angel

quick note I apologize for the length of time it took me to update this. College has been keeping me really busy, not to mention my stupid computer decided to crash. Anyway, I'll try to post as often as possible from now on. Thank you for being so patient

Rei sat on the bench in the locker room after Asuka left, staring down at her covered hands. Slowly, she reached into her leather bag, pulling from it a thick book. She'd picked it up after Narikage had run off, dropping it in the process. Also tucked safely in her bag were his shattered glasses.

She gazed down at the book in her lap, running her fingers over the well-worn cover. It was an English book of some kind and she couldn't read the title on the front.

'Misato-san is working this afternoon. I'll give it to her to give back to him,' she thought, standing. After quickly folding her clothes, she left the locker room, the leather-bound volume safely tucked in her arms.

As she was walking along one of the upper levels over-looking the enormous EVAs, she bumped hard into someone going the opposite direction.

"Gomen Nasai," said a voice, bending to help her to her feet. Without looking up, she took the hand offered to her, standing. She froze when she saw the person was none other than Narikage himself. Quickly, she jerked her hand away.

"What are you doing here?" she asked in a slightly snappish tone. Narikage took a small step back, blinking at her.

"I came to think."

"Well, you should—"Rei cut herself off when she saw the boy's shirt was splattered with blood. Narikage followed her gaze downwards and quickly removed the white over shirt so he stood there in his dark blue school tank top. Rei's red eyes met his. "What happened?"

"Nothing. A nosebleed. What were you saying?" he asked shortly, changing the topic as fast as he could. Rei stammered a couple times, trying to remember.

"I think you should be apologizing to Touji," she finally managed, taking another little step back.

"Apologize? For what, praytell?"

"For fighting with him this afternoon."

"Why should I apologize? After all, he's the one who started it. I gave him plenty of warnings."

"You nearly broke his arm!"

"As I said: I warned him. It's good for him to know what physical pain feels like. Maybe now he won't be so quick to inflict it on others," Narikage replied in a slightly bored tone of voice. Rei studied him closely, looking for any traces of the person who had mercilessly attacked a smaller boy. But it was just the same indifferent, cool Narikage staring back at her. "What?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, finally remembering to blink.

"My book." The leather volume was suddenly slid from her arms and she gave a small start, stepping back. Narikage was running his fingers over the cover, much as she had done just a few minutes ago in the locker room.

"You dropped it after the fight," she said in a slightly hesitant tone. "It looked valuable so I picked it up. I was going to give it to Misato-san to give to you but...I guess this saves me the trip." He lifted his pale eyes, meeting her blood red ones.

"Arigato, Ayanami-san. This means quite a bit to me." For a brief instant, like the flashing of a light, a smile passed over Narikage's face, quickly replaced by his usual apathetic expression. Flustered, Rei could only sniff.

"Don't read too much into it. I still don't like you."

"That's up to you. Thank you anyway." He bowed to her and, tucking the book under his arm, walked past her, disappearing around a corner. Rei watched him go, a strange expression twisting her features. There was something about that boy...

"Rei-san! There you are!" Rei jumped and leaned over the metal banister. Asuka smiled and waved. The other girl allowed herself a small smile, waving back. "Are you coming down or what? We have some training to do."

"Hai! I'll be right down!" She glanced over her shoulder one more time, looking at the doorway Narikage had disappeared through. Then, Asuka called again and she hurried down to meet her.

(Later that day)

"Your numbers are getting worse," Asuka said to Rei as they headed towards their respective homes that evening. The blue-haired girl shrugged, giving a rock a gentle kick.

"My numbers have always been bad." Asuka, seeing the saddened expression on her friend's face, quickly changed the subject.

"You know what that bastard Narikage had the nerve to say to me today?"

"What?"

"Now he's claiming that Unit 01 has belonged to him the whole time! Can you believe that?!" She gave a hard shake of her head, sending her red hair flying every which way. "The NERVE of that man! Arg! I just want to...PUNCH him!" She swung at the air in a ridiculous fashion. "Take that! And that!" She took a few more swings at the invisible Narikage, looking so silly, Rei chuckled.

"You'll never get near him with punches like that. He's too fast. He'll grab your arm and twist like her did Touji's."

"He'd better not. You're not supposed to hit girls, remember? I have that rule on my side." She boxed with the air while Rei watched, allowing herself to laugh. Asuka looked surprised by the sound then pleased as she kept on.

"People are staring at you, Asuka-san," Rei informed her as they walked down the sidewalk.

"Let them stare! They can watch me when I beat up the REAL Narikage too! I'll give him a left, then a right, then a—!" Rei clamped a hand over her mouth at that moment, gesturing for her to shut up. Asuka followed her gaze slowly.

They were passing their school and, as they looked, they could clearly see Narikage walking by himself around the pool. His hands were jammed in the pockets of his pants and he was frowning as he looked at the water.

"What is he DOING?" Asuka said in a slightly breathy voice. Rei just shook her head and gestured for her to be silent again.

Narikage—who had donned his white school shirt again—removed it, as well as his blue tank top. Both girls turned red. He actually had quite a bit of muscle...

The older boy kicked off his shoes and socks, walking towards the high diving board at the other end.

"He won't!" Rei glared and the red-head snapped her mouth shut.

He climbed the ladder slowly and walked to the edge of the board, staring at the water with a strange expression on his face. His head fell back, eyes closed. Then, spreading his arms wide, he jumped.

The fall seemed to happen in slow motion. And—was the setting sun just in her eyes?—Rei SWORE she saw the flash of metal arc from Narikage's shoulders in the shape of...

"Wings," she whispered as the boy hit the water with barely a splash. Beside her, Asuka let out a low whistle.

"I didn't know he could dive like that." Rei, without replying, walked up the gentle slope to the chain-link fence surrounding the pool, Asuka on her heels. Narikage was just climbing out of the water, a strange look of satisfaction on his face.

"Why aren't you on the swim team?" He jumped and whipped his head around, spotting the girls a few yards away. He shrugged, pulling his tank top back on.

"I don't like swimming."

"Then you're nothing but a big show-off," Asuka huffed, crossing her arms. Narikage shook his head a little, glancing back at the pool.

"I just wanted to make sure I could still do it," he said so softly, the roar of a truck going by nearly blocked it out. Giving the girls a nod, he turned and left the pool enclosure, walking pointedly away from them. Askua rolled her eyes.

"What a freak."

Rei said nothing.