Standard disclaimer
Wow I keep trying to get to writing but every time I sit down to do it something comes up. Work calling me in, friends calling me out, family stuff but not today! Well not yet at least . Sorry for the delay and hope you enjoy the chapter.
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Out of Disaster Chapter 19 – Coming Apart
While the sun was just beginning its tireless journey toward the heavens, another fatigued traveler was just making her way home. Stopping at the steps that lead up to her home, Shinobu let out a heavy sigh. Rubbing her eyes with her fingers, she wasn't sure if what she was seeing was real or just an illusion made by her sleep deprived mind.
"Haruka-san?" She asked softly over the crisp morning air. A large part of the girl had been hoping that she was just seeing things, she really didn't want to have to do any explaining before getting some sleep.
Sadly for Shinobu, Haruka was real, and she was real pissed off. "Welcome home Shinobu, did you have a nice night?" The cigarette dancing from her lip while she spoke dazzled Shinobu as it seemed to dance. By this point everybody in Hinata lodge knew about Shinji and Shinobu's potential relationship, and where the young girl most likely had been the previous night.
Still marveling at the glowing embers prancing about Haruka's face, Shinobu offered a short head nod. "It was ok. To be honest it could have been a lot better." Memories of the grief stricken Misato flashed by the young girl's eyes.
Astonished by the child's open declaration, Haruka gapped at Shinobu. 'Doesn't she know what I was alluding too?' Letting the dying smoke fall from her lips, the aging Urashima replaced it with a fresh one from her pack. "First time always does hurt doesn't it?"
When Shinobu just looked vacantly at her, Haruka just shook her head, "I'm disappointed in you Shinobu. I thought you were more intelligent than that. What are the others going to say?"
Had she not been up all night helping Shinji console and watch over his guardian, Shinobu would have easily grasped Haruka's insinuations. Sleep deprivation however didn't usually make one's wits sharper. "Why are you disappointed Haruka-san?"
Taking Shinobu's question as defiance, Haruka's eyes widened. "You're only fifteen Shinobu! You're way to young to be having sex." Haruka felt a little like opening a bottle of sake and trying to wash this memory from her mind.
Her face draining instantly of all color, Shinobu just stared at Haruka. Her hands covered her mouth as she shook her head violently in negation. "Haruka-san! Wh...why are you saying I did that?"
It was Shinobu's physical reaction that really spoke to Haruka. "You mean you didn't? Then why didn't you come home last night?"
Trying to calm her already frazzled nerves, Shinobu informed Haruka about her whereabouts the previous night and her reason for not coming home. Letting out a laugh and releasing her growing worry, Haruka smiled. "I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. I don't know what you plan for today but I suggest you do get some sleep."
Taking a small look up at the lodge, "I plan to, but I'm sure you're not the only one that wants to 'talk' to me." Giving the smoking woman a wave, Shinobu started her assent again knowing that no matter how she wanted sleep, Haruka was just the first confrontation.
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Standing over a travesty of nature that she intended the rest of her family to eat, Naru prepared breakfast. Being the only resident not outwardly panicking, or in Su's case oblivious, about Shinobu's absence it was her duty to cook. Naru's mind, if one could see it, was as black as the food she was burning. 'She is in so much trouble when she gets back. I warned her about perverts!'
Kitsune, in an attempt to calm things down and her own doubts, took her seat at the table. "Maybe they just watched a movie and fell asleep on the couch or something. You know silly kid things." She didn't believe that though, not after the look she saw in the girl's eyes after the encounter at the hospital. 'Shinobu is beyond little kid dating games, and that boy is as well.'
"Then why didn't she call? Why didn't we hear a word from her all night?" the angry cook asked as she tried to scrape some burnt eggs off the bottom of her wok. Each passing minute only increased Naru's anger and worry.
Taking his seat at the table next to Kitsune, Keitaro downed a cup of tea. Having heard the talk between Kitsune and Shinobu and their plan, he wasn't any better than the rest. "Should we go over there and get her, do we know his phone number?"
Motoko, now flanking Kitsune, let out a sigh of defeat. "I tried phoning Ikari-kun's residence. Nobody answered." Motoko didn't know what to think. Having spent time with both Shinji and Shinobu she doubted either would have moved so quickly, 'but he is a man, maybe I was mistaken about him.'
Loading up the plates around the table with food, Naru left the room to call Su, Sarah, and Nyamo to eat. Those at the table just looked at the so- called breakfast and cried over Shinobu's absence. Kitsune, pushing her place away, and got up from her place, "I think I'll go check the stairwell again. Maybe she's on her way."
Both Motoko and Keitaro looked defeated, they planned the same maneuver but were beaten to the punch. "If you see her call us ok?" Keitaro said as he slowly started moving food to his mouth. Then the food was shoved in as well as the chopstick as Su kicked him in the back of the head announcing her arrival.
Smiling at Su's antics, Kitsune was momentarily relieved of her self- imposed worry. 'It was my idea that she go over to his place. I'm partly responsible for whatever happened or happens.' Approaching the front door she just prayed that Shinobu wasn't going to be a young mother.
Her walk to the front stairs was cut short at the door. Spying the young cook trying, albeit poorly, to sneak into the house unseen, Kitsune stopped her advance. "Welcome home Shinobu," Kitsune drawled out.
Like a frightened animal, Shinobu froze in place, her hand just away from the doorknob. Slowly almost mechanically, Shinobu turned to face her executioner. "Hello Kitsune-sempai." It was a small relief that it was Kitsune that found her and not Naru or Motoko, Shinobu rationalized.
"Have a pleasant evening did you?" the adult part of Kitsune asked. Torn by her own inner nature applauding Shinobu for being bold enough to take action, to take the initiative. A tiny part of Kitsune was actually jealous of the girl, many times in the past if she had acted on her feelings her life would have been better. But now wasn't the time for congratulations. "Anything to say for yourself?"
Peering over Kitsune's shoulder, Shinobu gestured toward the staircase that lead to her room. If they had to talk so soon she'd rather talk to just one person and hopefully be freed of any other sleep stealing questions. Catching Shinobu's idea, Kitsune followed the young girl to her room as silently as possible. She owed the girl that much for giving her the idea.
Dropping her school bag on the floor, Shinobu drifted over to her bed and fell heavily upon it. The need for rest washing over her, her whole body seemed to cry out at once. "I spoke to Haruka-san on the stairs, so I'll just say one thing before we start. Shinji and I didn't do anything."
Finding her faith in Shinobu sorely tested, Kitsune chose not to make any firm beliefs until she heard the whole story. "So you just slept at his house and nothing happened at all. So why didn't you call us?"
Shinobu hoped Kitsune would have believed her without needing to go into the whole story, but she couldn't be upset at her for not. Forcing her body into a seated position at the edge of her bed she cleared her thought. "Well saying nothing happened is a little much too I guess. We were..." Shinobu's face burst with color as she realized she had to tell Kitsune that they were 'making out.'
Switching roles to 'big sister' Kitsune sat next to the young girl. "You were what Shinobu?" Kitsune's brain swarmed with a plethora of possible 'what if' scenarios. Most of which would have sent both Shinji and Shinobu into bouts of hysterics.
With another deep breath, "We were kinda making out in his room for awhile. Part of me," Shinobu paused to reaffirm the truth to herself, "part of me really wanted to. To really 'be' with him."
Kitsune could feel the 'but' coming, while she was shocked to hear of Shinobu's honest intent for the night she could already tell that whatever Shinobu said here was the honest truth. "But what happened then?" The fear that he rejected her advance appeared into Kitsune's mind.
"Well he broke off and said he wanted something to drink, I was really thirsty too," Shinobu seemed to calm down as she spoke. "Next thing I heard was the door opening and Katsuragi-san yelling out she was home."
Kitsune didn't miss the factoid that prior to this point in Shinobu's dialogue the two of them were alone. "What happened when she got home?"
Shinobu's face turned to Kitsune and conveyed a deep sense of sadness. "It gets confusing here but from what Shinji told me, she got some sort of phone message and started crying." Shaking her head as if to correct herself Shinobu restated, "More like sobbing, she kept saying that 'he's dead' so the rest of the night Shinji and I kept an eye on her to you know...make sure she didn't do anything."
'And here we thought it was...who are the perverted ones here?' Kitsune chastised herself as well as the other Hinata residents. "I'm sorry Shinobu, you were doing something very noble and we thought you were a lil pervert," the playful tone back in Kitsune's voice.
Before Shinobu could thank Kitsune, her door burst open and the other Hinata residents spilled onto the floor. Su dove towards Shinobu smiling and calling her a little pervert, Nyamo blushed softly and asked if it were true, and Keitaro, Naru, and Motoko just looked embarrassed for being caught.
Grabbing Su by the shirt collar, Kitsune prodded everybody out of Shinobu's room and left herself after telling Shinobu, "Get some sleep kid, you earned it." Shinobu didn't need to be told twice and was out like a light a few minutes later.
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While Shinobu slept the majority of her class was gathering for yet another day of class. Seated next to Hikari, Asuka waited patiently for either Shinobu or Shinji to arrive so she could hound them for details. Hikari, while just as excited about learning about their friends' day was less dramatic, she was in point of fact very tired. Asuka had taken to playing her game system before bed and kept her up for most of the night.
"Where are they already class is going to start soon?" Asuka asked to equally uninformed Hikari. She was so proud of her plan she just had to hear how it turned out. 'Only question was whether Misato got my message or not.'
Trying to keep her head off of the desk and away from the moments sleep it offered, Hikari asked, "Should we butt into their private life Asuka? I want Shinobu to be happy to but isn't this a bit much?"
Watching a few more students walk into the room, Rei being one of them, Asuka followed the blue haired girl's movements with rapt attention. "If we left this to Shinobu, Rei would have that baka wrapped around her finger. Do you want that?" Images of Rei crying as Shinobu and Shinji danced around her flashed in Asuka's mind and she smiled. 'Shinobu's much better suited for him.'
Almost reading Asuka's mind, Hikari pried, "You've been awfully nice to Shinji-kun lately. Are you sure you're not doing this for him?" Hikari was rewarded with a pencil bouncing off her forehead. Being one of the few people that knew how to quietly manipulate Asuka, Hikari chuckled lightly.
Asuka didn't take the joke to well and went on a tirade of how she didn't care about that baka and this was all for Shinobu, Hikari didn't buy it for one second. 'You talk in your sleep Asuka-chan, so I know all about what's on your mind,' Hikari thought a little sadly. If Shinobu hadn't shown up Hikari thought it could have been Asuka and Rei vying for the shy boy's affection.
More students arrived and still no sign of Shinji or Shinobu was seen, so when class started and their seats were still vacant, a new sense entered the spectators mind. Touji and Kensuke had their own opinions on the matter as well. Hikari informed Touji about Asuka's plan and he told Kensuke. So when lunch came, the four of them found themselves eating together in the cafeteria.
"So what's the deal Red? What happened with Shinji?" Touji asked as he sat next to his, unknown to the others, girlfriend Hikari. Catching the apple she threw this time, Touji started to eat it.
Scrunching her nose up in minute frustration Asuka sank into her chair at the lunch table. "How should I know what's going on?"
From the safety of his camera, Kensuke zoomed in on Asuka's face. "Word has it this little set up was your idea. So you think it went as you planned?"
"Put the camera away Kensuke," Hikari scolded before opening her can of soda. She heard rumors from the older students that when a boy and girl don't show up the next day to class that they shared more than just space. "You don't think that they...do you?"
The smile that ran across Touji's face insured those that were listening, that what Touji said next wasn't going to be easy on the ears. "I bet they did! Shin-man was the first of us, who'd have thought of that!"
Kensuke prayed he didn't hear Touji say the words he thought he did, but by the color in Asuka's face, that his camera was still on, proved him wrong. The redhead's palm flew across the table and belted the jock across the cheek. Kensuke, in this instance, agreed with Asuka. "Touji, you baka this is serious."
"I'm being serious too!" Touji said in his own defense. "What else could have happened? He's not here she's gone to. We know she went over to his place. Red even set it up so they'd be alone. What else can we think happened?"
Much as she'd like to refute him, Asuka had to admit Touji had a point though it irritated her to no end. She had set things up for the two of them, but she didn't expect such a large result though. "I don't know, he maybe a pervert but I don't think he do that so soon." Asuka's voice conveyed a lot more than just her words.
Nearly dropping his camera, Kensuke was astonished, "Is the devil showing concern for a mere mortal. Has Shinji got an ace up his sleeve if things go bad?"
"Kensuke stop it!" Hikari wasn't about to let Asuka's feelings be tread on now. They had more important things to discuss. "Should we go over after class gets out? You know talk to them and see what happened?"
Showing is ability to switch off his immaturity Touji wouldn't allow it. "We don't know what happened, and that means anything could have. I don't want to press them on any of this. If they did they'll have to deal with it and they don't need us prying. If they didn't then we'd look really foolish."
Asuka and Hikari looked at the boy, Hikari with praise, Asuka in astonishment. Kensuke, smiling patted him on the back, "Well said buddy, well said."
Switching back too immature, "And I want Shinji to be all nervous and fidgety when he tells us about his encounter!" The jock was then pelted with leftovers, as his last comment wasn't well received.
Listening intently to the groups' conversation from a discreet distance away, Rei gathered her things. She had not anticipated such a maneuver nor had she expected Asuka to side with Shinobu and plot behind her. 'I will see what has happened myself.' Walking out of the cafeteria and then the school, Rei headed towards Shinji's home. 'I wish to be the one that becomes 'one' with Shinji. If she is there when I arrive then she will be dealt with.'
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Pulling the bow across his cello, Shinji let his mind drift with the music he made. The last two days had done somewhat of a number on him emotionally. After Misato's return the previous night, Shinji was waiting for a chance to be alone to think. He was very grateful that Shinobu was over to help him tend to Misato however.
Said woman had left for work under an hour ago. She had thanked Shinji for being there for her, and for cooking lunch when he looked dead tired. Misato looked better to Shinji than the night before, but he could still see traces of red in her eyes, he just wondered what Kaji had said to Misato before she tore the phone off of the wall.
'Things just can't stay peaceful for long here can they?' the boy mused as he made a mental note to get another phone to replace the pieces of broken plastic they now had. He also couldn't forget what had happened prior to Misato's return. Banishing such thoughts from his mind he started to play Pachelbel's Cannon in D again. 'What do I do now? Things can't go back to the way they were between us now, and what about Rei... I guess their won't be a simple solution to this.'
His solitude didn't last long as the doorbell chimed. Looking at his watch that read seven minutes after one, he had no idea who it could be visiting at this time. 'Must be Misato's friend or something.' Leaning his cello against the chair and putting his bow by it, he headed to the door. Pulling the door open he was greeted by a confused looking Rei. "R...Rei what are you doing here?"
Honestly she didn't know. She had debated her actions the entire walk over. If she found Shinobu at his home she would have taken drastic action. If she wasn't, but with the words of Shinji's friends ringing in her ear it didn't matter, she didn't know what to do. "Shinji-kun may I come in?"
Having one of his problems walk right into his apartment, Shinji stood dumbfounded, then stood to the side. "Sure come in Rei. Shouldn't you be in school?"
Her voice conveying a sense of both worry and humor, "As you should be as well, if I am correct." She walked past him and directly into the living room. Her eyes' surveying the domicile for any sign that Shinobu was there or if any act had occurred. "You were playing the cello?"
Having never told Rei about his musical abilities, and still a little shocked at her direct nature Shinji nodded. "Yeah after what happened yesterday I needed to get my mind off of things." Shinji watched as Rei plucked the bow off the chair and sat behind his instrument. "Do...do you play?" The surreal element had yet to wear off of him.
"I play the viola," her hand drew the bow across the strings producing a screech that was almost music but not quite. "It is different to play the cello." Her eyes fixed on him, as she seemed to be almost holding his cello hostage.
'What is she doing here?' Shinji thought, not that he minded her being there, far from it in fact he really wanted to talk to her. "I haven't tried the viola, we should play together sometime."
Nodding, Rei drew the bow again but this time the sound was a solid note, "You said something happened last night, would you mind telling me what that was?" Her eyes held a hint of accusation.
"Well," Shinji didn't know how to proceed. Telling her about Shinobu's visit was the truth but Misato was the main cause of his discomfort. Feeling Rei's eyes burning into him he knew he had to tell her something, and not being able to lie to her, he opted for the truth. It was an edited version of the truth however.
Shinji's narrative included Shinobu's visit, leaving out the time in his bedroom, then he told Rei about Misato's arrival and the events that followed. The crying, the hugging, the broken phone, and the watching over her as she slept. "So I stayed home to keep an eye on her and because I was just too tired to go to school."
Judging the story that she was just told to the information that Rei had regarding one Ryoji Kaji, Rei nodded. Putting the bow back on the ground she slid out from behind the instrument. "I am relieved to hear that."
'Relieved! How can she be relieved about Misato's crisis?' Shinji's face depicted his confusion. Letting Rei guide him back to his cello as she seated him behind it. "What do you mean?"
Ashamed of her doubting him, Rei's head sank. "I over heard rumors at school. The consensus was that you and Maehara-kun had sexual intercourse and that was the reason for your not attending school today." She finished by placing the bow into Shinji's open hand. "Could you...play for me?"
His own embarrassment about the rumors subsiding, Shinji was already sure Asuka was going to have something to say to him. Brushing off the negative feelings, he smiled at Rei, "What would you like to hear?"
It didn't matter to her, because whatever he played he was playing for her. And that made her happy. She made a few recommendations for him to play and sank into the couch as he played. The music, and his feelings, washed over hear. It was soft, pleasant, and soothing, but it had a hint of worry. 'He is still confused.' Rei couldn't help but feel stilted. She wanted him and she had thought her efforts would have been reciprocated by now, but thanks to the other girl that hadn't happened.
After a solid hour of playing, Shinji put his cello away. "I know I'm not that good but thank you for listening." Looking at the DVD player's time readout, and feeling his own stomach rumbling. "Did you eat lunch before you came over?"
Having neglected her own eating ritual in lieu of listening to the rumor mill during lunch, Rei informed Shinji that she hadn't. "Care to go out with me and get a bite to eat then? I'd cook for us but I used up the remaining food stock for Misato's breakfast."
'This is what is called a date, I've always...' Standing up from her relaxing spot on the couch, "I'd enjoy that."
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Even though they should have been in school, the pair didn't receive a single question from the waiter/cook when they sat down at the ramen stand. Shinji couldn't believe the odd twist of fate that lead him to this spot. 'Whenever I think I'm about to make a choice something like this happens to make me doubt my feelings again.'
Rei had dazzled him with her improved social skills that he alone saw. Showing him a smile on occasion, Ritsuko's words about how men love smiling girls appeared in her mind, but she wasn't smiling as an act, she genuinely wanted to smile for him. "Thank you Shinji for taking me out."
Realization that this was in fact a type of date, Shinji blushed. "It's no problem at all I enjoyed being with you," looking at her face Shinji was reminded of how soft her features truly were. Under the awing of the ramen stand basking in the soft sunlight Rei's features were blazing. 'She looks like a porcelain doll, like those pictures that portray 'traditional Japanese beauty.'
Noticing how Shinji was staring at her, "Is something wrong?" She tilted her head quizzically.
Thanking the cook for the food, Shinji turned back to Rei. "I just," he stopped again and swallowed, "Never noticed how beautiful you are." He meant it of course. She was beautiful to him, it was a different beauty than he saw in Shinobu, but it was just as radiant, just as endearing.
His compliment went over well as Rei's capillaries exploded. Having never heard such compliment Rei didn't know how to react. 'I'll have to ask Ritsuko when I see her.' Eating some of her noodles, she looked over at the very embarrassed Shinji. "Thank you Shinji."
With her words of gratitude, the pair settled into a very comfortable silence. They spoke every so often but just enjoyed one another's company. As they neared the bottom of their bowls, Rei's cell phone rang out in annoyance. In his mind, Shinji could have sworn he saw a grimace on her face.
Standing up and walking out from the small diner, Rei answered phone. "Ayanami speaking." Shinji listened and wondered if it was an angel, but thought if it were his phone would have rang too. "I am eating." Shinji continued to listen to Rei's side of the conversation. "I am with Sh...Ikari- kun."
That made Shinji more puzzled, who could she be talking to that she had to change his way of speaking about him. His thought for a moment was that during his 'absence' she made a friend or two. "Is that required?"
Paying for the food, Shinji turned to watch Rei talk. "No, I have plans." Shinji noticed how Rei's face darkened again. "I am going to spend the day with Shinji." For the moment Shinji didn't mind that she had spoken for him, he was enjoying the time with her anyway. "No Commander, I will not. Goodbye." With that she hung up the phone and returned it to her pocket.
'She was talking to... father! She told him no! What is going on here?' Shinji tried to fathom but couldn't. "Was it important?" Shinji asked stupidly.
Part of her dual nature would have vastly disagreed, but to the human part. "No it didn't matter. Shall we return to your apartment?"
Feeling as if he was missing a big piece of a puzzle that was just beyond his grasp, Shinji just nodded and lead Rei back to his apartment. Where the two of them watched a little television, Shinji played his cello a little more, and as the time for Asuka's return drew near Rei excused herself and left after giving Shinji a rather long and passionate kiss on her way out.
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Slamming his phone down in frustration, Gendo wasn't happy at all. "She refused me! She can't refuse me!"
"Calm down, she can't refuse her heritage when the time comes," Kozo coaxed. He never liked seeing Gendo angry. And Kozo knew that only bad things happened when Gendo got mad. "Maybe Ritsuko has found a way of purging the dummy plug of the excess emotions and she can be replaced."
Pushing his glasses back up his nose, Gendo had all intentions of replacing Rei, regardless of the state of the dummy plug. "I will not allow insubordination. She will die soon enough. If she disobeys again she'll be replaced before her battle with the sixteenth."
Fear made itself manifest in Kozo's body. He couldn't believe that Gendo was going to replace Rei just for one word. 'What have we done. This man is insane.' But that man knew what was going on and nobody else at Nerv did. "Just wait for the time to come. If we act rashly Rei's origins, and maybe her purpose could be discovered."
"You're right, call Doctor Akagi and tell her to meet me at the core of the dummy plug," Gendo stood and left after his dictation.
Knowing full well that Gendo was going to take his aggression out on Ritsuko in a perverse mockery of love making, he sadly called the doctor and told her. 'If she turns out to betray us I won't hold it against her.'
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Time, as it was, picked up its monotonous pace for the lives of those in Tokyo-3. Returning to school after his month long absence, Shinji found a lot had changed, but plenty had stayed the same.
Try as he might, Touji wasn't able to keep his relationship with Hikari secret from Shinji. After a brief session of Shinji apologizing for the scar that ran the length of Touji's leg, Touji let it slip that he was getting plenty of assistance from Hikari so Shinji needn't worry.
Kensuke, who had most of the month's highlights on tape, did a great deal of filling in for the pilot. Said boy hadn't done much personal changing over the time gone, but he didn't mind that in the least. "Its more fun to laugh at you guys in your romantic endeavors than try to have my own... for right now mind you." A rye-raised eyebrow said much.
During school Shinji was torn again between Shinobu and Rei. Both girls stopped putting up the pretense of false friendship and were openly hostile to one another. Shinobu insisted that they all eat together as a big group as she knew Rei wouldn't eat with all of them. Rei took her time with him where she could find it. Mostly she spent an hour or two with him prior to class or during a free period.
Asuka and Hikari did their bit to help Shinobu, who seemed totally different in regards to Shinji now. Gone was the meek girl that burst into hysterics, not that she still didn't, but when the issue of Shinji and Rei rose she was all steel.
Outside of school things were much the same. Shinobu would occasionally visit Shinji for some help on homework, recipes, or just to hang out. Asuka couldn't be happier when Shinobu came over. Rei stole all of Shinji's time at Nerv. During sync tests, drills, or exercises the two were inseparable. Rei now knowing that Asuka was against her found a little flaw in the comm. systems and blocked the red head from listening or interacting in any of the sessions the two shared. This infuriated the red head even more.
Yes everything was slowly moving forward towards an eventual clash between Shinobu and Rei to finally decide who would take Shinji's heart. Through the coarse of the week everything was mostly normal, if not a little hectic for Shinji. That was until Asuka's scores started to slip.
By mid-week her scores were dropping at an alarming percentage, and Misato telling Asuka to try harder didn't help. Shinji tried to calm Asuka, but when the German accused Misato of driving Kaji away things went sour. Asuka claimed that it was Misato's fault that Kaji left the country, the cover Misato gave her for the man's disappearance.
Misato countered that it wasn't her fault and that Asuka was just using Kaji as a scapegoat for her failing scores. Asuka yelled, as did Misato. The end result was.
"Do you really have to go Asuka?" asked the growing in depression Shinji as he saw the girl packing her bags.
Shoving some cloths in a duffle bag, Asuka rounded to face the boy. "She insulted me. She's trying to tell me I'm not good enough to pilot! I don't even want to have kids but on top of that this damn period is causing me nothing but trouble!"
Asuka's delicate way of telling Shinji her problem resulted in a blush and an apology. "Don't apologize baka, not like you did this to me." Asuka sat down on her bed and patted next to her so Shinji would join her. "Its just I need time away from her. Regroup so to speak."
Finding the spot next to her slightly warm and very comfortable, Shinji wrapped a supportive arm around Asuka. "You don't have to crush her to win. Just keep trying. I know you can do it. I believe in you Asuka."
Old memories of hating being treated as she was surged deep in her, but she did her best to squash them. 'This isn't so bad once you get used to it.' She felt his arm and relaxed a bit more. He wasn't looking down on her, she knew that now, he was doing his best to help her, to be her friend. "I will keep trying and I will be the best again, you can count on that. So wipe that sad smirk off your face now. I'm not dying and I'll be back you can count on that!"
He knew she was telling the truth but he worried nonetheless, "So Hikari said it was ok for you to stay over?"
Zipping her last bag shut she looked around her room for anything she was forgetting. "She said I could stay as long as I need. So I'm sure her dad and her sisters know about it."
"It's going to be quiet without you here. Take care of yourself ok?" Asuka could feel the sense of almost abandonment from him.
Guilt welled in her chest. She wanted to help him for all Shinji had done for her but she was leaving him. For a moment she just stopped and pressed her forehead to his. Asuka felt his forehead growing hot because he got embarrassed. Closing her eyes Asuka just reveled in the rather intimate position they were in. "Worry about yourself baka. You have a lot more problems than I do right now."
Shinji felt himself agreeing with Asuka, even saw himself doing it but it felt like a dream to him. He saw her getting off the bed and putting her backpack on and lifting her duffle bag. He could almost feel things around them changing. Getting darker, colder, but he didn't know why. He just knew that he was afraid for her. "Good bye Asuka."
"Bye Shinji," Asuka smiled at him and left the apartment for Hikari's. That was the last time Shinji saw her aside from at a sync test before the next angel attacked.
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"Asuka watch out, we don' t know what type of attacks that thing has." Misato ordered from her place in the secondary command center. She still was not on good terms with the second child, Misato had a sick feeling of satisfaction when she saw Asuka's ratio was lower that it had previously been.
From his place on the launch pad, Shinji was tense and agitated. 'Why won't they let me out there?' His Eva still under cryofreeze. "Misato can I please be sent up, something doesn't seem right."
Flipping her comm. channel to his frequency, Asuka laughed at him. "What you don't think us girls can fight without you? Let me show you a thing or two third child!" Lining up her shot, Asuka discharged her rifle at the orbital assailant.
Maya registered the hits as deflected. "Its still to high in the atmosphere for Asuka to hit it. Maybe Ayanami can with more long distance weaponry." Taking that as her signal for action, Rei fired a modified version of a sniper rifle at the angel, with the same results.
Having its defenses tested, the angel opted to move to a more offensive post and target the closest offender. Unit-02 was bathed in light and Asuka screamed. "GET OUT, GET OUT OF... MY HEAD Oh my GOD! IT'S COMING INTO MY MIND!"
Hearing the techies crying about how Asuka's readings were going haywire and hearing his father order Rei to get some type of lance, Shinji powered up his mecha. 'I'll be damned if I sit here and do nothing.'
"Pilot Ikari you are to stand down now." It was his father. Gendo had expected some minor troubles with his son, but had no worries about quelling them.
"And let that thing rape Asuka's mind?" Shinji used the term he just heard Asuka scream over her comm. link. Slamming his fists onto the stirrups Shinji wouldn't stand for it.
"Increase pressure to Unit-01's entry plug to stop his tirade." Gendo looked at Ritsuko who with sluggish motions moved and carried out his order.
Shinji however didn't go down this time. "I've been practicing father," though his voice was strained Shinji looked fine. "After that last bout I'm not going to lose this time, not to you, I'm not going to let Asuka suffer anymore." He also believed that in the back of his mind his Eva would help him as well.
"I order you to stop now, we cannot allow unit-01 to become contaminated." Those around him could see for the first and only time fear on Gendo Ikari's face. 'I let him get to much freedom.'
"To hell with you, and your orders," Shinji switched off his link and forced launched his Eva to the surface. Finding Asuka writhing in pain under the beam of light he weighed his options. "Asuka can you hear me?"
Images of her mother, father, dolls, failure, pain, sadness, and the darkest images of her soul slowly started to erode the mental wall she built for herself. Shinji's voice cut through her mind like a saber. "S...Shinji is that you?"
"I'm going to get you out of that light, but it'll hurt. Brace yourself," Shinji informed his comrade and prepared himself as well. He only knew that the angel's attack had some sort of mental probe, and by the look on Asuka's face she wasn't going to last much longer before whatever the angel planned succeeded.
'Pain, I should be used to that.' Asuka lied to herself, she could feel the sick and foreign presence try to drill deeper into her mind. "If you're going to do something do it NOW BAKA!"
Rei, having overheard the whole conversation between her fellow pilots drove forth a reckless pace. If it were only Asuka in danger she wouldn't have acted as she was now. Neglecting to fire the damping jets to slow her decent into terminal dogma, breaking open doors, and tearing the lance out with excessive force Rei didn't care. 'Shinji is in danger now and I cannot allow that.'
Back on the surface Shinji willed his unit to charge Asuka's. Diving at the red mecha, the purple behemoth crashed into the midsection of Unit-02 so hard that both Units slide three city blocks away from site of attack. Buildings crumbled and streets destroyed. When the two entangled mecha hit the ground tremors rippled the underground safety bunkers.
Asuka's safety came at the cost of more than five city blocks, but Shinji didn't care. "Asuka how are you now."
"How am I ... well I need an aspirin and for you to shut up and let me kill that thing." Her bravado was the only thing keeping her going. Her mind had just barely escaped total invasion, and the part that was touched wasn't happy memories either. "I want, no NEED to kill that thing now!"
Pulling Unit-02 and his own Unit-01 behind a large building that was still standing, Shinji hid from the roving 'search light' from the angel. "I don't think we can get to it. Father sent Rei to get some lance thing, maybe that is the only way to kill it."
"Wondergirl if you know what's good for you, you'll give me that damn lance or so help me I'll tear Shinji a new one when we get out of here!" Asuka was beyond mad at this point so she knew better than to threaten Rei directly. 'Know were to strike and your enemies won't have a chance."
'I've not been ordered to give her the lance, but in her possibly deranged state she could make well on her threat.' Rei chose her option and hurled the lance at the space by her fellow pilots. The blood red dual bladed lance impaled the street at Asuka's feet destroying the sewage and subway system in that area.
Asuka's will surged within her Eva and her mother's essence within responded to it. Her sync ratio surging beyond what she had held as her top marks, Asuka grasped the shaft of the lance and targeted her enemy. Bellowing a Germanic war cry Asuka launched the spear at the angel, and moments later the light went out.
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"Don't get to close to me you could get infected," Asuka said solemnly from behind the quarantine tape as she watched her mighty Eva descend into the earth.
Sliding under the tape as if it didn't exist, Shinji sat next to Asuka. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you." He tensed a moment when Asuka's head landed on his shoulder and her arms wrapped around him.
"Don't talk baka. Don't talk... just, just be here for me, ok?" She just sat there holding him and after a few minutes started crying. He held her as she cried, cried harder, and clutched him harder. Shinji just sat by her and did his best to comfort her, as a friend should.
After more than an hour of sitting together below the fading sun, Shinji turned to his distraught friend "Come home with me Asuka, this week was just to long with you gone."
Letting go of Shinji, Asuka smiled lightly at him. "I think... I will." As the two stood and walked slowly towards the nearest transport, Asuka could only cringe at the thought of what could have happened if Shinji hadn't again did his best to save her. Falling into a light walking slumber at Shinji's side, both teens felt at ease as yet another battle had ended, but little did they know that the damage the city had sustained would do much to alter their lives.
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Author notes
Yup Asuka was assaulted but was saved from the full affect. Kaji's fate is still a mystery. I'm getting closer to the end of this story, scary no? Well hope you liked it and I hope it wasn't to off kilter. And yes I actually used a few swear words! It's a first.
Things on my end are good and intend to keep them that way so hopefully writing will improve in time.
Thanks go out to all my pre-readers...you know who you are so I won't embarrass you by putting your names here
Ja Mata
Zentrodie )
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Omake!!
Dropping her school bag on the floor, Shinobu drifted over to her bed and fell heavily upon it. The need for rest washing over her, her whole body seemed to cry out at once. "I spoke to Haruka-san on the stairs."
Finding her faith in Shinobu sorely tested, Kitsune chose not to make any firm beliefs until she heard the whole story. "So why didn't you call us?"
Shinobu just looked at Kitsune for a moment. "Well Misato-san came home and was very distraught so Shinji and I thought we needed to cheer her up."
"Cheer her up, how could you do that?" The look of total fatigue but happiness on Shinobu's face started to worry Kitsune.
"Well Shinji was kinda against the idea I had until I pulled it out. Then he was all for it." Shinobu said as she pulled off her socks and tossed them in the corner that held all her 'to do' laundry.
Kitsune couldn't be hearing this right, Shinobu couldn't have, not with Shinji and his guardian. "And she was ok with this?"
"She had her problems with it and our age differences at first but once Shinji and she got started she was all over the place. She even taught us a few things." Shinobu giggled a little.
Feeling faint Kitsune fell heavily on Shinobu's bed. "I don't believe it, I seriously don't believe it!"
"Shinji and Misato-san were so much better than him and me. They seemed to be totally in sync. I wonder if they did it before last night." Shinobu puzzled as Kitsune's face dropped.
"And you have no problem with that! What the hell type of relationship do you two have anyway!" Kitsune shouted in Shinobu's face.
"Why should I have trouble with them playing DDR? Shinji really is a demon on that game. What did you think I meant Kitsune-sempai...Kitsune-sempai?"
Kitsune chose not to respond as her mind had left her body, it was miles away from Hinata right now.
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Zentrodie: Now that one I liked.
Golden Kitsune: I thought you were going to say they had a three way!
Zen: I pulled the old switch joke. Its funnier this way cause its only as perverted as the reader.
GK: You know most fanfiction readers right?
Zen: I like to think people are better than that.
GK: You live in your own lil happy place don't you?
Zen: Well maybe I did lay on the fake innuendo pretty thick.
GK: I won't even talk about it. Now about that Shinji/Shinobu lemon have you chosen an author to write it for you yet...
Wow I keep trying to get to writing but every time I sit down to do it something comes up. Work calling me in, friends calling me out, family stuff but not today! Well not yet at least . Sorry for the delay and hope you enjoy the chapter.
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Out of Disaster Chapter 19 – Coming Apart
While the sun was just beginning its tireless journey toward the heavens, another fatigued traveler was just making her way home. Stopping at the steps that lead up to her home, Shinobu let out a heavy sigh. Rubbing her eyes with her fingers, she wasn't sure if what she was seeing was real or just an illusion made by her sleep deprived mind.
"Haruka-san?" She asked softly over the crisp morning air. A large part of the girl had been hoping that she was just seeing things, she really didn't want to have to do any explaining before getting some sleep.
Sadly for Shinobu, Haruka was real, and she was real pissed off. "Welcome home Shinobu, did you have a nice night?" The cigarette dancing from her lip while she spoke dazzled Shinobu as it seemed to dance. By this point everybody in Hinata lodge knew about Shinji and Shinobu's potential relationship, and where the young girl most likely had been the previous night.
Still marveling at the glowing embers prancing about Haruka's face, Shinobu offered a short head nod. "It was ok. To be honest it could have been a lot better." Memories of the grief stricken Misato flashed by the young girl's eyes.
Astonished by the child's open declaration, Haruka gapped at Shinobu. 'Doesn't she know what I was alluding too?' Letting the dying smoke fall from her lips, the aging Urashima replaced it with a fresh one from her pack. "First time always does hurt doesn't it?"
When Shinobu just looked vacantly at her, Haruka just shook her head, "I'm disappointed in you Shinobu. I thought you were more intelligent than that. What are the others going to say?"
Had she not been up all night helping Shinji console and watch over his guardian, Shinobu would have easily grasped Haruka's insinuations. Sleep deprivation however didn't usually make one's wits sharper. "Why are you disappointed Haruka-san?"
Taking Shinobu's question as defiance, Haruka's eyes widened. "You're only fifteen Shinobu! You're way to young to be having sex." Haruka felt a little like opening a bottle of sake and trying to wash this memory from her mind.
Her face draining instantly of all color, Shinobu just stared at Haruka. Her hands covered her mouth as she shook her head violently in negation. "Haruka-san! Wh...why are you saying I did that?"
It was Shinobu's physical reaction that really spoke to Haruka. "You mean you didn't? Then why didn't you come home last night?"
Trying to calm her already frazzled nerves, Shinobu informed Haruka about her whereabouts the previous night and her reason for not coming home. Letting out a laugh and releasing her growing worry, Haruka smiled. "I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. I don't know what you plan for today but I suggest you do get some sleep."
Taking a small look up at the lodge, "I plan to, but I'm sure you're not the only one that wants to 'talk' to me." Giving the smoking woman a wave, Shinobu started her assent again knowing that no matter how she wanted sleep, Haruka was just the first confrontation.
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Standing over a travesty of nature that she intended the rest of her family to eat, Naru prepared breakfast. Being the only resident not outwardly panicking, or in Su's case oblivious, about Shinobu's absence it was her duty to cook. Naru's mind, if one could see it, was as black as the food she was burning. 'She is in so much trouble when she gets back. I warned her about perverts!'
Kitsune, in an attempt to calm things down and her own doubts, took her seat at the table. "Maybe they just watched a movie and fell asleep on the couch or something. You know silly kid things." She didn't believe that though, not after the look she saw in the girl's eyes after the encounter at the hospital. 'Shinobu is beyond little kid dating games, and that boy is as well.'
"Then why didn't she call? Why didn't we hear a word from her all night?" the angry cook asked as she tried to scrape some burnt eggs off the bottom of her wok. Each passing minute only increased Naru's anger and worry.
Taking his seat at the table next to Kitsune, Keitaro downed a cup of tea. Having heard the talk between Kitsune and Shinobu and their plan, he wasn't any better than the rest. "Should we go over there and get her, do we know his phone number?"
Motoko, now flanking Kitsune, let out a sigh of defeat. "I tried phoning Ikari-kun's residence. Nobody answered." Motoko didn't know what to think. Having spent time with both Shinji and Shinobu she doubted either would have moved so quickly, 'but he is a man, maybe I was mistaken about him.'
Loading up the plates around the table with food, Naru left the room to call Su, Sarah, and Nyamo to eat. Those at the table just looked at the so- called breakfast and cried over Shinobu's absence. Kitsune, pushing her place away, and got up from her place, "I think I'll go check the stairwell again. Maybe she's on her way."
Both Motoko and Keitaro looked defeated, they planned the same maneuver but were beaten to the punch. "If you see her call us ok?" Keitaro said as he slowly started moving food to his mouth. Then the food was shoved in as well as the chopstick as Su kicked him in the back of the head announcing her arrival.
Smiling at Su's antics, Kitsune was momentarily relieved of her self- imposed worry. 'It was my idea that she go over to his place. I'm partly responsible for whatever happened or happens.' Approaching the front door she just prayed that Shinobu wasn't going to be a young mother.
Her walk to the front stairs was cut short at the door. Spying the young cook trying, albeit poorly, to sneak into the house unseen, Kitsune stopped her advance. "Welcome home Shinobu," Kitsune drawled out.
Like a frightened animal, Shinobu froze in place, her hand just away from the doorknob. Slowly almost mechanically, Shinobu turned to face her executioner. "Hello Kitsune-sempai." It was a small relief that it was Kitsune that found her and not Naru or Motoko, Shinobu rationalized.
"Have a pleasant evening did you?" the adult part of Kitsune asked. Torn by her own inner nature applauding Shinobu for being bold enough to take action, to take the initiative. A tiny part of Kitsune was actually jealous of the girl, many times in the past if she had acted on her feelings her life would have been better. But now wasn't the time for congratulations. "Anything to say for yourself?"
Peering over Kitsune's shoulder, Shinobu gestured toward the staircase that lead to her room. If they had to talk so soon she'd rather talk to just one person and hopefully be freed of any other sleep stealing questions. Catching Shinobu's idea, Kitsune followed the young girl to her room as silently as possible. She owed the girl that much for giving her the idea.
Dropping her school bag on the floor, Shinobu drifted over to her bed and fell heavily upon it. The need for rest washing over her, her whole body seemed to cry out at once. "I spoke to Haruka-san on the stairs, so I'll just say one thing before we start. Shinji and I didn't do anything."
Finding her faith in Shinobu sorely tested, Kitsune chose not to make any firm beliefs until she heard the whole story. "So you just slept at his house and nothing happened at all. So why didn't you call us?"
Shinobu hoped Kitsune would have believed her without needing to go into the whole story, but she couldn't be upset at her for not. Forcing her body into a seated position at the edge of her bed she cleared her thought. "Well saying nothing happened is a little much too I guess. We were..." Shinobu's face burst with color as she realized she had to tell Kitsune that they were 'making out.'
Switching roles to 'big sister' Kitsune sat next to the young girl. "You were what Shinobu?" Kitsune's brain swarmed with a plethora of possible 'what if' scenarios. Most of which would have sent both Shinji and Shinobu into bouts of hysterics.
With another deep breath, "We were kinda making out in his room for awhile. Part of me," Shinobu paused to reaffirm the truth to herself, "part of me really wanted to. To really 'be' with him."
Kitsune could feel the 'but' coming, while she was shocked to hear of Shinobu's honest intent for the night she could already tell that whatever Shinobu said here was the honest truth. "But what happened then?" The fear that he rejected her advance appeared into Kitsune's mind.
"Well he broke off and said he wanted something to drink, I was really thirsty too," Shinobu seemed to calm down as she spoke. "Next thing I heard was the door opening and Katsuragi-san yelling out she was home."
Kitsune didn't miss the factoid that prior to this point in Shinobu's dialogue the two of them were alone. "What happened when she got home?"
Shinobu's face turned to Kitsune and conveyed a deep sense of sadness. "It gets confusing here but from what Shinji told me, she got some sort of phone message and started crying." Shaking her head as if to correct herself Shinobu restated, "More like sobbing, she kept saying that 'he's dead' so the rest of the night Shinji and I kept an eye on her to you know...make sure she didn't do anything."
'And here we thought it was...who are the perverted ones here?' Kitsune chastised herself as well as the other Hinata residents. "I'm sorry Shinobu, you were doing something very noble and we thought you were a lil pervert," the playful tone back in Kitsune's voice.
Before Shinobu could thank Kitsune, her door burst open and the other Hinata residents spilled onto the floor. Su dove towards Shinobu smiling and calling her a little pervert, Nyamo blushed softly and asked if it were true, and Keitaro, Naru, and Motoko just looked embarrassed for being caught.
Grabbing Su by the shirt collar, Kitsune prodded everybody out of Shinobu's room and left herself after telling Shinobu, "Get some sleep kid, you earned it." Shinobu didn't need to be told twice and was out like a light a few minutes later.
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While Shinobu slept the majority of her class was gathering for yet another day of class. Seated next to Hikari, Asuka waited patiently for either Shinobu or Shinji to arrive so she could hound them for details. Hikari, while just as excited about learning about their friends' day was less dramatic, she was in point of fact very tired. Asuka had taken to playing her game system before bed and kept her up for most of the night.
"Where are they already class is going to start soon?" Asuka asked to equally uninformed Hikari. She was so proud of her plan she just had to hear how it turned out. 'Only question was whether Misato got my message or not.'
Trying to keep her head off of the desk and away from the moments sleep it offered, Hikari asked, "Should we butt into their private life Asuka? I want Shinobu to be happy to but isn't this a bit much?"
Watching a few more students walk into the room, Rei being one of them, Asuka followed the blue haired girl's movements with rapt attention. "If we left this to Shinobu, Rei would have that baka wrapped around her finger. Do you want that?" Images of Rei crying as Shinobu and Shinji danced around her flashed in Asuka's mind and she smiled. 'Shinobu's much better suited for him.'
Almost reading Asuka's mind, Hikari pried, "You've been awfully nice to Shinji-kun lately. Are you sure you're not doing this for him?" Hikari was rewarded with a pencil bouncing off her forehead. Being one of the few people that knew how to quietly manipulate Asuka, Hikari chuckled lightly.
Asuka didn't take the joke to well and went on a tirade of how she didn't care about that baka and this was all for Shinobu, Hikari didn't buy it for one second. 'You talk in your sleep Asuka-chan, so I know all about what's on your mind,' Hikari thought a little sadly. If Shinobu hadn't shown up Hikari thought it could have been Asuka and Rei vying for the shy boy's affection.
More students arrived and still no sign of Shinji or Shinobu was seen, so when class started and their seats were still vacant, a new sense entered the spectators mind. Touji and Kensuke had their own opinions on the matter as well. Hikari informed Touji about Asuka's plan and he told Kensuke. So when lunch came, the four of them found themselves eating together in the cafeteria.
"So what's the deal Red? What happened with Shinji?" Touji asked as he sat next to his, unknown to the others, girlfriend Hikari. Catching the apple she threw this time, Touji started to eat it.
Scrunching her nose up in minute frustration Asuka sank into her chair at the lunch table. "How should I know what's going on?"
From the safety of his camera, Kensuke zoomed in on Asuka's face. "Word has it this little set up was your idea. So you think it went as you planned?"
"Put the camera away Kensuke," Hikari scolded before opening her can of soda. She heard rumors from the older students that when a boy and girl don't show up the next day to class that they shared more than just space. "You don't think that they...do you?"
The smile that ran across Touji's face insured those that were listening, that what Touji said next wasn't going to be easy on the ears. "I bet they did! Shin-man was the first of us, who'd have thought of that!"
Kensuke prayed he didn't hear Touji say the words he thought he did, but by the color in Asuka's face, that his camera was still on, proved him wrong. The redhead's palm flew across the table and belted the jock across the cheek. Kensuke, in this instance, agreed with Asuka. "Touji, you baka this is serious."
"I'm being serious too!" Touji said in his own defense. "What else could have happened? He's not here she's gone to. We know she went over to his place. Red even set it up so they'd be alone. What else can we think happened?"
Much as she'd like to refute him, Asuka had to admit Touji had a point though it irritated her to no end. She had set things up for the two of them, but she didn't expect such a large result though. "I don't know, he maybe a pervert but I don't think he do that so soon." Asuka's voice conveyed a lot more than just her words.
Nearly dropping his camera, Kensuke was astonished, "Is the devil showing concern for a mere mortal. Has Shinji got an ace up his sleeve if things go bad?"
"Kensuke stop it!" Hikari wasn't about to let Asuka's feelings be tread on now. They had more important things to discuss. "Should we go over after class gets out? You know talk to them and see what happened?"
Showing is ability to switch off his immaturity Touji wouldn't allow it. "We don't know what happened, and that means anything could have. I don't want to press them on any of this. If they did they'll have to deal with it and they don't need us prying. If they didn't then we'd look really foolish."
Asuka and Hikari looked at the boy, Hikari with praise, Asuka in astonishment. Kensuke, smiling patted him on the back, "Well said buddy, well said."
Switching back too immature, "And I want Shinji to be all nervous and fidgety when he tells us about his encounter!" The jock was then pelted with leftovers, as his last comment wasn't well received.
Listening intently to the groups' conversation from a discreet distance away, Rei gathered her things. She had not anticipated such a maneuver nor had she expected Asuka to side with Shinobu and plot behind her. 'I will see what has happened myself.' Walking out of the cafeteria and then the school, Rei headed towards Shinji's home. 'I wish to be the one that becomes 'one' with Shinji. If she is there when I arrive then she will be dealt with.'
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Pulling the bow across his cello, Shinji let his mind drift with the music he made. The last two days had done somewhat of a number on him emotionally. After Misato's return the previous night, Shinji was waiting for a chance to be alone to think. He was very grateful that Shinobu was over to help him tend to Misato however.
Said woman had left for work under an hour ago. She had thanked Shinji for being there for her, and for cooking lunch when he looked dead tired. Misato looked better to Shinji than the night before, but he could still see traces of red in her eyes, he just wondered what Kaji had said to Misato before she tore the phone off of the wall.
'Things just can't stay peaceful for long here can they?' the boy mused as he made a mental note to get another phone to replace the pieces of broken plastic they now had. He also couldn't forget what had happened prior to Misato's return. Banishing such thoughts from his mind he started to play Pachelbel's Cannon in D again. 'What do I do now? Things can't go back to the way they were between us now, and what about Rei... I guess their won't be a simple solution to this.'
His solitude didn't last long as the doorbell chimed. Looking at his watch that read seven minutes after one, he had no idea who it could be visiting at this time. 'Must be Misato's friend or something.' Leaning his cello against the chair and putting his bow by it, he headed to the door. Pulling the door open he was greeted by a confused looking Rei. "R...Rei what are you doing here?"
Honestly she didn't know. She had debated her actions the entire walk over. If she found Shinobu at his home she would have taken drastic action. If she wasn't, but with the words of Shinji's friends ringing in her ear it didn't matter, she didn't know what to do. "Shinji-kun may I come in?"
Having one of his problems walk right into his apartment, Shinji stood dumbfounded, then stood to the side. "Sure come in Rei. Shouldn't you be in school?"
Her voice conveying a sense of both worry and humor, "As you should be as well, if I am correct." She walked past him and directly into the living room. Her eyes' surveying the domicile for any sign that Shinobu was there or if any act had occurred. "You were playing the cello?"
Having never told Rei about his musical abilities, and still a little shocked at her direct nature Shinji nodded. "Yeah after what happened yesterday I needed to get my mind off of things." Shinji watched as Rei plucked the bow off the chair and sat behind his instrument. "Do...do you play?" The surreal element had yet to wear off of him.
"I play the viola," her hand drew the bow across the strings producing a screech that was almost music but not quite. "It is different to play the cello." Her eyes fixed on him, as she seemed to be almost holding his cello hostage.
'What is she doing here?' Shinji thought, not that he minded her being there, far from it in fact he really wanted to talk to her. "I haven't tried the viola, we should play together sometime."
Nodding, Rei drew the bow again but this time the sound was a solid note, "You said something happened last night, would you mind telling me what that was?" Her eyes held a hint of accusation.
"Well," Shinji didn't know how to proceed. Telling her about Shinobu's visit was the truth but Misato was the main cause of his discomfort. Feeling Rei's eyes burning into him he knew he had to tell her something, and not being able to lie to her, he opted for the truth. It was an edited version of the truth however.
Shinji's narrative included Shinobu's visit, leaving out the time in his bedroom, then he told Rei about Misato's arrival and the events that followed. The crying, the hugging, the broken phone, and the watching over her as she slept. "So I stayed home to keep an eye on her and because I was just too tired to go to school."
Judging the story that she was just told to the information that Rei had regarding one Ryoji Kaji, Rei nodded. Putting the bow back on the ground she slid out from behind the instrument. "I am relieved to hear that."
'Relieved! How can she be relieved about Misato's crisis?' Shinji's face depicted his confusion. Letting Rei guide him back to his cello as she seated him behind it. "What do you mean?"
Ashamed of her doubting him, Rei's head sank. "I over heard rumors at school. The consensus was that you and Maehara-kun had sexual intercourse and that was the reason for your not attending school today." She finished by placing the bow into Shinji's open hand. "Could you...play for me?"
His own embarrassment about the rumors subsiding, Shinji was already sure Asuka was going to have something to say to him. Brushing off the negative feelings, he smiled at Rei, "What would you like to hear?"
It didn't matter to her, because whatever he played he was playing for her. And that made her happy. She made a few recommendations for him to play and sank into the couch as he played. The music, and his feelings, washed over hear. It was soft, pleasant, and soothing, but it had a hint of worry. 'He is still confused.' Rei couldn't help but feel stilted. She wanted him and she had thought her efforts would have been reciprocated by now, but thanks to the other girl that hadn't happened.
After a solid hour of playing, Shinji put his cello away. "I know I'm not that good but thank you for listening." Looking at the DVD player's time readout, and feeling his own stomach rumbling. "Did you eat lunch before you came over?"
Having neglected her own eating ritual in lieu of listening to the rumor mill during lunch, Rei informed Shinji that she hadn't. "Care to go out with me and get a bite to eat then? I'd cook for us but I used up the remaining food stock for Misato's breakfast."
'This is what is called a date, I've always...' Standing up from her relaxing spot on the couch, "I'd enjoy that."
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Even though they should have been in school, the pair didn't receive a single question from the waiter/cook when they sat down at the ramen stand. Shinji couldn't believe the odd twist of fate that lead him to this spot. 'Whenever I think I'm about to make a choice something like this happens to make me doubt my feelings again.'
Rei had dazzled him with her improved social skills that he alone saw. Showing him a smile on occasion, Ritsuko's words about how men love smiling girls appeared in her mind, but she wasn't smiling as an act, she genuinely wanted to smile for him. "Thank you Shinji for taking me out."
Realization that this was in fact a type of date, Shinji blushed. "It's no problem at all I enjoyed being with you," looking at her face Shinji was reminded of how soft her features truly were. Under the awing of the ramen stand basking in the soft sunlight Rei's features were blazing. 'She looks like a porcelain doll, like those pictures that portray 'traditional Japanese beauty.'
Noticing how Shinji was staring at her, "Is something wrong?" She tilted her head quizzically.
Thanking the cook for the food, Shinji turned back to Rei. "I just," he stopped again and swallowed, "Never noticed how beautiful you are." He meant it of course. She was beautiful to him, it was a different beauty than he saw in Shinobu, but it was just as radiant, just as endearing.
His compliment went over well as Rei's capillaries exploded. Having never heard such compliment Rei didn't know how to react. 'I'll have to ask Ritsuko when I see her.' Eating some of her noodles, she looked over at the very embarrassed Shinji. "Thank you Shinji."
With her words of gratitude, the pair settled into a very comfortable silence. They spoke every so often but just enjoyed one another's company. As they neared the bottom of their bowls, Rei's cell phone rang out in annoyance. In his mind, Shinji could have sworn he saw a grimace on her face.
Standing up and walking out from the small diner, Rei answered phone. "Ayanami speaking." Shinji listened and wondered if it was an angel, but thought if it were his phone would have rang too. "I am eating." Shinji continued to listen to Rei's side of the conversation. "I am with Sh...Ikari- kun."
That made Shinji more puzzled, who could she be talking to that she had to change his way of speaking about him. His thought for a moment was that during his 'absence' she made a friend or two. "Is that required?"
Paying for the food, Shinji turned to watch Rei talk. "No, I have plans." Shinji noticed how Rei's face darkened again. "I am going to spend the day with Shinji." For the moment Shinji didn't mind that she had spoken for him, he was enjoying the time with her anyway. "No Commander, I will not. Goodbye." With that she hung up the phone and returned it to her pocket.
'She was talking to... father! She told him no! What is going on here?' Shinji tried to fathom but couldn't. "Was it important?" Shinji asked stupidly.
Part of her dual nature would have vastly disagreed, but to the human part. "No it didn't matter. Shall we return to your apartment?"
Feeling as if he was missing a big piece of a puzzle that was just beyond his grasp, Shinji just nodded and lead Rei back to his apartment. Where the two of them watched a little television, Shinji played his cello a little more, and as the time for Asuka's return drew near Rei excused herself and left after giving Shinji a rather long and passionate kiss on her way out.
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Slamming his phone down in frustration, Gendo wasn't happy at all. "She refused me! She can't refuse me!"
"Calm down, she can't refuse her heritage when the time comes," Kozo coaxed. He never liked seeing Gendo angry. And Kozo knew that only bad things happened when Gendo got mad. "Maybe Ritsuko has found a way of purging the dummy plug of the excess emotions and she can be replaced."
Pushing his glasses back up his nose, Gendo had all intentions of replacing Rei, regardless of the state of the dummy plug. "I will not allow insubordination. She will die soon enough. If she disobeys again she'll be replaced before her battle with the sixteenth."
Fear made itself manifest in Kozo's body. He couldn't believe that Gendo was going to replace Rei just for one word. 'What have we done. This man is insane.' But that man knew what was going on and nobody else at Nerv did. "Just wait for the time to come. If we act rashly Rei's origins, and maybe her purpose could be discovered."
"You're right, call Doctor Akagi and tell her to meet me at the core of the dummy plug," Gendo stood and left after his dictation.
Knowing full well that Gendo was going to take his aggression out on Ritsuko in a perverse mockery of love making, he sadly called the doctor and told her. 'If she turns out to betray us I won't hold it against her.'
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Time, as it was, picked up its monotonous pace for the lives of those in Tokyo-3. Returning to school after his month long absence, Shinji found a lot had changed, but plenty had stayed the same.
Try as he might, Touji wasn't able to keep his relationship with Hikari secret from Shinji. After a brief session of Shinji apologizing for the scar that ran the length of Touji's leg, Touji let it slip that he was getting plenty of assistance from Hikari so Shinji needn't worry.
Kensuke, who had most of the month's highlights on tape, did a great deal of filling in for the pilot. Said boy hadn't done much personal changing over the time gone, but he didn't mind that in the least. "Its more fun to laugh at you guys in your romantic endeavors than try to have my own... for right now mind you." A rye-raised eyebrow said much.
During school Shinji was torn again between Shinobu and Rei. Both girls stopped putting up the pretense of false friendship and were openly hostile to one another. Shinobu insisted that they all eat together as a big group as she knew Rei wouldn't eat with all of them. Rei took her time with him where she could find it. Mostly she spent an hour or two with him prior to class or during a free period.
Asuka and Hikari did their bit to help Shinobu, who seemed totally different in regards to Shinji now. Gone was the meek girl that burst into hysterics, not that she still didn't, but when the issue of Shinji and Rei rose she was all steel.
Outside of school things were much the same. Shinobu would occasionally visit Shinji for some help on homework, recipes, or just to hang out. Asuka couldn't be happier when Shinobu came over. Rei stole all of Shinji's time at Nerv. During sync tests, drills, or exercises the two were inseparable. Rei now knowing that Asuka was against her found a little flaw in the comm. systems and blocked the red head from listening or interacting in any of the sessions the two shared. This infuriated the red head even more.
Yes everything was slowly moving forward towards an eventual clash between Shinobu and Rei to finally decide who would take Shinji's heart. Through the coarse of the week everything was mostly normal, if not a little hectic for Shinji. That was until Asuka's scores started to slip.
By mid-week her scores were dropping at an alarming percentage, and Misato telling Asuka to try harder didn't help. Shinji tried to calm Asuka, but when the German accused Misato of driving Kaji away things went sour. Asuka claimed that it was Misato's fault that Kaji left the country, the cover Misato gave her for the man's disappearance.
Misato countered that it wasn't her fault and that Asuka was just using Kaji as a scapegoat for her failing scores. Asuka yelled, as did Misato. The end result was.
"Do you really have to go Asuka?" asked the growing in depression Shinji as he saw the girl packing her bags.
Shoving some cloths in a duffle bag, Asuka rounded to face the boy. "She insulted me. She's trying to tell me I'm not good enough to pilot! I don't even want to have kids but on top of that this damn period is causing me nothing but trouble!"
Asuka's delicate way of telling Shinji her problem resulted in a blush and an apology. "Don't apologize baka, not like you did this to me." Asuka sat down on her bed and patted next to her so Shinji would join her. "Its just I need time away from her. Regroup so to speak."
Finding the spot next to her slightly warm and very comfortable, Shinji wrapped a supportive arm around Asuka. "You don't have to crush her to win. Just keep trying. I know you can do it. I believe in you Asuka."
Old memories of hating being treated as she was surged deep in her, but she did her best to squash them. 'This isn't so bad once you get used to it.' She felt his arm and relaxed a bit more. He wasn't looking down on her, she knew that now, he was doing his best to help her, to be her friend. "I will keep trying and I will be the best again, you can count on that. So wipe that sad smirk off your face now. I'm not dying and I'll be back you can count on that!"
He knew she was telling the truth but he worried nonetheless, "So Hikari said it was ok for you to stay over?"
Zipping her last bag shut she looked around her room for anything she was forgetting. "She said I could stay as long as I need. So I'm sure her dad and her sisters know about it."
"It's going to be quiet without you here. Take care of yourself ok?" Asuka could feel the sense of almost abandonment from him.
Guilt welled in her chest. She wanted to help him for all Shinji had done for her but she was leaving him. For a moment she just stopped and pressed her forehead to his. Asuka felt his forehead growing hot because he got embarrassed. Closing her eyes Asuka just reveled in the rather intimate position they were in. "Worry about yourself baka. You have a lot more problems than I do right now."
Shinji felt himself agreeing with Asuka, even saw himself doing it but it felt like a dream to him. He saw her getting off the bed and putting her backpack on and lifting her duffle bag. He could almost feel things around them changing. Getting darker, colder, but he didn't know why. He just knew that he was afraid for her. "Good bye Asuka."
"Bye Shinji," Asuka smiled at him and left the apartment for Hikari's. That was the last time Shinji saw her aside from at a sync test before the next angel attacked.
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"Asuka watch out, we don' t know what type of attacks that thing has." Misato ordered from her place in the secondary command center. She still was not on good terms with the second child, Misato had a sick feeling of satisfaction when she saw Asuka's ratio was lower that it had previously been.
From his place on the launch pad, Shinji was tense and agitated. 'Why won't they let me out there?' His Eva still under cryofreeze. "Misato can I please be sent up, something doesn't seem right."
Flipping her comm. channel to his frequency, Asuka laughed at him. "What you don't think us girls can fight without you? Let me show you a thing or two third child!" Lining up her shot, Asuka discharged her rifle at the orbital assailant.
Maya registered the hits as deflected. "Its still to high in the atmosphere for Asuka to hit it. Maybe Ayanami can with more long distance weaponry." Taking that as her signal for action, Rei fired a modified version of a sniper rifle at the angel, with the same results.
Having its defenses tested, the angel opted to move to a more offensive post and target the closest offender. Unit-02 was bathed in light and Asuka screamed. "GET OUT, GET OUT OF... MY HEAD Oh my GOD! IT'S COMING INTO MY MIND!"
Hearing the techies crying about how Asuka's readings were going haywire and hearing his father order Rei to get some type of lance, Shinji powered up his mecha. 'I'll be damned if I sit here and do nothing.'
"Pilot Ikari you are to stand down now." It was his father. Gendo had expected some minor troubles with his son, but had no worries about quelling them.
"And let that thing rape Asuka's mind?" Shinji used the term he just heard Asuka scream over her comm. link. Slamming his fists onto the stirrups Shinji wouldn't stand for it.
"Increase pressure to Unit-01's entry plug to stop his tirade." Gendo looked at Ritsuko who with sluggish motions moved and carried out his order.
Shinji however didn't go down this time. "I've been practicing father," though his voice was strained Shinji looked fine. "After that last bout I'm not going to lose this time, not to you, I'm not going to let Asuka suffer anymore." He also believed that in the back of his mind his Eva would help him as well.
"I order you to stop now, we cannot allow unit-01 to become contaminated." Those around him could see for the first and only time fear on Gendo Ikari's face. 'I let him get to much freedom.'
"To hell with you, and your orders," Shinji switched off his link and forced launched his Eva to the surface. Finding Asuka writhing in pain under the beam of light he weighed his options. "Asuka can you hear me?"
Images of her mother, father, dolls, failure, pain, sadness, and the darkest images of her soul slowly started to erode the mental wall she built for herself. Shinji's voice cut through her mind like a saber. "S...Shinji is that you?"
"I'm going to get you out of that light, but it'll hurt. Brace yourself," Shinji informed his comrade and prepared himself as well. He only knew that the angel's attack had some sort of mental probe, and by the look on Asuka's face she wasn't going to last much longer before whatever the angel planned succeeded.
'Pain, I should be used to that.' Asuka lied to herself, she could feel the sick and foreign presence try to drill deeper into her mind. "If you're going to do something do it NOW BAKA!"
Rei, having overheard the whole conversation between her fellow pilots drove forth a reckless pace. If it were only Asuka in danger she wouldn't have acted as she was now. Neglecting to fire the damping jets to slow her decent into terminal dogma, breaking open doors, and tearing the lance out with excessive force Rei didn't care. 'Shinji is in danger now and I cannot allow that.'
Back on the surface Shinji willed his unit to charge Asuka's. Diving at the red mecha, the purple behemoth crashed into the midsection of Unit-02 so hard that both Units slide three city blocks away from site of attack. Buildings crumbled and streets destroyed. When the two entangled mecha hit the ground tremors rippled the underground safety bunkers.
Asuka's safety came at the cost of more than five city blocks, but Shinji didn't care. "Asuka how are you now."
"How am I ... well I need an aspirin and for you to shut up and let me kill that thing." Her bravado was the only thing keeping her going. Her mind had just barely escaped total invasion, and the part that was touched wasn't happy memories either. "I want, no NEED to kill that thing now!"
Pulling Unit-02 and his own Unit-01 behind a large building that was still standing, Shinji hid from the roving 'search light' from the angel. "I don't think we can get to it. Father sent Rei to get some lance thing, maybe that is the only way to kill it."
"Wondergirl if you know what's good for you, you'll give me that damn lance or so help me I'll tear Shinji a new one when we get out of here!" Asuka was beyond mad at this point so she knew better than to threaten Rei directly. 'Know were to strike and your enemies won't have a chance."
'I've not been ordered to give her the lance, but in her possibly deranged state she could make well on her threat.' Rei chose her option and hurled the lance at the space by her fellow pilots. The blood red dual bladed lance impaled the street at Asuka's feet destroying the sewage and subway system in that area.
Asuka's will surged within her Eva and her mother's essence within responded to it. Her sync ratio surging beyond what she had held as her top marks, Asuka grasped the shaft of the lance and targeted her enemy. Bellowing a Germanic war cry Asuka launched the spear at the angel, and moments later the light went out.
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"Don't get to close to me you could get infected," Asuka said solemnly from behind the quarantine tape as she watched her mighty Eva descend into the earth.
Sliding under the tape as if it didn't exist, Shinji sat next to Asuka. "I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you." He tensed a moment when Asuka's head landed on his shoulder and her arms wrapped around him.
"Don't talk baka. Don't talk... just, just be here for me, ok?" She just sat there holding him and after a few minutes started crying. He held her as she cried, cried harder, and clutched him harder. Shinji just sat by her and did his best to comfort her, as a friend should.
After more than an hour of sitting together below the fading sun, Shinji turned to his distraught friend "Come home with me Asuka, this week was just to long with you gone."
Letting go of Shinji, Asuka smiled lightly at him. "I think... I will." As the two stood and walked slowly towards the nearest transport, Asuka could only cringe at the thought of what could have happened if Shinji hadn't again did his best to save her. Falling into a light walking slumber at Shinji's side, both teens felt at ease as yet another battle had ended, but little did they know that the damage the city had sustained would do much to alter their lives.
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Author notes
Yup Asuka was assaulted but was saved from the full affect. Kaji's fate is still a mystery. I'm getting closer to the end of this story, scary no? Well hope you liked it and I hope it wasn't to off kilter. And yes I actually used a few swear words! It's a first.
Things on my end are good and intend to keep them that way so hopefully writing will improve in time.
Thanks go out to all my pre-readers...you know who you are so I won't embarrass you by putting your names here
Ja Mata
Zentrodie )
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Omake!!
Dropping her school bag on the floor, Shinobu drifted over to her bed and fell heavily upon it. The need for rest washing over her, her whole body seemed to cry out at once. "I spoke to Haruka-san on the stairs."
Finding her faith in Shinobu sorely tested, Kitsune chose not to make any firm beliefs until she heard the whole story. "So why didn't you call us?"
Shinobu just looked at Kitsune for a moment. "Well Misato-san came home and was very distraught so Shinji and I thought we needed to cheer her up."
"Cheer her up, how could you do that?" The look of total fatigue but happiness on Shinobu's face started to worry Kitsune.
"Well Shinji was kinda against the idea I had until I pulled it out. Then he was all for it." Shinobu said as she pulled off her socks and tossed them in the corner that held all her 'to do' laundry.
Kitsune couldn't be hearing this right, Shinobu couldn't have, not with Shinji and his guardian. "And she was ok with this?"
"She had her problems with it and our age differences at first but once Shinji and she got started she was all over the place. She even taught us a few things." Shinobu giggled a little.
Feeling faint Kitsune fell heavily on Shinobu's bed. "I don't believe it, I seriously don't believe it!"
"Shinji and Misato-san were so much better than him and me. They seemed to be totally in sync. I wonder if they did it before last night." Shinobu puzzled as Kitsune's face dropped.
"And you have no problem with that! What the hell type of relationship do you two have anyway!" Kitsune shouted in Shinobu's face.
"Why should I have trouble with them playing DDR? Shinji really is a demon on that game. What did you think I meant Kitsune-sempai...Kitsune-sempai?"
Kitsune chose not to respond as her mind had left her body, it was miles away from Hinata right now.
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Zentrodie: Now that one I liked.
Golden Kitsune: I thought you were going to say they had a three way!
Zen: I pulled the old switch joke. Its funnier this way cause its only as perverted as the reader.
GK: You know most fanfiction readers right?
Zen: I like to think people are better than that.
GK: You live in your own lil happy place don't you?
Zen: Well maybe I did lay on the fake innuendo pretty thick.
GK: I won't even talk about it. Now about that Shinji/Shinobu lemon have you chosen an author to write it for you yet...