Undiscovered Feelings Chapter 3

Transpose

Shinji opened the door to Misato's apartment as quietly as he could. He had every intention of avoiding all potential questions. His plan however fell through when PenPen greeted him at the door. The penguin had posted itself by the front door and shrieked loudly in anger as Shinji accidentally stepped on its toe.

"Shinji, is that you?"

He heard Misato's voice and then the sound of her socked feet stomping through the room. Misato's apartment was arranged so that the furniture in the living room was facing away from the front door. Shinji figured he could sneak by and make it safely to his room, which was located on the opposite side of the living room entrance.

"Shinji, where have you been?" Misato asked as she watched him take his shoes off.

"I was at a friend's house." Shinji answered vaguely as he saw Asuka approaching from the kitchen with some kind of juice in her hand. She had obviously already had a bath and was wearing a baggy yellow shirt, which hung to her knees and a pair of jogging shorts. She would normally have been in bed by now but was using Shinji's absence as an excuse to stay up later.

"A girl friend?" Asuka teased, blowing Shinji a kiss.

"Maybe." Shinji said with a grin as he walked into his room and closed his door. He kicked himself for saying anything because this would only serve to stir her curiosity.

"Maybe? Wha…What's that mean?" Asuka inquired. She knew she had heard him correctly, she also knew there was no way Shinji could get a girl, not a normal girl at least.

As Asuka began marching towards Shinji's door Misato cut her off.

"Shinji, I'm coming in."

By the time she came in he had already gotten in bed and was listening to his music. "Yes?" He answered pulling off his headphones.

"Who is this new friend of yours?"

"She's not a new friend, I've known her for a while now." He was trying to make her suffer as much as possible. Shinji could have easily lied and avoided the following conversation. The look on Misato's face from hearing who his "special friend" was would be too big an opportunity to pass up, so he decided to endure the questions.

"Who is it?" Misato pleaded.

"I'm not telling."

"Shinji, I am your superior officer and legal guardian. I am required by regulation to know all of your personal acquaintances." Misato said in her best authoritative voice. Seeing it was having no effect she changed her tone. "Please, please, please, Shinji! Please tell me!" she whined.

"Rei"

"Rei Ayanami?" Misato said stunned.

"Of course, what other Rei do you know?"

"That's so cute!" Misato exclaimed giving Shinji a hug. "My little Shinji's a man now, he's got a girlfriend."

"She…she's not my girlfriend…yet."

With her ear pressed against the thin door Asuka had listened to the whole conversation and couldn't quite accept what she had heard.

"Wondergirl and Shinji, how the hell did he manage to pull that one off?" Not only had he managed to get a girl, he managed to get the most unsociable girl she knew. With a demonic grin on her face she began to devise a plan for the next day at school, there was no way she was going to let him off this easy.

PenPen was totally unconcerned with the entire situation. In fact all he wanted was to be fed. After attempting several times to gain the attention of the Red Head he hobbled away hungry and with an injured toe convinced this was a form of animal cruelty.

(The Next Day)

"What the hell do you mean I was looking at your panties? For all I know you're not even wearing panties!" Toji yelled, irate from the accusation that he snuck a peek at Asuka as she bent over to pick up her dropped pencil. He in fact did look. He was upset that she had lied about catching him.

"Well how would you know whether or not I was wearing panties if you weren't looking?" Asuka yelled, inches from Toji's face.

"So, you mean you're not wearing panties?" Toji asked with a perverted grin.

"Ah…" Asuka was stunned. "That's not what I said!" She yelled as she turned and stormed out of the classroom.

Normally this heated of an argument would have attracted a large amount of attention; however the students were used to it and only laughed as they continued their lunches.

"The Asuka and Toji show" Shinji thought watching the two children bicker. As he looked around the room Shinji saw Hikari, the Class Rep. scrubbing the blackboard with a yellow sponge. She was straining to reach the top when Toji came over and cleaned the board himself.

"Th…thank you." Hikari said nervously.

"No big deal." Toji said as he walked back to where Kensuke was sitting.

Shinji watched as Hikari stood there with a slight smile on her face gazing at Toji as he walked away. Noticing she was being observed she jumped with embarrassment and walked quickly out of the classroom.

I wonder what that was all about, the clueless Shinji thought as he turned around and saw Rei looking about from student to student. She seemed to be paying special attention to a couple chatting happily on the opposite side of the classroom.

As Rei watched the couple she wondered if she and Shinji would be that happy. She noticed how the girl tugged playfully on her boyfriend's shirt as he acted like he didn't notice her. He turned around and flicked her lightly on the nose. Acting as if she was furious she slugged him in the arm, they both continued laughing. That's…confusing. They are together, but they are so unfriendly towards each other. I couldn't imagine Shinji hitting me like that, she thought to herself. She couldn't really imagine Shinji hitting anyone to tell the truth. This was part of the reason she felt for him the way she did. He was gentle. Although he was more of a cowardly, self-loathing type of gentle, he was gentle nonetheless, at least in her mind.

"Hello…Rei." Shinji said not sure if he should be using her first name. Shinji smiled as he walked up and took a seat next to Rei. Secretly hoping this time that the chair he was sitting in would make no embarrassing noises as he sat down. His hopes were crushed as the chair croaked loudly.

"Good afternoon, Shinji." Rei said in her usual monotone, either unaware of the sounds Shinji made every time he sat down or too kind to make a big deal about it. Shinji knew Rei would have no inhibitions toward asking him about the noise if she actually heard them, so he figured it was safe to assume they were all in his head.

Drawing a blank he decided on an easy topic of discussion. "So…ugh, how's school?" Shinji asked, rolling his eyes at the unoriginality of the theme he chose.

"No problems." She answered as she continued looking around the room.

"Ugh…so…about last…" Shinji had started to say before Rei cut him off.

"May I ask you a question?" Rei inquired turning her full attention to him.

He dreaded hearing her ask that question. It always meant she was going to ask something he was unprepared for. Perhaps she'd ask him to marry her. Shinji chuckled to himself. If she did propose he wouldn't have the heart to say no. He could imagine Rei and him living with Misato, borrowing money from his dad and having to deal with Asuka constantly berating both of them.

"Are we a couple?" Rei asked without changing her tone.

His face twitched a little and that was the only response he gave.

"Shinji?"

Not marriage but close, Shinji couldn't figure out where she came up with these show-stopping questions. He had never met a more direct person in his entire life. A normal girl would beat around the bush somewhat, commenting on the weather or something, not Rei, straight to the point.

"Wha…what?" was all he managed.

"Suzuhara explained to me that I had a "thing" for you and that we make a cute couple."

"T…Toji said that? I'll kill him." Shinji said only half kidding.

"Yes."

"Well what do you think about what he said?" Shinji asked, again being evasive.

"At first…I didn't know. Then I saw you staring at the Class Representative. This brought about yet another feeling I was unaccustomed to. I do not however know what this feeling is; only that it was not pleasant." She said as she averted her eyes. "I suppose he was correct."

Unless he was misunderstanding what she had said, Shinji was fairly certain Rei had experienced jealousy. Smiling to himself Shinji said, "Don't worry Rei, you have nothing to be jealous over."

"Jealous?" Questioned Rei cocking her head slightly to one side in one of those "What are you talking about" looks she did so well.

Asuka had reentered the classroom after her loss to Toji and was determined to find an easy target to even out the score. She selected her mark and took a seat behind Shinji and eagerly listened to their conversation. Lacking normal patience she was soon fed up with how slowly things were progressing, and decided she'd give the couple a nice violent shove in the right direction. "Oh brother, why don't you two just kiss already?" Asuka said, as she walked over and put her arm around Shinji's neck. "You remember, don't you Shinji? Wasn't I your first kiss? Tell her all about it, I'm sure she's just dying to hear how naughty you are." With that Asuka flicked Shinji's nose and stuck her tongue out at Rei then proceeded to walk away laughing triumphantly at a job well done.

"Hey Class Rep., isn't it against the rules not to wear panties while in school?" Toji yelled from the back of the classroom, his feet propped up on his desk.

The class shifted its wide-eyed attention from Toji then to Asuka then to each other as they began formulating rumors about the Red Head's lack of morals and decency.

"I'm wearing panties you idiot!" Asuka yelled back.

"Prove it!"

Needless to say, Asuka's little victory was thoroughly ruined.

"Is what she said true?" Rei asked with no noticeable emotion in her voice or on her face.

Shinji remembered when Asuka had dared him to kiss her. It was his first kiss. He remembered turning blue because she was holding his nose and how she had to brush her teeth afterwards because he was so horrible. Remembering correctly, he had just finished brushing his teeth and it was actually her breath that smelled like a cross between Diet Coke and peanut butter. It wasn't that great of an experience. Ashamed and embarrassed he looked away. "Yes, its true."

"I see."

"Rei, please don't be upset, it was a dare, I didn't feel for her…like I…like I feel for you." Shinji pleaded. "I…I'm sorry."

"Shinji…" Rei said staring at her desk. "If we were a couple…would you kiss me?"

Words couldn't begin to explain how relieved he was that Rei wasn't upset. He wanted to kiss her right now. He knew however that first Rei would freak out, second Asuka would kill him and thirdly…well after Asuka killed him, it wouldn't really matter because she would literally end his life.

"I…ugh…"

Rei looked up from the desk, the emotionless stare gone, her eyes pleading for a response.

"Yes…yes Rei, of course I would."

"I see." Rei said smiling.

She's showing a lot more emotion now, Shinji thought as he gazed at her. Each time she smiled it warmed Shinji's heart; it was like being given a special gift. He felt he could never get used to her smile; therefore it would always remain a treasure to him. Shinji really did wish he had the courage to tell her how he actually felt. It's too early in the story for that however.

"Did she just smile?" Toji asked Kensuke. The two were sitting on the other side of the classroom and had been watching ever since Asuka had intervened. The entire scene was bizarre because Rei was actually in normal conversation with Shinji. Kensuke could actually count, on one hand the number of words Rei had said to him since he'd met her.

"I…don't…know. No…no way." Kensuke stuttered.

"She did!" Toji said with a grin. "Hey, hey Shinji!"

Perturbed that he and Rei had been interrupted he turned back and yelled "What?"

"Come over here!"

"I'm busy, you come over here!" Shinji yelled back.

"Hey! Get over here!" Toji demanded.

"Damn it, Rei I'll be right back." He apologized. He considered making up an excuse about why he would just let someone call him like a pet dog, so as not to totally lose face, he gave up however and obediently walked over. If he were a dog, his tail would have been between his legs.

Rei only nodded and turned to look out of the window that was beside her desk. She was never really looking at anything in particular. If she had things her way she would just set her gaze inside the classroom but everyone seemed to have a problem when she stared at them blankly, Rei never understood quite why though.

Shinji walked over to Toji's desk with an annoyed look on his face. "What?" Shinji asked, obviously angered.

"Calm down, I just wanted to ask, are you dating Rei?"

The question shocked Shinji. He subconsciously hoped that no one would take notice that he was chatting happily with the most introverted girl in school. "Wh…why do you ask?"

"She just smiled for you." Toji pointed out.

"I've never seen her smile." Kensuke added.

"Well." Shinji muttered.

"Are you?" Toji begged.

"No, not really." Shinji answered with disappointment in his voice.

"Why's that?" Kensuke asked.

"I can't find the right time to ask her out." He explained with his head down, tail between his legs.

Laughing, Toji exclaimed, "Well you'd better hurry, I'm sure there's a ton of guys just waiting at her doorstep. I mean, you know how outgoing of a girl she is.", the sarcasm practically dripping off every word.

"Leave her alone." Shinji said, doing his best to sound tough, mean, and dangerous, and well anything that sounded unlike him. "She's a really good girl, I'd be lucky to have her."

Seeing he was serious Toji retracted his comment and apologized. However he wasn't done teasing him yet. "So you do like her, but you're scared to ask her out.

"I'm not scared!" Not really scared as much a petrified by the range of what her possible answers could be, considering this was Rei they were talking about.

"Then let's ask her out now. Hey Ayanami!" Toji yelled across the room.

Turning around from looking through the window at nothing, Rei's response was a barely audible. "Yes?"

Oh my God, what is he doing? Shinji thought as he just stood there like a deer frozen in the headlights of a speeding semi.

"Hey Ayanami, Shinji likes you." Toji yelled out.

"And you like him!" Kensuke giggled.

"…" Shinji couldn't move only his face twitched.

"…" Rei gave no vocal response. She just sat there blushing from ear to ear, staring at Shinji.

"So…if you two like each other, then you should start going o…" Toji couldn't finish the rest of his sentence. Shinji had come to his senses and had both his hands over Toji's mouth.

Good, she looks confused, maybe she didn't understand, Shinji thought looking over at Rei who had her head cocked to the side a little.

"Start going…" She mumbled with a dazed look.

"Ahh!" Shinji screamed in pain as Toji bit down on one of the fingers covering his mouth. At the same time Kensuke grabbed Shinji from behind and held his arms, giggling like a little girl.

Toji ran over to Rei and sat in a desk beside her.

"Hey Ayanami, you know Shinji likes you right?"

"I…I suppose." Rei said, embarrassed.

"And you like him? Right?" Toji said as Kensuke egged him on.

"Yes." Rei said without hesitation. Even she was surprised how quickly she had answered the question.

Toji who was also in shock continued with his little game.

"So if you two like each other then why don't you become a cou…" Toji was interrupted again as Shinji, who had broken free put him in a chokehold.

Even though Kensuke was pretty strong, or rather Shinji was pretty weak, he had broken free given extra motivation by the fact that Kensuke was holding him rather femininely.

"Stop this at once!" Hikari yelled at the top of her lungs.

Everyone froze and gawked at the tiny girl with the yelling voice only a man that wore leather pants and drove a large motorcycle should possess.

"Shinji, Toji, Kensuke, Rei, and Asuka, you all have after school clean up duty!" Hikari said as menacingly as if she were handing down a death sentence.

Asuka had been sitting in a far corner of the classroom, minding her own business, and completely ignoring the little fiasco that had just occurred when she heard her name. "Ahh, what the hell did I do?" Asuka pleaded.

Hikari softened her man-voice a little, "Well Asuka, not wearing panties is against the rules."

Without a word of argument Asuka put her head on her desk and let out a long sigh.

The reader should still be unsure of whether or not Asuka is actually wearing panties at this point and should likewise be greatly entertained that the writer has neglected to include this vital information.

End Chapter 3