Undiscovered Feelings Chapter 5

Etude Rei

"Wh…where are we?" Rei asked looking around.

Nighttime had finally settled in. The fluorescent light of the shopping district cast dancing shadows on the people and cars that sped by. The smell of outdoor noodle stands was heavy in the air mixed with various perfumes and cologne of the partiers walking past them on the way to their clubs. Rei saw mothers pulling small children away from elaborate window displays and a group of what looked to be college students drinking coffee near a brightly lit street corner. As she and Shinji passed by the students the smell of cigar smoke and fresh coffee beans filled their noses.

"We're here." Shinji said stopping in front of a small jewelry shop."You want to come in with me? I'm here to buy a friend of mine something."He said with a smile.

"A friend?" Rei asked oblivious that Shinji was referring to her.

He actually hadn't planned on buying her anything yet, however, Toji's intervention had sped things along a little. "Come on in and have a look around." He said stepping through the door.

Entering the shop Shinji left her side and went to talk to the manager of the shop. Walking over to a case on the left side of the store, she was amazed at how pretty everything was. She lightly placed her small hand on the glass, either not noticing or totally ignoring the large sign that informed people to keep hands to themselves. Her eyes sparkling in the reflections of various gems, she passed by golden crosses, bracelets studded in diamonds, rings and earrings encrusted with rubies. All this however didn't appeal to her, she wasn't what you would call the gaudy type. She had never looked at jewelry before but she, like all girls had a sixth sense when if came to picking out something that's just right for them. She had almost made her way across the entire store when something finally caught her eye.

"It looks like your little friend has found something." The store manager said with a smile.

Looking over at Rei, Shinji recalled what Misato had told him the night she found out about him and Rei.

"Shinji, now that Rei has feelings for you, you need to start treating her like a girl." Misato told him with a wide grin on her face.

"What do you mean? I do treat her like a girl." Shinji shot back.

"You need to buy her something."

"Buy her something?" Shinji was at a total loss.

"Yeah buy some kind of jewelry."

Shinji wasn't entirely sure they were talking about the same Rei anymore. He had never seen her wear anything like that.

"Look Shinji, she's a girl, just take her to a jewelry shop and I guarantee she'll pick out something herself."

It looks like Misato's "woman's intuition" was right on the money, Shinji thought as he walked over to Rei."Did you find something?"

Keeping her eyes on the one she had picked out she pointed to a silver necklace with a small heart shaped pendant encompassing a deep blue sapphire gem."It's pretty." She said.

"Yeah, I think so too." Reaching behind his back he gave the manager a "thumbs up" and said "Hey Rei, I'm almost done, I'll be ready to go in a minute." With that Shinji walked over to the manager, and being careful not the let Rei see, slipped him the correct about of money to pay for the piece she had picked out. Turning around and heading for the door he looked over at Rei. "Ready?"

"Y…yes." Rei said following him, looking back at the pendant one more time.

As the two stepped out of the store and began making their way towards the station the manager ran out of the store, and with an excellent display of overacting said, "Hey, hey mister! You forgot your bag!" Handing the bag over to Shinji he winked at Rei and said, "You're a lucky girl, he must like you a lot. That necklace wasn't cheap."

Wincing at his comments Shinji accepted the bag and began to walk again. Damn right that necklace wasn't cheap, he thought. I'll be in dept to Misato for the rest of my natural life.

Rei stood standing in front of the store dumbfounded. "Necklace?" She began to follow him. "Shinji, what was he talking about?"

"Oh I don't know he's just a crazy old man." Shinji said without turning around. He was busy unwrapping the silver band from its paper.

As Rei was about to catch up with him he suddenly stopped. "Hey, did you really like that necklace you showed me in the shop?"

Surprised by his question Rei timidly answered, "Yes, it was pretty."

"I'm glad you think so." Shinji said turning around, holding her necklace in his closed left hand. "Let me see your hand."

Rei silently obeyed. Taking her frail looking hand Shinji placed something warm and metallic in her in her palm. "Rei, I…I've never felt for anyone the way I feel for you." Shinji said reciting the little speech he had wrote and had been practicing. His efforts were somewhat wasted as he mumbled the next few lines. "I…well, I don't exactly know how to say this, and I've even wrote it down but its not helping now." He said with an uncomfortable smile.

"Shinji I…" She began, looking down at the hands that were embracing her own.

"No…I'm not done with what I have to tell you yet." Said Shinji who was perturbed that Rei was more prepared to express her feelings than him. He knew that she liked him, but he wasn't exactly sure that she felt the same type of feelings he felt. Shinji wanted so badly to tell her and just let what was going to happen, happen. There was still a thorn of doubt poking him in the side, impeding his speech and forcing his palms to sweat profusely. Rei's tiny hands must be soaked by now he thought looking into her confusion-filled eyes, watching the way she bit her lower lip when she was puzzled. As she cocked her head to the side allowing her soft locks to fall into her face she again twitched her button nose and closed her eyes making the cutest little face Shinji had ever seen. Well it was safe to say that with that simple expression Shinji's heart melted and his doubts were cast aside as he looked down and uncupped his hands so Rei could see her new prize.

When she saw what it was her crimson eyes began to sparkle. There was nothing small about the smile she showed this time. She looked at her new necklace and blushed brightly. This was the first time anyone had ever given her something like this out of the kindness of their heart. At this moment, she knew, he had to be the one. She ran her slender fingers over the smooth silver and stared into the small gem in the center of the heart gazing at the countless number of mirror images the multi-cut, reflective surface showed.

"Can I help you put it on?" Shinji asked having some trouble taking the necklace from Rei's grip.

All she could manage was a small nod.As he reached behind her head his arm grazed her neck. She felt her entire body tingle with his gentle touch. When it was fastened around her neck she gazed down at the small pendant. She had never really owned anything before. Everything was always issued to her. This necklace, and as she would come to find out later, Shinji's heart, were the only possessions that she felt were truly hers.

"Do…do you like it?" Shinji asked. His question was answered as Rei wrapped her arms around him and embraced him tightly, putting her head on his shoulder. Shinji realized he was trembling. Hesitantly he placed his arms around her and lightly caressed her back, letting the warmth from her body and the scent from her hair envelope him. He felt a warm tear fall on his neck as she lifted her head. "Rei…"

She couldn't understand why she was crying. She'd never been this happy before in her short life. The feeling she had in her heart for this boy, it was love, and she loved him as deeply as someone with her limited experience could. Rei now knew the answer to Asuka's question. She'd rather die than force herself to be apart from Shinji ever again. She knew this would interfere with the Commander's plans and that her usefulness to him would be over. Rei also understood she could and would be easily replaced and wiped out of existence as soon as Commander Ikari found out about their relationship, right now however, she didn't care, she was in the arms of the boy she loved.

"Let's go." Shinji gently said giving her a chance to let him go. She only nodded in response. As he turned around to begin walking he felt Rei intertwine her arm with his. She wouldn't let him go the entire train ride.

Sitting next to Rei, Shinji could feel the kind gazes of people looking at them. It was actually kind of nice, he was proud to have a girl as adorable as Rei holding on to him like that. Some people were even so bold as to approach him and comment on how charming of a couple they made. Politely thanking them he looked over at Rei, who was still holding tightly on to his arm like her entire existence would be void if she let him go. She didn't say a word; Rei looked as if she was in her own little world, content just to be near him.

When the train came to a stop he reached over with his hand and gently tapped her. "Rei, we're here." Walking out of the train hand in hand they entered the Old District where Rei lived.

They had been walking for a few minutes when Shinji spoke up. "I need to call Misato and let her know I'll be late." Walking over to a nearby phone booth he let her hand go. "I'll be right out."

When she nodded in response he closed the sliding glass door.

"Hey Misato, it's Shinji."

"How did it go?" His Guardian excitedly replied.

"Great, I'm taking her home now, I'll be a little late."

"Great, don't do anything I wouldn't do." She teased

Grinning Shinji shot back, "What exactly is there that you wouldn't do?"

"Jerk!" Misato said over her laughter and hung up the phone.

Wiping away in an instant the smile that had formed on her face she picked up the receiver and against her better judgment placed a call to Commander Ikari. As the phone began to ring Misato thought about how twofaced and disloyal she was being to both children, especially since she had given Shinji advice on his relationship with the Rei. "Its not my fault." She said to herself as the phone continued ringing. She never thought Shinji would have the courage to do anything like that for Rei and she damn sure never believed Rei contained the potential for an emotion as strong as love. Now, her error in judgment would cost Shinji his freedom and Rei her soul.

"Hello, Commander Ikari. It's Katsuragi. It seems the situation with the First and Third Child has grown beyond even my expectations. What are your instructions sir?"

"Excellent job Major, the problem will be rectified."

"Wha…what are you going to do to them?" Asked Misato beginning to doubt that she had made the correct decision.

"I understand, considering your relationship with my son, that this was difficult to do. Everything will be taken care of. Your efforts are greatly appreciated. Without your help their relationship might have been hidden and gone unnoticed. Goodbye."

"Wait!" Misato screamed into the phone.

Replacing the handset of the portable phone in the kitchen Asuka's heart sank and filled with dread at the conversation she had just listened in on. Commander Ikari was going to kill Shinji and Ayanami. He was going to kill them, and Misato, Misato helped. "I…I've got to warn him." Asuka said to herself.

"How much did you hear Asuka?" Misato asked stepping into the kitchen.

"I…I didn't hear anything." She answered too preoccupied with her sudden fear of Misato to realize she still had a hand on the receiver.

"I'm afraid I don't believe you." She said taking another step on the tile coated kitchen floor.

Beginning to hyperventilate Asuka began to scan the room for some type of weapon she could use to get past Misato. Spotting a steak knife on the counter she grabbed it and began awkwardly inching her way towards the exit Misato was blocking.

"Asuka! What the hell are you doing?" Misato screamed in a panic terrified by the insane look the fourteen year-old child contained in her eyes.

"I'm not gonna let you kill him you bitch!" Asuka screamed as she charged Misato with the six-inch knife.

Barely avoiding getting stabbed in the chest Misato cried out in pain as the razor edge of the knife cleanly sliced through her jacket lacerating the outside of her arm. The force of Asuka's charge knocked them both to the ground.

"Jesus Christ, I could have killed you." Asuka said transfixed on the blood that was seeping through the hand Misato was using to covering her injury. She couldn't move, she honestly hadn't planned to stab anyone, she was hoping Misato would escape in time.

"Go." Misato said in a pained voice. "Asuka, go, warn them."

"…" She offered no hint of a response.

Reaching up and slapping the girl with a blood-soaked hand Misato screamed one more time for her to leave. With tears in her eyes Asuka ran out the door heading for Rei's apartment.

"What have I done?" The Major asked herself not even making an effort to stitch up her wound, content to just lay there bleeding on the tile.

As Shinji placed the phone on the receiver he noticed an increased tapping sound on the top of the phone booth. Looking up he realized it was rain. "Oh great what an awesome way to end an evening." He said aloud as he turned around and exited the booth.

"Rei?" Shinji looked around and again called her name. "Where did she go?" He asked himself as he searched back and forth across the street.

The rain was steadily increasing, he was now thoroughly soaked. Beginning to get worried he called her name out loudly this time. "Rei!" When no response came Shinji began running towards her apartment still yelling out her name. Damn it where did she go? Shinji thought, he had a bad feeling about the whole situation. He couldn't imagine her alone in the dark in this part of town.

Something metallic sliding across the pavement interrupted his thoughts. He looked down and saw a glistening piece of silver shining there in the rain. Shinji bent down and picked up a small necklace with a heart shaped pendant. "This is…"

Just then her heard a muffled scream that sounded like it came from an alleyway a little further ahead.

"Rei!"