Ahem. I usually don't do A/N's anymore, but I guess I might as well, to address a few issues. First, to clear up any confusion, this is, in fact, a SxR fic, although I will admit there is a bit of SxA. However, this does not change the fact that it will remain a SxR fic. Second, concerning Gendo's Desk, I appreciate all of the input I've gotten for it, and I'm working hard to get the best ending out of it as possible. I will also dramatically decrease the usage of '-chan', so thank you GundaMasteR for pointing that out. I am a little biased against Rei, but I hope that this fic will show all concerned that I am in no way a 'Rei hater'. Finally, concerning After Impact, I will admit that yes, Gendo is an evil bastard... and chances are he won't change from that for at least a long while in the fic. Concerning GundaMasteR's review, while it is very apparent to the reader that there are more people still alive that just Asuka and Shinji, I would like to point out that my style of narrative changes depending on the main characters of a scene. For example, some scenes I use 'the only two left alive', or words to that effect, but only in scenes where it would be apparent that they were. Asuka and Shinji believe, in all honesty, that they are the last ones alive, since they have met no one to prove otherwise. The man using the radio does raise the issue that they should know, however, Asuka and Shinji were still very much concerned about survival, so such a trite event as the man using a radio would not register in the minds of the children. The narratives are run so that information the characters in that scene do not know, do not tend to make an appearance. Now that my rant is over and done with, please, read this chapter, and review! I always enjoy hearing from the readers, and it helps me to know what to do better on. GundaMasteR, I hope you and supereva 01-02 will continue to criticize my stories the same way you have, as well as everyone else who reviews! I love the reviews regardless of what bad things are said!

Now, on with the chapter!

Chapter #6

Misato sat down on the couch with a beer. It had been a long, long day. First she thought the Second Child had been killed, and then she was put through the whole Angel scenario. That was never any fun. And to top it all off, Kaji was leaving back to Germany. She tried not to show that Kaji and herself had had a relationship, but Kaji was never very good at hiding things. It looked as if Asuka had been extremely hurt after learning this, although Misato couldn't really understand why or what had happened when she left. Either way, it was all too much for her. Asuka is in the shower and Shinji is doing the whole Shinji thing in his room, basically sitting in his bed, listening to his tape player, and staring at the ceiling. This left only Pen-Pen.

"I just hope that no Angels decide to attack anytime soon," Misato said to Pen-Pen.

"Wark!"

"And what is with Shinji these days?"

"Wark!"

"Whenever I try to bring Rei up, he always changes the subject."

"Wark!"

"I think he has a crush on her... what about you Pen-Pen?" It was now becoming painfully obvious that Misato was drunk.

"Wark!"

"Um...Misato? What are you doing?" Asuka asked as she came out of the shower.

"What do you think, Asuka? Do you think Shinji has a crush on Rei? Pen-Pen doesn't think so," Misato said as she pointed at the penguin. Shinji came out of his room to see what was going on. Pen-Pen was sitting in between Misato and the television and Asuka was standing next to Misato trying to figure out what was wrong with her. Asuka had decided that drying her hair was better done outside the shower, or so Shinji thought. Shinji knew better than to confront Asuka on something like that. Shinji was just about to do a 180 and go back to his room after noticing that Asuka had little more than a loose towel around her and a towel around her hair.

"Hey, Shinji," Asuka asked trying to make her voice as sweet as possible, "Do you have a crush on Rei? Misato thinks so and she says Pen-Pen disagrees. So, what is it?"

Before Shinji could protest the question, Asuka decided that being seen in only a towel by Shinji was very, VERY wrong.

"Du Verdreher! You pervert! I can't believe you!"

"I didn't know Asuka!" Shinji protested, "I just came out to see what Misato was doing!"

"So! That's no excuse! Dummkopf! Geht zu deinem Zimmer! Get in your room!" Asuka yelled and began attempting to throw things with one hand and keep the towel from falling off with the other. Shinji retreated to the safety of his room under the onslaught of things thrown by Asuka.

"Stand! Bow! Sit!" The same old procedure began the same way that it always did for class 2-A. Asuka still could not understand why the Japanese did this, but she knew better than to complain about it. She knew that she had to be in here for NERV purposes. Basically that meant to keep her busy and to keep track of where she was. Asuka already had a college degree, so that was the only other logical reason. It had been, what two, three months since she had arrived here and not a single Angel had attacked yet. Every day was boring. Especially when it came to history. Not that Asuka hated history, far from it. But the lies that were being taught about the Second Impact made Asuka sick. Math and science were the only things that Asuka really liked about the school day. Kaji leaving was so unexpected for Asuka; it left her in a state of turmoil. She tried not to let it interfere with her work, but she often found herself wondering about Kaji. She just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something about Kaji suddenly leaving was not right. Asuka put, or tried to put, this aside at least during school, if not after.

"Miss Langley, please answer the question on page 56." The same old procedure. At least she was called on and she was required to think, not like when someone else was called on. Asuka was actually beginning to wish some kind of emergency Sync test was scheduled every day so she could be spared from the torment school offered. After the question was answered Asuka sat back down and looked at Shinji. Asuka didn't think of him very much. She figured it was merely by luck that he happened to be chosen to pilot an EVA. It was very evident to her by the way he fought the last Angel. Mostly because she was bored out of her mind, she found her self trying to figure out what had Shinji's attention. It obviously wasn't the school work; no one seemed to be concentrating on that. Not even Hikari. Asuka's mind once again wandered. Hikari was really the only person Asuka could say was her friend in Tokyo-3, or all of Japan for that matter. She seemed like the very academic type, but now her attention was being drawn just like Shinji's.

'Probably for the same basic reason,' Asuka thought later. Hikari was looking at Touji. Asuka didn't like Touji ever since the first day of class. He thought, or so Asuka thought, that he was so much better than Asuka. Even after she beat him not at one, but several events in P.E. he still had an air of superiority around him. Asuka could not honestly understand what Hikari saw in him. Asuka had worked that little secret out of her one day when she was over doing homework with Hikari. Her attention turned once more to Shinji. He tried to make it as unobvious as possible, but from where Asuka was sitting she could tell even if she took a sideways glance for half a second at Shinji. He seemed entranced by Rei. Rei was probably the only one in the class paying attention, or the most attention anyway. She was always looking out the window; it amazed Asuka that she even knew what was assigned. From what she heard from Hikari, Rei had been like that ever since she came into the class. She had always been unsociable, but not just in a shy way. Shinji obviously didn't either comprehend this, or was trying to change that. As Asuka turned back to face the board, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. Rei had turned to look at Shinji and was blushing. If Asuka didn't have as much willpower as she did and she didn't catch a quick glimpse, then she probably would have fallen out of her chair. She almost began laughing. Shinji had gotten farther with Rei than Asuka had thought, according to what Hikari had told her. She would have to pry some more info from Shinji when they got home.

OOO
"Shinji," Asuka said.

"Uh... what is it Asuka?" Shinji was relatively certain that this had nothing to do with the homework, Asuka never asked anyone for help on her homework.

"I have a question and I refuse to leave until you answer it."

"Um...okay, what's the question?"

"I saw you eying Rei today in class," Shinji immediately knew where this was going, but that didn't stop him from blushing, "what do you have with her? Are you two going out or something?"

"Why do you need to know?" Then Shinji got a grin on his face, "are you jealous or something?"

"What!? That's ludicrous! Why would you think that?"

"Maybe...maybe you secretly like me." Asuka was doing everything in her power to keep herself from pounding Shinji into the floor.

"Yea, and soon the next Angel will tear the roof off and eat us both," Asuka said sarcastically through her rage, "Now stop trying to change the subject. Answer!" Shinji could tell that any more teasing or changing would result in pain, so he gave up. Shinji really did like Rei, but he wasn't sure if she liked him. He thought she did, but never actually got around to asking. Because of this, he didn't know if telling was the right thing to do, especially if Rei didn't like him. He would just sound like some kind of stalker then. But Asuka obviously was growing impatient.

"Um...well, I, um, I guess, maybe, that's to say, um. Asuka?"

"What! You still aren't finished. What do you want now?"

"Um... If, if you want to find out the way someone feels about you..." Shinji was quickly cut off,

"I knew it! You like Rei, but you don't think she likes you. Is that right?"

"Well...um," Shinji said in a whisper, "yes."

"Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho!" Asuka laughed, but then stopped at the sight of Shinji. He just looked so pathetic sitting on the floor. "So you really want my help?"

"I, I guess. Just please don't tell anyone. It's been hard enough to tell you."

"Aww. Come on, Shinji. You can trust me. We are both pilots, right? We're comrades. Besides, you could say that we're friends, right?"

"Well, um...I guess. So could you help me?"

Asuka sighed. "Just finish your homework and meet me in the living room." Shinji nodded as Asuka left.

Misato walked in her apartment to see a sight that she would have expected if Shinji and Asuka were about seven years older and had known each other for at least several months longer. Asuka had her face surprisingly close to Shinji's with her eyes closed. Shinji had an obvious shudder going through him.

"So what do you do now, genius?" Asuka asked, doing her best not to move

"Um... I um." It looked to Misato as if Shinji was about to kiss Asuka, but that image was quickly shattered as Asuka took a step back and opened her eyes.

"Wrong! Wrong! Wrong! Do you know what you did wrong?"

"I, um, didn't kiss her?"

"Well, that too," Asuka said under her breath, "You hesitated! You never hesitate! Remember the saying 'He who hesitates is lost'? You have to take your chances! If you had tried something like that out there," Asuka said as she pointed outside, "then you would never have had another chance. You're hopeless!" Asuka said as she stormed past Misato and into her room. Shinji began to follow Asuka, but was the only one to notice Misato.

"Oh, Hi Misato. How are you? Um, are there any new reports from NERV?" Shinji said trying to keep Misato off of the subject of what had just happened. It didn't work.

"Shinji, I know you feel a strong bond between you and Asuka and Rei because you are all pilots, but don't you think this maybe a little too far too fast between you and Asuka? I know you live with each other, and you are getting more mature..."

"No! No! It's nothing like that! She was just helping me with something."

"And that something just happened to be in your mouth, right? And she couldn't retrieve it with anything other than her mouth, right?"

"We weren't doing anything like that!"

"Okay, okay Shinji. Hey, isn't it your turn to cook tonight?" Shinji knew that it wasn't, but he wanted to keep Misato off of his and Asuka's latest encounter so he went ahead without a word and began preparing dinner.

Again, the same old schedule. "Stand! Bow! Sit!" The same boring class. The same look Shinji gave Rei. The same look Rei returned. The same look Hikari gave Touji. The same boring lies about Second Impact. The same boring procedure in math. The same lunch time. The same walk home. The same procedure of homework. This time, however, Shinji decided to interrupt Asuka. Asuka was sitting on her floor finishing up her math when Shinji came in and dropped his books on the floor. 'Mein Gott. He is so clumsy sometimes.' "What are you doing in here? Why don't you get Pen-Pen to help you? My time is valuable you know."

"Well, I needed some help and it looks like you are working on the same thing, so..."

"So you thought that I could help you while I did it for myself."

"Um, well, yea."

"Okay, just sit down and let's get this over with." Shinji and Asuka finished the homework quickly and soon Shinji was on to the real reason why he had come in.

"Asuka?"

"Yea? What is it?" Asuka said after swallowing a piece of orange chicken that they had ordered from a local restaurant after their homework was finished. Misato had warned them not to cook while she was not there, although when she was there they thought her cooking would be more of a hazard.

"Um...are you certain that we should act out everything I should do to figure out what Rei thinks. I mean, yesterday we got pretty close to, um..."

"Kissing?" Asuka finished for Shinji, "What, are you scared?"

"I just think that the only reason I would kiss someone would be if I'm in some kind of relationship more than being just friends. I understand that you are trying to help me with Rei, and I guess that she's the closest person to fit the bill, but..."

"So are you saying that you want us to be more than friends?" Asuka said as a grin came to her face. She could tell just how to mess with Shinji today.

"No! I mean, well... I just... you're nice and all..."

"So you think I'm nice?"

"What I mean to say is... um... I like you because you're more talkative, I know more about you than I do Rei. But, I've spent more time with Rei. I, I just like Rei more. I want to learn more about her. And have you noticed the way she acts with my father? It's like she's part of my family."

"So, you want her to be Mrs. Rei Ikari?" Asuka said with an impish grin.

"Hey! I like her, and I'd like to get closer to her, but I'm not that far!"

"So, you like her, and want me to help you get to know her better, but are too scared to do anything with someone you know better?" Asuka said losing a bit of her grin, but none of it in her voice.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, nothing. Just that you are scared to kiss someone you know better than another person that you plan on kissing."

"Are you saying that I'm scared of you?"

"Yep! You hit the nail on the head that time!"

"I'm not scared of you!"

"Then prove it!"

"Alright, what do I have to do?" Shinji asked not losing any intensity in his voice. They hardly realized that they were at a near scream.

"I want to see what you would do with Rei for a kiss."

"Fine. I'll show you that I'm not scared." Shinji was so wrapped up with trying to prove to Asuka that he wasn't weak that he didn't even realize what he had agreed to. Asuka smiled and ran to her dresser and began to tear through various hair clips until she found one she liked.

"Um..." Shinji began as the effects of his adrenaline started to wear off, "what are you doing?"

"I have to make myself believable." Asuka undid her hair and began putting it up. She was doing her best to try and copy Rei's hairstyle. After several minutes of struggling, Asuka finally reached what she considered to be the closest she would be able to get. Shinji had to admit that she did a good job trying, but her hair came out looking like Rei's but several centimeters far too thick.

Asuka turned around to face Shinji and took a step towards him, "Alright, I'm ready." Asuka said as she changed her expression to match Rei's. If Shinji had not been so tense, he would have laughed. She looked almost like Rei, if Rei had thicker, red hair and blue eyes. Shinji stepped up to Asuka and prepared himself. He tried to imagine Asuka as Rei and tried to fall into what he had been planning for weeks. 'At least I can practice, right?' Shinji thought.

"Hurry up!" This shook Shinji out of his carefully laid plan and he tried to improvise. Asuka was doing a great job at impersonating Rei's body language, but not her facial expressions.

"Okay, okay. But Rei wouldn't say that."

Asuka turned back to emotionless mode. In everything Asuka does, she takes a high amount of pride in. She regarded this the same way and did her best at being Rei. Shinji saw Asuka's face go Rei like and took his chance. He put his arm around her neck and brought her mouth to his. Asuka was doing her best to keep in Rei mode, but was slowly beginning to lose her composure. Although she didn't want to admit it, this would be her first kiss. Although part of her wanted this, most of her didn't think Shinji could muster the courage. But, like most things in gambling, you win some bets and you lose some bets. Asuka began to relax, but thought about what was happening. She got back into Rei mode and waited for Shinji to let go. She figured that Rei wasn't the kind of person to make the first or last move. However, Shinji either was enjoying this far too much, or didn't know how Rei functioned. Then his eyes popped open and he let go of Asuka, stumbling backwards as he did so.

"So...um, see I told you!" Shinji said as triumphantly as he could, but it didn't come out quite so.

"Well, Shinji. You did it, but you shouldn't try for so long on your first kiss." Shinji began to blush.

"How did you know?"

'Yes, I guessed right that time,' Asuka thought to herself. "If I was you, Shinji, then I wouldn't be quite so bold with Rei. She's pretty unpredictable."

"Yea, well you're pretty... um..."

"I'm pretty?"

"I didn't mean that!"

"So you think I'm ugly?" Asuka said looking hurt, but she was laughing inside. She didn't really want him to start asking her about why she seemed to relax or, as she was sure Shinji thought, that she was enjoying it.

"No! I think you're very pretty, but, I ... I... um, thank you."

"What!? Why are you thanking me? Are you trying to be perverted?"

"NO! I was just thanking you for trying to help me!" Shinji then calmed down. He didn't want to say anything he didn't mean, "I, I guess this was very helpful. But, I don't think that we need to get so, um, physical."

"What, are you scared?"

"Oh, no. You aren't going to get me again."

"Okay, okay. We'll just talk about it from now on. That is unless you have other ideas."

"No, No! Talking is just fine! I think that I might have enough courage to do something like that with Rei now, though."

"Okay, okay, please I don't need to hear anymore. Just get your stuff out of my room and let me finish my dinner in peace. Oh, and I don't think I need to tell you not to tell Misato about this, she is already formulating her own ideas. No need fueling the fire. When she gets home, give her the other box of food. That should keep her off our backs tonight. Shinji left and Asuka smiled to herself. 'At least I can say I'm not totally dependent on Kaji,' thought Asuka.

OOO



 /"Alright. Asuka, Shinji, Rei, I'm going to need you to bring your Eva's to the training area. We will be testing your agility today and we might do another weapons test." Ritsuko's voice said over the comm. System to the pilots.

"Yes, ma'am"

"Yes"

"Okay" The Eva's got out of their cages and began the walk to the training area. Asuka was happy that she wasn't in class and that they would be using live ammunition. Shinji was a little afraid that something might go wrong and Rei was silent as always.

"Psst. Shinji." Asuka said via vid screen.

"Huh? What is it Asuka?"

"Don't worry, this is a secure channel, no one can see it but you and me. So, have you done anything that we've practiced with Rei?"

"Um... are you sure this is secure?" Asuka nodded. "Okay, well, no not yet. But I was thinking of asking her if she wanted to go to the mall. Well, more like tell her that we're going to the mall. She never seems to care one way or the other."

"Just don't choke up and you'll be fine. But, I'll be sure to come along. Just to watch what you do." Asuka said as she began grinning.

"Oh, come on Asuka! Please don't come. I feel uncomfortable enough around her."

"Not now, Shinji, the test is starting." Shinji hadn't even noticed that they were already there.

/"As you can see, you have a large area to run around in. Please line up on the far wall. Okay, now we are going to see how fast you can go in your Eva's. Rei, please go first." Rei nodded silently and took a sprinting position.

/"Begin speed test for Unit zero in three...two...one!" Rei took off at amazing speed. Shinji didn't even think Eva's could move that fast, but Rei was.

/"Okay. Thank you Rei. We clocked you at a top speed of 120 kph. Please return to the other Eva's. Alright, Shinji you'll be next."

Shinji got in the same position Rei had and saw Unit zero. Suddenly Shinji felt like he was on the soccer field. Rei was the goalie and Asuka was his wing.

/"Shinji begin test in three...two...one!" Shinji took off and he swore he could feel the ball between his feet. Rei was coming up quickly and she noticed the way Shinji and his EVA were acting. A small grin came to her face as Unit zero moved into a goalie position.

"Shinji? Rei? What are you two doing?" asked a perplexed Asuka. Shinji just smiled at Asuka's image in his cockpit.

"Don't worry, Asuka. I know what I'm doing." Shinji looked back to Rei. His EVA ran faster. Shinji conceived a plan and implemented it right away. He charged Rei as his EVA picked up more and more speed and suddenly sidestepped to his right, driving right past Rei.

/"Amazing Shinji! You can come back now. We clocked you at a top speed of 142 kph! Well, Asuka, I hope you are ready."

"Am I ready? Please Ritsuko, I was born ready." Asuka said arrogantly, "Shinji, I hope you enjoyed your moment in the lime light because I'm about to shatter that record!" Asuka got in the same position as the two previous and waited for Ritsuko's signal.

/"Begin test in three...two...one!" Asuka nearly flew with the force she put into the first push. Unit two took off past Unit zero and Unit one at a blinding pace. She would not let Shinji beat her. She could have sworn for a second that Unit one was holding Unit zero's hand, but when she looked back, there was no sign of anything close to that had happened. Asuka again concentrated on going as fast as she could. This reminded her of Germany. Back in her P.E. class when they had a competition just like this, 'well without the giant robot part,' Asuka thought. She had been victorious then, and she was not about to fail now. She kept pushing, going faster and faster. Her arms and legs were beginning to hurt from the force her EVA was exerting.

/"Okay! Good job, Asuka! Well, I guess you were right. Please return now and we can finish the last test."

"Yes ma'am! Oh, and might I ask what my speed was?" Asuka asked arrogantly.

/"We clocked you at a top speed of 151 kph."

"Alright!" Asuka and her EVA jumped in joy and then her EVA took off toward the start, Asuka was eager to get to the weapons test.

End Chapter #6