Of Wishes and Fishes

Chapter 5: "The Asuka in your mind" part 1.

A/N: its baaack…the only fict with a bi-polar disorder continues.

"Owww…what the hell was that for Asuka?" The complaint followed a smack to the head that almost flattened him. It had been like this for Shinji ever since class let out. Asuka was in a fine rage following the centerfold fiasco earlier that day. It was bad enough that Hikari had to intercede on her behalf to ward off suspension. Even worse was the fact that she couldn't use her favorite word anymore; hentai was effectively stripped from her vocabulary since she now bore such nicknames as "Princess Perversia" and "Poster child". What really put the icing on the whole stinking cake was that Shinji, that little maggot, had also testified on her behalf! That she had been reduced to accepting help from him…!

"It was because you're pathetic, 3rd child. You think that helping me is going to make you manlier to me? Think again, Arschloch!"

"You know, I almost wish you could see what I thought about, Asuka. It might surprise you!"

"HAH! In your dreams, wuss!" With that, she stormed ahead, intent on putting as much distance as she could between them. He watched her receding form with a forlorn expression, and then proceeded to shuffle dejectedly home. His wish earlier had apparently backfired big time, and he was glad that Cosmo and Wanda were nowhere around. He had no particular desire to have that almost-wish he had just voiced granted anytime soon.

Unknown to Shinji, however, his wish, not to mention the rider added by Asuka had been clearly heard by a pair of tiny stowaways in his school bag. Two wands did their thing, the flash obscured by his laptop. Broad grins adorned their features; tonight was going to be a lot of fun.

She seemed to be drifting through a seemingly endless plain of grey clouds and chill winds. Then, she felt herself falling, and landing….where the hell was she, anyway? Faint bits of sound and music, smells of all kinds flickered elusively by. Then, she felt a sense of movement, and things suddenly jumped into focus.

"A train car? How the blazes did I get in here? This is just too freaking weird…"

"Actually, it's pretty logical when you think about it." The voice came from the seat in front of her, which she could've sworn was empty just a minute ago. That voice… it couldn't be…!

"…You're me…but how…?

Asuka's other let out a peal of genuine laughter. "Actually, you're asleep. I'm your guide for tonight's tour of Shinji's dreams. Allow me to introduce myself" she swept low in a mocking bow. "I'm the Asuka in Shinji's mind, or should I say, how he perceives you…me…well, you're the psych major. You should know what I'm talking about." She exclaimed, flipping her hair over her shoulder in a very familiar mannerism. "Just for the sake of not sounding like we're talking to ourselves, you can call me Red."

"O.K….Red. So why am I on this train? Where are we going, anyway?"

"Well, we're entering Rem sleep province. We should be at the main information processing center shortly. As to why we're on this rickety contraption, how better to get around than a train of thought?"

"Gawd, that's so corny…"

"But apt, considering that in dreams, things function on a symbolic level". The train suddenly slowed, and lurched to a stop. "We're here! Follow me."

The two started walking, Asuka trailing behind Red. As they did, Asuka noticed something very strange about her companion. Every few seconds, she shimmered and then morphed. First, her hair became a ball of fire, with horns coming out of her head. Then, she became a great mouth filled with obscenities. At one point, she turned into a plug-suited goddess, hearts and sparkles surrounding her manga-style. She finally decided she couldn't take anymore.

"Mein Gott! Would you please stop that…changing business? What are you trying to do, drive me crazy?"

"Whoops, sorry 'bout that. Since you're constantly changing the poor boy's perception of you, I've got to change as well. Unstable, perhaps, but considering how you act to people, it's no wonder they see you that way. You can be such a bitch…"

Temper flaring; Asuka aimed a slap at Red's face, which passed right through her. At the same time, pain flared in her own cheek, a palm print showing scarlet there. Red rolled her eyes, snickering.

"Geeze, you are thick as the proverbial brick, girl. This is where it all gets processed. Thoughts, perceptions, sensory data, even memory and emotion. And yes, memories and emotions are often painful. You want to slap me, go ahead, but the only one you'll end up hurting is yourself. Speaking of hurting…" a devilish expression appeared on Red's face. "Queue Shinji's hit parade. Roll tape!" A set of huge screens lit up, showing a constant stream of slaps, kicks and punches that Shinji endured at Asuka's hands. All this accompanied by the 1812 overture, the cannon fire corresponding alarmingly with some of the harder shots…all of which she herself felt. Soon she was feeling like she'd had a building fall on her, screaming for it to stop. Taking pity on her, Red called for a halt. The screens vanished as did the music. As soon as they did, so did the pain. Asuka stood up shakily.

"I…I never realized…I did that? I made him feel that way…?"

Red fixed her with a piercing glare, one composed of anger and pity

"You just felt it yourself. And that's only the physical part. Just wait until we get to the verbal and psychological abuse. That's where the fun really begins!"

Inwardly, Asuka cringed. She had done all that, and yet he still treated her like a fragile object, still cared for her. How? Why? Her counterpart looked at her knowingly, almost as if she was reading her mind.

"Well, now you've been given a sample of what goes on here. If you want to bail, now's the time. It only gets more intense the further we go."

For a moment, she was tempted…oh, so tempted to run out, to wake up. But then, the famous Soryu pride flared up. Her, back away from a challenge? NEVER!

"I'm game. Let's do this thing. I'm not afraid…"

"Oh, you should be! Be afraid. Be VERY afraid". Ahead of them, a pair of huge doors gaped open. As soon as they passed through, the doors slammed shut with a deafening boom.

Tbc.

A/N: Always got weirded out a bit by the train scenes. Figured it might be a good way to go with this. I'll try to have the second part of this chapter out soon

(Listening to a chorus of anguished screams at another cliffhanger).