Disclaimer: I don't own Neon Genesis Evangelion. I wouldn't even want it if I could have it. The album title "In Between Dreams" belongs to Jack Johnson. All chapter titles from here on are songs that belong to Fuel.

In Between Dreams
By: Nanaki BH

"Try to stay dry! Be careful! See you, kids!"

Misato waved away the kids as they made their way down the halls at the end of the day. Shinji felt somewhat lost among the sea of school kids. He couldn't seem to focus. The floor was slippery from all of the rain-soaked shoes that had treaded on it, so he had to concentrate on staying stable. He wasn't sure where Asuka went. She was probably ahead of him, he thought, or maybe she was with Hikari somewhere. He was going to have to get home with or without her in this kind of weather. It was just too bad he never have the foresight to bring an umbrella to school with him. The least he could have done was keep one in his locker.

He started down the street right outside of the school. A few lower classmen bumped into him and kept on their way without an apology. The most he got from them was a stare that said "What, you think you own the sidewalk?" Shinji didn't much care for people like them, but did people really even care for him? How many kids were there in his class that even considered him a friend? Were Kensuke and Toji even really his friends? To be honest, he didn't know anymore. He wasn't sure of it in the dream either. Kensuke; always playing army by himself… he didn't have any friends other than Toji and himself. Shinji wondered if he was just a fill-in; something to make them feel better about themselves.

No, he thought, shaking his head, they've called me on the telephone and hung out with me and… He couldn't remember. Was that all a part of the dream too? Had they ever really acted like friends toward him?

He dropped his book bag, standing still in the middle of the sidewalk. Some kids pushed past him; some laughed. The rain kept falling down heavily, soaking his hair. No… he wouldn't think about it. Whatever it was in his head that was forcing him to think these things wasn't going to win, he decided. His life was his life – even if he was destined to be alone.

No! That wasn't how it was going to be! He balled his fists angrily, feeling the urge to punch somebody, anybody – his father. No one was around anymore. They'd all past him and his sorry breakdown by now. Some lucky kids got picked up by their parents… their parents. It echoed in his head painfully, bringing tears to his eyes again. He batted them away angrily.

How weak am, he thought. So standing there in his silent rage, he gathered his anger together and kicked a nearby rock as hard as he could; sending it flying down the street. "How about that!" he yelled. "I don't need you!"

"Don't need who?" a voice from behind asked.

Shinji closed his eyes and breathed deeply. "It's none of your business," he said. Despite his best efforts to try to stay cool, his composure was breaking. He could feel the tears winning the battle, crushing his dignity and self-confidence.

A hand came to rest reassuringly on his shoulder. "Well, do you want me to walk with you or what? You've got some ways to go still, right? And hey…! You dropped your bag!" The stranger bent down in front of Shinji to grab his school bag for him. Wait, he thought, I know that hair! That voice…!

"K… Kaworu?" The stranger looked up and Shinji stared deeply into the red eyes he knew so dear. "Kaworu!" Shinji flung himself at the equally soaked boy, toppling them both to the sidewalk. He laid there with him in a mess of wet clothes and limbs.

"Nice to meet you too!" he said, smiling. Shinji blushed when he noticed Kaworu's arms wrapped around his waist. He pressed his palms firmly to Kaworu's chest to sit up but he pulled him back down playfully, laughing softly to himself. "You go to school back there, right? I kind of just moved into the area, so we'll probably be in the same grade."

Shinji stared down at him, though they were close; their noses almost touching. He was in a state of surprise, relief… and arousal. It seemed that Kaworu noticed too because he wasn't about to let him go. "So… you don't know me?" Shinji asked. Kaworu shook his head. "Right…"

"How do you know my name?" he asked.

"I guess," Shinji hiccupped through confused tears, "I might have been born to meet you." It was ironic. When Kaworu first met Shinji was it the same for him then? Had he known him before? Had Shinji just not remembered him? "I had this really weird dream the other night and you were in it." He stood up (though uncomfortably) and grabbed his bag. "Sorry, maybe it's just a big case of déjà vu." He extended a hand and Kaworu took it, gracefully helping himself up.

Kaworu offered him that familiar smile he almost always had on and brushed away a few of Shinji's tears. "That's alright. I get weird déjà vu all the time," he said. Shinji felt unbearably stupid now for jumping on him like that and felt worse knowing that Kaworu didn't remember him. It was like Kaworu was making up excuses for him now. He wasn't sure if he should feel bad or… grateful.

"Thanks," Shinji said quietly.

"For what?" he asked.

Shinji looked away, blushing. "Just… for stopping."

Kaworu nodded understandingly, slipping his hand into Shinji's. He looked up, surprised that someone he'd just met (and jumped all over, no less) was willing to hold his hand like that. He smiled and Shinji felt like crying again; not because he was sad even. The smile he gave him reminded him so much of the good times they'd had together, though few. And Kaworu was always smiling, even now, even when there was nothing to really smile about.

Shinji squeezed his hand back, closing his eyes, tears still slipping down his cheeks like the rain. He felt Kaworu's free hand on his shoulder and something soft on his lips – something unmistakably Kaworu. His breath caught in his throat and he gasped, opening his eyes. Kaworu stood back, blush on his face, smile gone. "S-sorry," he whispered.

"No!" Shinji said, almost as embarrassed as Kaworu. "Really… it's okay."

"No… I don't want to make you uncomfortable; especially if we're going to be in the same class," he said.

The rain wasn't looking like it was going to stop. Shinji took his chances and stepped closer to Kaworu, closing the space between them. "I don't think you could ever make me uncomfortable." With that they're lips touched and for once since the dream, Shinji felt at ease, like he really knew something for sure. He wrapped his arms around Kaworu's neck, still tightly gripping the handle of his school bag. It wasn't a really intense kiss… It was light, but loving.

The hopelessness he'd previously felt faded away to nothing. He hadn't hurt the one he loved after all and he'd be sure that if worst came to worst – this time he knew the right decision.

"Do you want me to walk you home?" Kaworu asked after they parted.

Shinji blushed, touched by his generosity. "I guess, but what about you? You'll get sick if you stay out here. How about you stay at my place tonight?" That's something he'd always wanted; to spend a peaceful night with Kaworu… though it might not necessarily be peaceful with Asuka around…

"But… I'm enrolling tomorrow. I have to wear the uniform and I have to bring my books." He didn't look happy, but he wasn't telling Shinji "no". No, he certainly wasn't refusing. In fact, he seemed disappointed that it was an inconvenience.

"You can go back to your house and get your stuff for school in the morning," Shinji suggested. Kaworu didn't look too convinced. "Want to call your mom when we get there?"

Kaworu grinned. "Great. It's a plan."

Shinji just hoped Asuka wouldn't mind him bringing home a stranger.

Author's Notes: Joy, another chapter down. I am making it more than three because it would be cruel of me to leave it there. I might end it at four, but I originally said it'd be only two, so you can't trust my word. From now on, chapters will be named conveniently after Fuel titles because that's what's been in my CD player. I hope you enjoyed that chapter. Tell me what you think!