Disclaimer: Same as always, of course

Chap. 11

The following two weeks went normal enough. At least as normal as a young man living with three gorgeous women can. Shinji decided not to train with the blade. After his encounter, Misato made him promise not to go out alone early again. Shinji didn't have too much of a problem with that as he focused in on his meditation only, which was just as valuable. Rei's room was completed and the enigmatic girl stayed there and gave Shinji back his room. Asuka seemed more antsy than normal, but no one was sure why. Shinji still awaited the coming arrival of his teacher, but he hasn't shown up yet. But he did promise that he would come and Shinji knew he was a man of his word. And aside from the standard harmonics tests, there haven't been any angel attacks in some time.

Then came this day...

School...

Everyone was in their designed seat in class, waiting for the bell to ring so that could end the teachers droning about Second Impact. When at last the bell rung, everyone left class. As Shinji headed out, he had a dark ominous feeling about...something. It wasn't good. Something was wrong.

Lunch...

Shinji and Kensuke were seated along with Asuka and Hikari out in the front yard. Normally, the two girls would have sat by themselves, but Asuka was feeling a little good. Mostly because Touji was nowhere around. Touji hadn't been seen all lunch period, which was more than strange considering his appetite level was nearly as astronomical as Asuka's. Rei wasn't present either, but that was to be expected. Rei may have been learning on her emotions, but she was still reclusively shy.

"I'm just glad that jock isn't around." Asuka commented.

Hikari looked down, but hid it in a shrug. "I wonder how he is."

Kensuke however, didn't by it as he went to work on his camera, "Hmm. Missing your man, I see."

Hikari quickly turned, face red in embarrassment. "What!"

Asuka nodded, "For once, the geek is right. If you were any more strung out, you could hang on a pole."

Hikari whirled on Asuka now. "Asuka!"

"Something's...wrong." Shinji whispered to himself.

Unfortunately, Asuka managed to catch some of it, "What was that, baka?"

Shinji blinked, "Oh, nothing. Just...its nothing."

"Oh, I get it." Asuka smirked. "It must be that all-powerful Force telling you something isn't it?"

"Force?" Kensuke inquired.

"Yeah, this baka thinks that some sort of magical forcefield covers over people and stuff."

Both Kensuke and Hikari turned to him for an explanation and Shinji complied. "Although not as strange as she make it sound, it's true."

"Oh please. I haven't seen any hard evidence other than you doing a few tricks." Asuka countered.

Unknown to them, Shinji had grabbed two broomsticks nearby after pulling them toward him. Shinji gazed into her eyes at the thought of his plan.

"Then why don't you show me?"

Asuka blinked as Shinji suddenly tossed one of the lying broomsticks at her. Reacting instantly, Asuka jumped back and grabbed the stick out of the air. At the same time, Shinji was already up and upon her with a stick of his own. Again reacting on instinct, Asuka raised her stick to block. Shinji didn't give her anytime to think as he swung again and again, with Asuka somehow managing to deflect, leap over and block each blow. Nearby, students watched the display in amazement while Kensuke and Hikari watched in shock. If Kensuke's camera wasn't recording, he would have never believed what he was seeing. The usually timid Shinji was attacking the red demoness with lightning speed and she was blocking each blow. Shinji finally stopped and Asuka stepped back, eyes wide with sheer surprise. Shinji nodded to her. The Force flowed through them far too much for her to ignore now.

"How did it feel?"

Asuka finally managed to blink and she looked at her hands, which were still holding the stick. 'What...just happened? That warm energy... was that really me?' She didn't even notice that she was breathing hard.

"Ikari, what was that?"

Kensuke and Hikari came up from their seat, still quite surprised

"H-how did you move like that?" Hikari asked.

Shinji put down the stick, "A long story. I just wanted Asuka to know what's in her."

Asuka's gaze was directly focused on him, totally emotionless. The others, including Shinji were now beginning to worry that something was wrong with her.

"Asuka?"

Bam!

Before he knew it, Shinji was lying on the floor after Asuka had swiftly used the pole to sweep right under his feet. Asuka held the stick to his face.

"Baka! You should be extremely glad I'm in a good mood, otherwise I would have beaten you to within an inch of your pathetic life."

"It was the only way I could prove it to you. I'm sorry."

Asuka simply grinned, "Don't be sorry. Just show me what else there is to it."

Shinji narrowed his eyes. Asuka was far too enthusiastic. After feeling the effect of the Force, was she now to be driven by its power? Shinji could sense her emotions that far. He just wasn't skilled enough. He should have never engaged her that way. It was reckless and foolish. Now he's stuck with a bigger problem. 'How would Qui-Gon handle this?'

Shinji sat up, "Well, it's harder than you think. You have to practice long periods of meditation in order to get a handle. If you can hold a calm center, then you can be ready to learn more. But it'll take time."

Asuka continued to gaze at him, "You're trying to sneak out of this. No way, Third Child."

Shinji stood up, "With your attitude, you could easily fall prey to the temptation of the dark side. And I can only give you slight hints. I'm not fully trained myself and it would be really dangerous for you to learn any more right now." When Asuka's glare didn't change, Shinji sighed.

"When Qui-Gon arrives, you could ask him and see what he says."

Asuka looked at him suspiciously and then dropped the stick, "Alright, fine. I'll wait. I wouldn't have you for a teacher anyway."

Inwardly, Shinji smiled. He was glad that Asuka could wait for his master to arrive. That showed patience and that was a good trait for a Jedi to utilize. But Shinji also worried. 'What if Qui-Gon rejects her? Or what if he rejects him for his minor lessons? No. Qui-Gon wouldn't do that. Would he?' He recognized the doubt in his mind, but he could help it.

'What...if he rejects me?'

*********

Touji felt...something as he walked out from the back of the school toward the hospital. He was on his way to there to tell his sister about what he had done and that he was going to be gone for awhile. He didn't even stop to tell his friends what he was doing and decided to leave school early. And it was then that he felt the strange sensation. He couldn't explain it, but it felt...strangely warm. Something else was felt in it. A word. A name.

"Ikari?"

"Yes. It is him."

Touji blinked and turned to the sound of the voice behind him. It was Ayanami. The shock on his face was obvious. She was absolutely the last person he'd think he'd be talking to now. 'This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder.'

"You haven't told Shinji, have you?"

Touji half-blinked before he realized what she was talking about. "No. This is my problem alone. I'll deal with it. Please don't tell him yet, Ayanami."

"If he does not ask, I will not tell him." she answered simply.

Touji was about to walk off when he realized that she had called him Shinji instead of Ikari-kun. That alone was different, but for Touji, he felt a more significant change. He couldn't explain how he felt it, but he couldn't ignore it either. He was never one to ignore his feelings.

"You really care about him, don't you?

"Yes."

With that said, she quietly walked pass him, but stopped briefly.

"The Force...is with you."

She continued on her path, leaving Touji a little more than confused, but strangely understanding what she was implying. She was, in her own strange way, giving him some encouragement. That alone proved what Touji thought earlier.

"Thanks." he whispered back.

**************

Later that day...

"Misato?"

After school, Shinji returned to a quiet home. 'I guess she's at work again.' he mused. Misato was nowhere around and her room was open, so she wasn't there.

"Keep it down, baka."

Shinji blinked as he saw Asuka seated in the corner doing her homework. Shinji nodded and put his books away before starting his own work, right across from her. As he started, he could feel her frustration. Asuka was smart, no question there. But she still had a little difficult understanding writing in Japanese. Shinji continued to do his, observing her frustration build. He figured he had to do something now. If it grows any more, she'll most likely take it out on him. But he had to wait for her to speak first. If he did, then that would set her off, having the same result

"Argghh! Whose idea was it to make writing like this?"

Shinji calmly looked up, "Clear your mind and let the words flow. It's a lot easier that way."

"Who asked for your help, baka!" she spat.

Shinji however, was back to work again. Despite her words, she was beginning to do what he said. He had to wait until she was able to listen to him, just for a moment. Sure enough, that's what happened. He could sense her calm down and her face suddenly lit up. Shinji smiled. 'She's much prettier when she smiles.'

"What are you smiling at?"

Shinji blinked. He hadn't realized that he was smiling openly. But before she could even begin to vent her wrath, the doorbell rang. Asuka went to answer and...

"Kaji!!!!"

The tall, unshaven man smiled as Asuka grabbed hold of him in a fierce hug. Shinji stood up and greeted him as well.

"Mr. Kaji. Hi."

Asuka let him go as Kaji waved at the boy, "Hello Shinji. I'd like to say that I'd dropped by for a social call, but..."

At that moment, alarms blared loudly outside. Asuka backed away and Shinji frowned. The alarms had only one meaning. Angel.

Kaji shrugged, "Since Katsuragi's away, I've been assigned to bring you two in to HQ." He turned, "Let's go."

***************

NERV HQ

The entire command crew, minus Misato and Ritsuko where in the command room. Maya would take Ritsuko position on their health signs and she hoped she was ready for it. This also unfortunately included Commander Ikari as he would be giving the orders directly for the battle. The three Children were assembled before him.

"The Second will take point and begin the initial attack. The First will be her support and The Third will be on stand-by. Now move out."

"Roger."

The three Evas were loaded with their pilots and launched out into the geofront. 01 stayed back while 00 and 02 moved out. Rei piloted toward the left while Asuka went straight forward to the direction of the enemy. Then it came. A black object appeared in view before her.

"There it is." She then took a closer look, "Hey, that's a..."

The black object was close enough to recognize by its shape. It was far too similarly designed to be anything but a...

"The angel's an Eva!"