I do not own Evangelion or any other stuff that may crop up in this story. This is fan fiction; and fanfic authors never own anything… (Except maybe a computer)
This is a Rei and Shinji centric story since I'm a R/S fan. Sorry Asuka fans but I'm sure there are many other authors out there that can satisfy your cravings.
And like many fanfics out there, it is set in the aftermath of EOE (Boring? Yes but it allows for more development…I think)
So without further ado, I present to you
Winning Her Heart In 7 Days
Prelude
Third Impact never occurred.
Yes, the ultimate goal of the organisation that controlled the world for centuries had been thwarted. All thanks to an undercover triple agent called Ryoji Kaji.
After faking his own death, Kaji presented his considerable findings to the UN, who were increasingly unhappy with SEELE's scenario of "helping" mankind evolve to a perfect state. They agreed to go against their 'Masters'.
With that done, all that NERV and Misato had to do was stop the completed MP EVA series, the invading SEELE forces and Gendo Ikari's madness to prevent another worldwide catastrophe. It was a task easier said than done.
However, Shinji and Asuka's mastery of their Evangelions made short work of the MP EVAs while Misato personally went to incapacitate Gendo Ikari before he could do anything destructive. Overall, the bravery of NERV's personnel saw them through.
Now was a time for celebration.
NERV Banquet
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen, to the commemoration dinner for the brave people of NERV!" the emcee announced to the 1500 guests invited.
Applause.
"We, the members of the public, would like to give our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for your contributions during the Angel Wars as well as the Geofront Incident. (The name for the events that took place during EOE)
"Now I would like to invite acting NERV commander Misato Katsuragi to give us a few words."
A thunderous applause could be heard as the ravishing purple-haired woman walked towards the stage.
"Thank you. Thank you." Misato said, waiting for the applause to die down. "Firstly, I would like to say it is my honour to work with such wonderful and brave people such as yourselves."
"Third Impact was averted not only by a few but by our collective efforts. Therefore, I would propose a toast to us!" Misato said, drawing out loud cheers from the crowd. A few hot-blooded males even hooted when they saw Misato finish her glass in one gulp.
"On a more solemn note, I would want to take this time to remember those who gave their lives on that fateful day." Misato continued after finishing her first toast. "This toast is for them."
The 1500 strong crowd was silenced immediately. Suppressed memories of their fallen comrades inundated their minds once again. Some remembered how their friends had died in order to save them. Others recalled how their colleagues were brutally slaughtered by SEELE forces. They drained their glasses in silence.
Misato allowed them a moment for remembrance before she spoke again.
"Now, I have several important announcements to make. Firstly, NERV will no longer exist to fight Angels since there are no Angels left to fight." She said to a crowd that was still recovering from their recollections.
"However, I am glad to say that we are reassigned to be the science hub of the region since we have the most sophisticated and volatile equipment in the world."
The crowd however, was resolutely silent. Misato knew how they felt and therefore chose this moment to give them a piece of good news.
"Don't worry, you will all keep your posts and your current pay checks." She said, hoping to cheer them up a little.
"Also, before we get on with our new jobs, I have taken the liberty to organise a one week cruise trip for some rest and relaxation. Call this a company retreat or whatever you want but all NERV personnel are invited." She finished off.
This of course was greeted with a hearty applause.
Shinji was quietly sitting at the VIP table during the banquet. Even though he was the hero of most of the battles, the timid boy never wanted much attention, except maybe his father's. Now it seemed he would never be able to get even that, as Gendo was jailed for life due to "crimes against humanity"
Shinji sighed as he looked over at the girl opposite him. Unlike him, Asuka was revelling at the attention lavished upon her. "At least one of us is happy," he thought.
Seeing Asuka's excited demeanour, Shinji could not help but think of the one absent. Although he tried inviting her to the banquet over and over again, Rei refused him point blank.
"Why was she so adamant about not coming?" he said to himself.
Unfortunately, Asuka overheard this.
"Who is she?" she snapped. "Don't mumble."
"I wasn't talking to you." Shinji retorted without thinking.
"What?"
"Um… I meant that I was just speaking my thoughts, no one was meant to hear it," he said in his defence.
"Well now I heard it, so spit it out!" Asuka demanded.
"…"
"I'll count to three and then I'll call Misato."
"…"
"1"
"2"
"Ok, ok, I was wondering why Rei insisted so strongly about not coming." Shinji finally conceded.
"Feh. Who cares about the Wonderdoll? It was her who almost caused Third Impact remember?" Asuka said with a dismissing tone.
Shinji was not one who would let a friend be insulted and take it lying down. "She was brainwashed by my father, I'm sure she didn't mean to do any of this."
"So someone is speaking up for the doll eh?" Asuka countered. "Is the Commander's son trying to protect his doll?"
Shinji's face contorted at that remark. "You take that back."
"Ok, ok, I was just kidding… no need to get angry." Asuka said airily. "But seriously, are you doing this because you like her?"
"No!" The timid boy said hurriedly.
"Hah you're blushing."
"No I'm not! I am doing this because she's my friend!" Shinji said hotly.
"Fine, so be it." Asuka said finally. "You are so boring."
Silence then passed between the two. It was an awkward, sustained and strained moment, as if they both wanted to say something but thought better of it. Asuka was swirling the wine in her glass while Shinji just looked at the stage as Misato gave her speech.
Finally, Asuka could not take the atmosphere anymore and went in search for Kaji saying, "At least he's not a boring twit like you!"
Shinji said nothing as he glanced at the departing fiery redhead. "Silence was comfortable with Rei." He mused.
Then, he heard Misato's announcement about the cruise trip. A spark of hope rekindled in his heart.
"Maybe I could ask Rei to come for this cruise. She is a NERV employee after all." He thought.
Although he kept saying that he did not like Rei, it seemed that Shinji had unconsciously fallen for her a long time ago.
"Yes, she could not refuse coming to the cruise trip." He thought happily.
The rest of the evening seemed to move in slow motion for Shinji; all he could think about was to get the information to Rei as soon as possible. Finally, during the dance segment of the dinner, Shinji decided to go to her house and ask her.
Asuka saw him standing up as soon as the lights dimmed for the dance. "Wow baka, I didn't know you were the dancing type."
"I'm not. I'm going home." He replied and left.
Apartment 402
Shinji looked at the door tentatively, subconsciously reminding himself not to look at Rei unless he was absolutely sure she was dressed. Knowing that the doorbell was still spoilt, he knocked on the door.
"Rei? Are you home? Its me Shinji." He said.
Nothing.
"I have something I want to ask you, please open the door."
Then, he heard a loud thud from the room. Ignoring all social niceties, he opened the door and rushed in only to see Rei lying in a pool of blood, her wrists slashed.
"REI!" he shouted as he rushed to her aid. "What are you doing?"
All he got was a blank look from the girl, although her face was considerably paler than before.
"What am I going to do?" Shinji asked no one in particular. "Why did you have to kill yourself?"
Rei, despite suffering from loss of blood, was not trained to ignore direct questions. Therefore, she drew a shuddering breath and spoke.
"Third Impact has failed. There is no more reason for my continued existence." The albino said in rasping breaths.
"Don't say that silly! Lie down while I apply pressure on the wound." Shinji said in a panic.
Rei did as she was told. However, something was nagging at the back of her head.
"Why did you come?"
Shinji looked at her incredulously. "Don't speak, you'll need all the energy you have if you are to survive the night."
"Why did you come?" She said again.
Shinji sighed. "There is this cruise trip that NERV is organising. I wanted to ask you to go."
Seemingly satisfied with the answer, Rei said nothing and lay down on the floor again.
Shinji looked at her and gave another sigh. "What did you do to her dad?"
The paramedics arrived shortly afterwards.
Tokyo-3 Municipal Hospital
Misato and the two former EVA pilots were waiting outside the ward. One of the pilots was pacing back and forth; anxiously peering at the door in the hope of any news while the other however, just sat and played a Gameboy.
"Lighten up already, you can't help by walking up and down. If anything, you'll use up the extra oxygen she needs to make a recovery." Asuka told the boy.
Shinji stopped pacing. "I'm just nervous… and stop bullshitting me Asuka." The boy replied, although he did go to sit down just in case.
"Seems someone is really concerned for the girl eh?" Misato observed. Shinji's behaviour is actually quite readable once she got used to him.
"Nn..nn..oo" Shinji stammered. "We're just very good friends…"
"A good friend that ignores you most of the time." Asuka countered.
"Face it Shinji, you are in love with her, although I cannot for the life of me, understand why." Misato continued.
"…"
"Hey don't you go silent on me now!"
"I think she is very…unique. She is gentle and quiet and beautiful as well." Shinji finally confessed.
The two females looked at him in total disbelief. Did Shinji just admit his feelings? He must like Rei a lot.
"So when are you gonna tell her?" Misato asked hesitantly.
"I know! How about telling her during the cruise?" Asuka offered.
"I… I… She'll never agree…" Shinji said sadly.
"Come on, with me and Misato helping you, she'll definitely agree; although whether she'll fall for you is entirely dependent on you." Asuka continued.
Shinji looked at the ward once again. "I guess there's no harm trying…"
"That's my boy." Misato said. "Now lets hope the doctor lets us in sooner rather than later."
After waiting another two hours, during which Asuka finally completed her Pokemon Gold Version on the Gameboy, the doctor finally exited the emergency ward.
"You may see the patient now but please do not do anything to over exert her." He said simply before walking away. Her unusual physical make up was freaking him out.
The three NERV employees nodded and entered.
Rei was lying on the bed wearing a plain light blue hospital garment. She had a lifeless look in her eyes as she scanned her visitors. Any other person would state that she was either rude or too distant. Shinji however, thought she looked beautiful.
"Hi Rei!" Misato said brightly.
"Major Katsuragi." Rei acknowledged her.
"Call me Misato. We're no longer fighting Angels you know." The purple haired woman replied.
Rei remained silent at that.
"Ayanami-san, um… we were wondering if um… you would like to go to the cruise trip…" he stuttered.
Unlike her previous reaction towards Misato, Rei looked at Shinji with an expression that almost resembled confusion. However, she still said nothing. Finally, Asuka could not stand their indecisiveness and said, "He likes you Wondergirl! Man, are you blind?"
Shinji blinked stupidly when he heard Asuka's statement. "I uh… um… yeah… uh… I what?"
"Just admit it Shinji! Stop being such a coward." She snapped. "Tell her that you like her."
"Oh my…" was all Misato managed to utter. "This is going to be interesting!"
Shinji stared at the women in the room desperately, hoping for some way to extricate himself from this predicament. "What the…" he looked at Rei, who was looking at him patiently. Finally he did the only thing he was good at, he ran away.
For a few seconds, the remaining three people in the ward just stared at the open doorway. Then, Asuka muttered under her breath, "Coward."
Misato seemed to agree with that as she nodded her head and motioned for Asuka to leave the ward.
"Take care Rei, we'll come visit again." She said.
As she turned to leave, the former Major heard Rei mutter something inaudible. Thinking she was in some sort of discomfort, Misato whirled around to see if she was ok. What she saw surprised her.
Rei was blushing slightly as she looked at the ground. "I…wish … to go to the cruise trip."
Misato looked at the girl and smiled. "I think Shinji would like to hear that."
TO BE CONTINUEDOk this is my first serious fanfic. Personally, I feel this story is quite awkward. How do you guys feel? Do review and tell me if this is worth continuing.
Pre-read done by my classmates, Tjoe and Wenlin. Oh ya, my sis as well.