I do not own Evangelion or any copyrighted material that may appear in this story.
Ok, I think that the previous chapter is a tad unfinished. Lets carry on where we left off ok?
To be honest, I have run out of funny situations the two lovebirds can be in and yet still make this a romance story. So I'll just stick to mushy stuff this chapter. Prepare the insulin!
So without further ado, I present to you
Winning Her Heart In 7 Days
The Cruise – Day 2 (part 2)
For the first time in their lives, Shinji Ikari and Rei Ayanami felt content. Right there and then, they felt that nothing could trouble them or take away their happiness. As long as their other half was there, they could take whatever life throws at them.
That was really something considering what the two had gone through.
"Shinji-kun, what do couples our age usually do?" Rei asked the boy sitting next to her.
I uh… don't really know." The boy replied hesitantly. "I never had a girlfriend before."
Rei nodded and rested her head on Shinji's shoulders. "But if that's the case, how can we progress from here?"
"Relationships do not work like that Rei-chan. It is more of… experimenting with what we like to do together and stuff." The boy replied. Then looking tentative, he asked. "Um Rei-chan?"
"Yes?"
"What do you like to do?"
Rei contemplated the question for a moment before answering with a hint of sadness, "Nothing."
Shinji was taken aback. "Surely there is something you like to do right? Like reading or watching TV."
"I do not enjoy any of the above mentioned activities Shinji-kun." The albino replied in her usual manner. "But I believe I enjoy what we are doing now."
"You mean talking?" Shinji asked.
Rei nodded her head. "Yes. But only with you."
That simple phrase made the timid boy's heart skip a beat and gave his confidencea much-needed boost. Plucking up his courage, he asked shyly. "Can I hold you closer Rei-chan?"
"Yes you may," she replied with a slight quiver in her normally monotonous voice.
Almost immediately, she felt his hands encircling her waist and pulled her closer to him. Rei could not help but think "I have seen boys in school taking advantage of their girlfriends when they are in this position but Shinji-kun behaves like a perfect gentleman." The albino closed her eyes and just concentrated on the moment. "Thank you Shinji-kun, for loving someone as unworthy as me."
Ironically, the boy was thinking along similar lines. "Thank you Rei-chan, for loving a coward like me."
However, they felt complete nonetheless.
Elsewhere onboard the cruise, a poor man was avoiding two very destructive, volatile and unstable women. He had known the both of them long enough to know that the rejected party would eventually cause him a lot of pain, mostly between the groin while the one he accepts would give him a lot of enjoyment; around the groin area as well. Right now, he was still unable to decide upon which one.
"Mr Kaji, where are you?" Asuka said in a singsong voice. "Come out come out wherever you are!"
Misato opted for a more direct approach. "Ryoji! Wanna come out and play with Misa-chan?"
"Man, why do I attract only the dangerous women?" The poor spy thought dejectedly. He was hiding inside a lifeboat while others were out on deck enjoying the sun and the sea breeze.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps coming towards his direction. "Please don't let it be Misato or Asuka, please don't let it be Misato or Asuka." He recited to himself. The footsteps got steadily louder and louder while the poor spy just huddled into a tighter ball. "Funny, I was never so afraid even when I was spying for the government." He thought to himself. To his relief, the footsteps travelled over his location without missing a step. Thinking that the coast was clear, he chanced a peek.
"Mr Kaji! What are you doing here?" Shinji asked the spy inside the lifeboat when he saw his head poking out from it. Rei just observed him with polite interest
"Um… I'm just checking for leaks. Heh, you know the old saying, better be safe than sorry." The spy said sheepishly.
"Agent Kaji, you should be meeting up with the Major and Sohryu-chan. They have been causing a ruckus looking for you." Rei spoke up uncharacteristically.
"NO!" Kaji shouted in panic. "Oh shit, I should not have shouted!"
From behind their location, the spy could hear a voice saying, "That sounded like Mr Kaji!"
Blindly, he ran towards the exit at the far end of the corridor, thinking, "If I run fast enough, I might just make it out alive." Sadly for him, as he neared the exit, he saw a familiar redhead waiting for him with folded arms.
"I have been searching for you everywhere Mr Kaji. Where have you been?" She said huffily.
He turned and ran in the opposite direction, heading towards the other exit of the accursed corridor. As he passed Shinji and Rei again, the boy could not help but ask, "Why are you running Mr Kaji?"
The spy ignored him. His life was at stake here.
Finally, he was nearing the other exit. "Freedom!" The spy thought happily. "Sorry Asuka but I still cannot make up my mind on who to choose…" That line of thought was quickly cut short when Misato appeared in the other exit.
"Oh shit!"
"Ryoji-kun!" Misato shouted happily. "I have given it a lot of thought. If even Rei can find her happiness, I can find mine as well."
Behind, the spy could hear Asuka's footsteps approaching their location. "Mr Kaji! Are you feeling unwell? You look pale…" her voice trailed off when she spotted Misato. "You!"
"Yes me. For your information, I was dating Ryoji-kun way before you were born." Misato replied the redhead. Even though they were like family, Misato was not about to give up her happiness just like that. After all, all's fair in love and war.
Asuka folded her arms and glared at the spy. "Well, I guess you would have to choose between us don't you?"
"Choose?" Kaji said weakly. "I…"
"Agent Kaji should not be choosing only between the both of you." A soft voice could be heard from behind Asuka. "He was being intimate with at least four other NERV employees. They should have a sporting chance as well."
"WHAT?" Misato and Asuka stared at the person in question. "FOUR OTHERS?" They stared to move in towards his position menacingly.
The poor spy turned a pallid shade of blue and proceeded to faint. Eliciting gasps of surprise from the two women.
"You want to kill him?" Misato said to Asuka once they got over their shock.
"No. Castrating him would be a better choice." The redhead replied and proceeded to lug Kaji's motionless body towards the nearest exit.
"Shinji-kun? We should also be on our way. The acting Commander and Sohryu-chan can sort out this situation alone." The same soft voice said to her boyfriend.
Shinji nodded and followed Rei towards the exit, mouthing a silent apology towards Kaji for what his girlfriend had done.
"I do not know how to play the games in here." Rei said as Shinji brought her into the ship's arcade. "You would not be enjoying yourself if you have to spend most of your time teaching me how they operate."
Shinji smiled at his girlfriend. She was as considerate as ever. "Don't be silly. I would like nothing better than to spend time with you. Even if it was to teach you something." He said with conviction.
Rei blushed and gave his hand a little squeeze. "I would like to play that game." She stated and walked towards the shooting games section. "How does it operate?"
Shinji took up the gun that is connected to the machine. "Simple, you just shoot the enemies that appear on the screen using this."
"Just like the simulations during our EVA training?"
"Yep. Come on, we'll play the game together." Shinji said enthusiastically and placed two tokens into the arcade machine. Rei nodded and took up her gun as well.
Five minutes later, they had proceeded to Stage Two without losing even a life. It seemed that their EVA training had indeed paid off. Shinji's attention was starting to wonder when the enemy shot a flashing red bullet towards him (think Time Crisis). Rei's eyes widened to their largest extent as she realised Shinji was in 'mortal' danger.
"Shinji-kun!" She exclaimed and bodily pushed Shinji away from the arcade machine, as if this action would save his virtual self from harm. The both of them tumbled noisily to the floor while curious onlookers just stared at them.
"Oomph!" Shinji gasped in surprise and pain as his girlfriend landed on top of him. "What happened Rei-chan?"
"You were in danger Shinji-kun. I just prevented you from harm." Rei replied matter-of-factly.
The astonished boy could not help but smile. "You are so cute Rei-chan. It was just a game, I won't be hurt."
Rei looked away from his eyes, blushing slightly. "Oh…"
"But I appreciate your concern Rei-chan. Thank you."
Rei gave her boyfriend another of those rare smiles that he treasured so much. "You're welcome." She then decided to rest her head on his chest, wanting nothing but to hear his heart beat, even though they were receiving stares from the other NERV employees.
"Uh Rei?" Shinji stammered.
"Yes?"
"We are in public."
Rei looked up at him. "But I have read that lovers should not be concerned about the opinions of other people."
Having nothing more convincing to argue with her, Shinji conceded and returned his girlfriend's embrace. "I really love you Rei-chan."
The girl flushed an even deeper shade of red. "I… love you a lot too."
Right there and then, no one in the world would argue that they not made for each other.
TO BE CONTINUED
Sorry for such a short chapter but I really cannot think of anything more at this point.
Some interesting things to note: Kaji and Asuka would make a really good couple don't you think? Pity he's too old for her. Maybe given a few years, they could be together. hint hint
I'm feeling guilty to you guys… ah heck, here's an omake as a token of my apology for such a short chapter.
OMAKE"Kaji-kun!" Misato finally managed to corner the hapless spy. "Why are you running from me?"
"I uh… just want to spend some time alone."
"I just wanna ask you a question." The ravishing Major countered. "Think of me and decide which food would be best associated with me. Sushi, curry, steamboat or hamburger."
"What a weird question…" Kaji thought. "Sushi, steamboat, curry or hamburger?"
"Yes."
"I would like to eat your sushi. Then make you so hot until you steam like a steamboat. Spray my curry all over you and finally be the filling in a Misato Asuka hamburger." The perverted man thought.
Out loud, he said, "Um… curry?"
Misato looked slightly disappointed. "Well, I'll take the forty percent chance." She thought and pounced on him like a predator.
For the next 2 hours, Kaji got what he wished for. Except the part about being the filling for a hamburger.