Great Pilot Ikari (GPI)
An Eva/GTO crossover
Disclaimer: Other then ideas I do not own anything...seriously.
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--XX-- :Denotes scene change
: Denotes same scene/time different point of view
Chapter 4: Chance Encounters
'You know humans are very selfish creatures. So if someone tries to help you out, it's only because they care. And you need to be aware of these people or else you'll loose them.' Onizuka's voice still taunting Auska as she took one angry step after an other towards Hikari's house.
'Fuck you Onizuka, what would you know about me or anything I've been through? You wouldn't! How dare you try to solve my problems when you can't even begin to fathom what I've been through. Do you really even care what happens to me or is that just a line. Fuck You...' "Fuck you Onizuka."
"What do ya know, guess we're no the only ones annoyed by that orangutan."
"So Auska, what are you doin wondering around like your on a mission?" Anko asked from Miyabi's side.
"Anywhere is better then being at home and listening to that pig try to get into Misato's pants."
"That damn Onizuka still up to his usual games." Miyabi said with anger.
"WHAT! He really dose that? oh man I was only trying to find something to get mad about..."
"Yeah Onizuka's a perv, I mean the whole reason he started that teacher parent dating thing was because he had the hots for Murai's mom. But I'm sure you figured that out just by lookin at him." Anko said
"Dating!"
"Yup, dating young moms and making it seem like it's not a date. I mean how underhanded can you be." Miyabi continued trying to further aggravate Auska.
"First off lets get one thing straight, Misato isn't my mother. Err Damn Onizuka making me thing he actually cared."
"Onizuka doesn't care about his students, it's just an act to look good for someone else." Miyabi said fueling Auska's rage.
"Hey Auska, what's up? You seem more aggravated then usual." Anko said as Auska turned a death glare to her.
"Nothing." Auska said flatly
"Relax Auska, we're not trying to be your enemy. On the contrary, we want to be your friends." Miyabi said reassuringly.
"Yeah, don't mind me. I'm just a little P-O'ed."
"Hey Rei, I don't see them. Maybe we should give up."
"There." Rei said softly. As she quickened her step and Shinji followed curiously. "This is Mr. Onizuka's motorcycle."
"In here?" Shinji questioned. "This is a pretty fancy restaurant. Seems like a hot place for..." Shinji stopped mid-sentence as Rei turned to face him leaving little space between the two.
"Wait here, I'll go check if they're in there." Rei ordered.
'Rei is being really assertive. Wonder what's gotten into her.'
"This has got to be the worst day of my life." Auska said to the girls as they walked down the street.
"Hmm, could it be because of...Shinji?" Anko paused but managing to get that last word out.
"WHAT? of Course not."
"No I mean look over there it's Shinji!" Anko exclaimed as she stopped the other girls to point him out on the other side of the street.
"What is he doin out here at this hour." 'Maybe he came to look for me.' Auska thought to her self as she remembered that time he came to comfort her after one of there many botched attempts at synching. 'Your such a good friend, why do I treat you the way I do?'
"Maybe he's on a hot date." Miyabi said trying to get a rise out of the two girls who returned very narrow angry eyes at her. "WHAT? I'm just saying. After all how man people just wait outside of a couples restaurant for no reason?"
"Ha!" Auska exclaimed as she tried to reassure herself. "I don't think Shinji's the romantic type, he's too boring. He probably can't even spell romantic."
Anko and Auska' eyes went wide when they saw Rei emerge from the restaurant and grabbed Shinji's wrist. They noticed she scanned their surroundings before exchanging some words with Shinji and then leading him in to the restaurant.
"Oh there you are Rei."
"I have found them, they are inside."
Rei grabbed Shinji by his wrist and was about to lead him into the restaurant when she paused for a moment and looked around.
"What's wrong Rei?"
"I had this feeling that we were being watched."
"Section 2?"
"I don't know, but whatever lets go." She said with a smile as she led him into the restaurant.
'Did Rei just say whatever?'
The two entered the restaurant and could see Misato and Onizuka being seated at their table. Shinji and Rei repositioned themselves behind a coat rack and a plant for a better view.
"What are they doing?" Shinji asked as he struggled to stay hidden behind the plant but amazingly remained inconspicuous.
"They are just ordering." Rei replied without taking her eyes off the couple.
As the two watched Misato and Onizuka carry on their conversation they hadn't noticed that they had drawn the attention of a pony-tailed man wearing glasses, until he cleared his throat.
"Eh-hm. Is that fern and coat rack to your liking or would you like me to arrange a table for you two this evening."
"Heh heh, actually, um we we're um just..." Shinji stumbled with his words as he tried to make up a believable excuse.
"Yes, we would appreciate it very much. Preferably something quiet and secluded." Rei interjected.
A mischievous grin grew on the host's face, "I see. Will that be smoking or non smoking?"
"We're 14..." Shinji said flatly.
"Exactly, I was 14 once too you know..." The host winked implying mischief and adolescent shenanigans in a creepy way.
Rei look towards Misatos direction and saw Onizuka pull out a cigarette. "Non-smoking please." Rei replied as she turned her attention back to the host.
"Alright Ma'am I'll have your table ready shortly." The host said as he left to make the arrangements.
"What a pot head, of course we wanted non-smoking... Wait a minute what am I talking about, Rei you can seriously be thinking of getting a table, what if they see us?"
"No it's perfect, Look, Mr. Onizuka is smoking which means that's the smoking zone, and that makes those tables over there the non smoking zone." Rei responded as she pointed out the tables to Shinji. "And that non-smoking table that is in that quiet secluded corner is close enough to observe the Captain and Mr. Onizuka without them noticing us."
"Wow Rei your really observant."
"Heh he, thanks."
'Wow Rei just giggled, it was kinda cute. Weird, but cute.'
"Hey isn't that our waiter?" Shinji though out loud.
"YOUR KIDDING!"
"Nope I swear, of all the cars in the parking lot it was the VP's Cresta...again."
"Sorry Mr. Onizuka, but I'll have to ask that you reframe from lighting that cigarette, because this is a non smoking zone."
"Oh I'm sorry, it was just a habit." Onizuka said as he put the cigarette back into the pack.
"Uh, Rei why is our waiter talking to Onizuka?"
"I don't know."
They watched as their waiter placed two menus on the table of a nice quiet secluded booth a mere fifteen feet from behind Misato and in Onizuka's line of sight. The waiter then looked up towards the two teens in the foyer and gestured with his fingers that their table was ready.
"Uh Rei, how are we going to get to that table without them noticing us?"
"um..." Rei thought in shock at her first ever miscalculation as she tried to come up with a quick fix. "Quick Shinji give me you cell phone."
"My cell phone? Where's yours?" Shinji questioned as he dug out the device. Rei simply ignored his question as she took a second to remember the number that was on the poor excuse of a syllabus Onizuka had handed out. Shinji watched Rei dial in the numbers and waited for an answer. He heard the ring of a cell phone coming from the direction of Misato's and Onizuka's table but was more focused on the girl with his cell phone who just continued to surprise him that night.
"Hello, is this a Mr. Ekichi Onizuka? This is Kairi Ando at the Tokyo 3 impound lot. Your motorcycle will have to be claimed tomorrow at 10am. Thank you have a nice day." Rei said calmly and smoothly not allowing Onizuka a chance to speak. Just as Rei thought Onizuka excused himself from the table. Rei and Shinji turned around and pretended to look out the window so that Onizuka wouldn't see them. After Onizuka exited the building the two teens went to their prepared table that thankfully was placed behind the waiting Misato. The two quickly and quietly made their way across the restaurant, took their seat in their booth and buried their heads in their menus in case they had unknowingly caught Misato's attention.
"Are you two ready to order? Or would like a few minutes?" the Waiter asked.
"Just a few more minutes please." Rei said with a smile. There was just something about Rei's smile that seemed to make all of Shinji's anxiety melt away. Of all the changes in Rei he had witnessed that day he was glad to see that here genuine smiled was still the same.
"Uh, would you mind getting us something to drink." Shinji said timidly to the waiter that was about to leave.
"Of course Sir." The waiter said with that weird smile of his.
"Why is that waiter always smiling like that?" Shinji asked.
"Like what?" Rei asked back confused not really taking the time to notice the waiter's behaviors.
"Never mind." Shinji sigh thinking he might just be overly paranoid.
"Rei can I ask you somthi...Oh crap Onizuka's back." Shinji said seeing as his seat was facing the front door. Rei took a quick glimpse over her shoulder and quickly turned her head back. The two teens raised their menus to cover their faces from the approaching Onizuka. Onizuka simply walked past them and eagerly took his seat with Misato and continued their date. Rei and Shinji slowly raised their heads from their menus just enough to look over them and observe the two at the table near by. Just as they got a good view, two waiters returned only to block it. Shinji looked up at the man's face who was smiling his weird smile.
"You again?" Shinji said with a heavy sigh and annoyance in his voice.
"Your drink sir." The waiter said as he showed the bottles label to both Shinji and Rei while the other waiter set up the ice bucket and candles on the table.
"Uh, we're underage." Shinji said still annoyed at this man's incompetence.
"Yes, you've stated that." The waiter said back.
"What makes you think we can afford this?" Shinji shot back.
"Because it's only Dom Perion, it's not Crystal." The waiter stated as if it where something obvious.
"It's still at least a $100 bottle of champagne. You think a couple of 14 year olds have that kind of money?"
"Don't worry it's on the house."
"You really give away $100 bottles of champagne to kids?" Shinji questioned.
"No, but this restaurant has a reputation as being the most romantic in the entire city, and a young man such as yourself looks like he can use a little help." The waiter said whispering the last part to Shinji. Slightly confused Shinji looked over to Rei's direction. He was stunned to see her with her chin resting in her palm as she looked in Misato's and Onizuka's direction. Even in the dim restaurant she seem to be surrounded by a beautiful glow which was enhanced by the candle light. Before he left the waiter stuck the bottle in the ice bucket and leaned over to whisper into Shinji's ear.
"By Romantic I mean they get lucky….Bong." The waiter said as he left before Shinji could comment.
"Weirdo." Shinji said under his breath. He then turned his attention to the bottle sitting in the bucket of ice. "Oh well. Waste-not want-not."
The rustling of the ice caught Rei's attention. "Shinji, I do not believe it is wise to drink."
"They gave us a bottle of free expensive champagne. Might as well taste it."
"I suppose your reasoning makes sense." Rei sad as she picked up both of the champagne flutes and slid across the both closer to Shinji. As Rei scooted across the u-shaped bench seat to Shinji's side, he turned his focus from the champagne bottle to Rei. However as Rei leaned in for the final scoot Shinji's eyes were mysteriously pulled downward and was treated with a view down the top of Rei's Shirt. Rei came to a stop resting shoulder to shoulder next to Shinji and lifted her head to meet his blushing stare with that genuine one of a kind Rei Ayanami Smile. Shinji was lost deep in her red eye, so lost he didn't know he was shaking. Even if he did he wouldn't know if it was from nervousness, excitement, or the fact that somewhere between Misato's apartment and their table the top two buttons on Rei's school uniform had come undone.
"I don't understand it." Rei said with a hint of that smile left on the corner of her lips.
"don't understand what Rei?"
"Something about being close to you, it just makes me…happy."
Shinji could not bring himself to say anything, however what he was feeling was best conveyed metaphorically when the cork of the champagne bottle finally gave way to the building pressure. The cork hit some unsuspecting patron but Shinji was still amazed by Rei's choice in under garments.
"Shinji, say something."
"…Black lace…" Shinji mumbled as a trickle of blood found it's way out of Shinji's noise.
"What." Rei said not quiet hearing Shinji's comment.
"ah, I mean…huh?"
"Oww." Onizuka said rubbing his head and examining the cork floating in his soup as Misato chuckled finding the incident rather amusing. "What the hell? I don't believe it."
"What?" Misatos said as she got ready to turn her head in the direction in which Onizuka was staring.
"No, don't look." He said in a shouting whisper as Misato turned her attention back to Onizuka.
"Why, what's wrong?" Misato replied with curiosity.
"There are two kids in a both to your back right." Onizuka informed Misato as he appeared to be looking at her but was actually watching the two behind her. "I think it's Shinji and Rei.
Misato noticed Onizuka's eyes quickly return to her own. "Well, what's going on." Misato said dying for a better situation report.
"Wells Shinji's watching us…"
"Yeah so? They came here to spy on us, of course they're watching us."
"Shinji's watching us, but Rei's watching Shinji." Onizuka said with a grin.
"Are you serious?" Misato said with joy. "You know I think that's what Shinji needs to break him out of his shell."
"What, Champagne?" Onizuka said not quiet following what Misato was getting at.
"No a relationship."
"Oh, right, gotcha. Hey I've got an idea."
"Look at them. They look like they're enjoying themselves." Shinji said with a hopeless smile.
"That's a good sign when your on a date, is it not?" Rei said as she took a sip of her champagne. "Do you mind if I ask you something Shinji?"
Shinji brought the bubbly drink up to his mouth for a taste. "Sure what is it Rei?" He said as he took more of the champagne into his mouth with approval.
"How many dates have you gone on?"
The contents of Shinji's mouth ended up in a ball of mist over the table. "Um, a lot" Shinji said with false pride. "I mean a couple… Honestly Rei I've never been on a date before." Shinji then turned his attention back to Onizuka and Misato.
Rei leaned in and rested her head on Shinji's shoulder. "So your in the same situation as me." Rei said softly and shyly. Shinji was slowly sinking into a depressed mood as he watch Misato and Onizuka carry on. He then started to evaluate his life.
"It must be great to have someone you can connect with and just be yourself. I wish life was like a movie and you knew who you're suppose to fall in love with, leave all the hard decisions to a writer. All that stuff you see in the movies where people can just tell they're meant for each other is just bullshit…" Shinji stopped and turned to Rei who was now leaning her head on his shoulder and was now crossing her fingers into his. Rei then turned to face Shinji with a blush.
"I don't think it is."
"Wow they seem comfortable. Now would be a good time to make our escape."
Given the intimate moment the two teens where sharing Misato's and Onizuka's escape was next to effortless. Just before exiting the restaurant the waiter/owner of the establishment caught up to Onizuka.
"Hey Ryuji man, thanks again for helping me out."
"No problem. Now that you've finally paid back everything you owe me I guess your in a hurry to ring up another debt."
"Not this time my friend." Onizuka said pulling a large stack of bills folded in half. He started to count out the cash for the bill and a generous tip. "Being one of the few teachers crazy enough to stay in this city dose have it's advantages."
"Same here." Ryuji said as he held up Onizuka's payment and put it into a very full cash register. "This restaurant is making me more money then that garage ever did."
"You've always had a knack for business. By the way Ryuji do you mind doing me one more favor?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"See those kids back there, take care of them for us would you."
"Well alright.." He said as he began to pull out a biker jacket, mask and gun from behind the register.
"Whoa whoa, whoa. I mean take care of them, not take care of them."
"Oh sorry, I thought they were more of your rowdy students. Don't worry already one step ahead of you. See that bottle of Dom?" Ryuji asked and smiled with pride.
"Hey you ass you never gave us a bottle of champagne."
"Well you didn't order any, besides if I did you'd never leave…"
Misato took this time to cut in. "We really have to get going. You have a beautiful restaurant Mr. Ryuji. Here's my address, you can just send their bill to me. Bye now."
"Later Buddy." Onizuka said with a wave as he walked out of the restaurant arm in arm with Misato.
"He never changes."
"Whew I'm beat. I guess I'd better head home. I'll see you guys tomorrow?"
"Alright, good night Miyabi." Anko replied as she waved her off as they parted ways. Anko was surprised when she turned and discovered that Auska had not stopped walking and continued to walk down the street with the same expression on her face as if she where in a trance.
"What is goin on with that girl?" Anko said to herself. "Hey Auska wait up." She called up, however Auska didn't reply, she just kept walking. "Yoo-hoo, Auska." "Anko waved her hand up and down in front of her face as she finally caught up with her.
"Oh huh?" Auska said as she snapped out of her trans.
"What's up Auska, you've been acting gloomy all night."
"Oh it's nothing. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Definitely seems like it. Dose it have anything to do with Shinji and Rei?"
Auska eyes narrowed as they focused on Anko. "I've noticed that you only get like that when you see them together, like back at the restaurant, and in the classroom."
"I'm just not feeling well alright. It has nothing to do with Shinji. Besides, he's just a weak little cry baby who runs away from his problem just like the coward he is. He isn't worthy of me."
"Is that so?"
"That's what I said isn't it.?"
Anko face seemed to light up with joy, "Well then I guess you won't mind if I ask him out then."
Auska, at a loss for words, blurted out something to help relieve the pressure that was unexpectedly put on her. "Do what you want. I'm going home."
Taking Auska's words as praise she turned and started to walk down the street in the opposite direction of Auska.
"You do realize she's someone you don't want to piss off unless your ready to face her wrath right?" Said a voice from the alley. Anko turned to see a young girl about her age with short black hair tied into two pony tails and long bangs that covered the left side of her face leaning up against the wall with her hands inside her jacket pockets.
"She's had her chance. I even asked her and she still denied it." Anko said coldly playing along with whatever this girls game was. "So may I ask who the hell you are?"
"You don't need to know that yet." She said as a small alarm was heard coming from her cell phone. "But right now I have to go." She said as she brought the phone up to her ear and proceed down the dark alley. Anko continued walking but not before she noticed two men with suits and sunglasses suddenly cross the street and into the alley.
"Guess that know it all bitch is goin to get what's coming to her."
Auska entered the apartment and noticed the kitchen light what one. She wondered into the kitchen and saw both Misato and Onizuka passed out drunk at the table.
"Great, what better way to end the day then to come home to a drunk teacher and a drunker guardian." She said with anger. Auska decided to clean up a little before she retired to her room. The rustling of the beer cans woke Onizuka from his alcohol induced coma.
"Hey I'm still drinking that." Onizuka mumbled as he tried to grab the bottle in Auska's hand.
Auska pulled her arm away before Onizuka could grab it then shoved the label in his face. "This is 409 dumkuoff. But if you really want it go ahead."
Onizuka got up and rubbed his head as he examined his surroundings. He looked at Misato face down on the table. Onizuka stood up and made his way to the opposite end of the table and scooped up Misato. He then made his way to her room and laid her down on her futon and covered her with the blanket. After sliding the her door shut Onizuka noticed that Auska was still cleaning the kitchen.
"So what's on you're mind?" Onizuka asked as he sat back down at the table and rested his head in his palm as he watched the girl restore the messy kitchen to it's cleaner state. "Misato tells me Shinji usually dose all the house work."
"Well the invincible Shinji isn't here right now is he?"
"Your, right, and he probably won't be for a while." Onizuka said with a grin. He then watched as Auska crush the empty beer can in her hand as she tossed it forcefully into the bag.
"Well I'm not his mother so I don't care where he is or who he's with."
"Why do you hate people?"
"I don't hate people, I hate Jerks." She said as she threw another can into the garbage bag.
"Then why do you hate Shinji?"
"Because he's the biggest Jerk of them all."
"Oh, I see."
"See what?"
"I see why you guys act the way you, I just don't understand why you do it." Auska just stared as she tried to decipher what Onizuka just said. "You two care about each other so much you distance yourselves from one another to avoid causing each other pain."
"Huh?" Auska replied not wanting to admit that Onizuka was right. To try and clarify his point Onizuka tried using an analogy that Misato was talking about during dinner.
"Well it's like you two are hedgehogs. You want to be together, but you have spikes so you fight…and then bears come along and try to eat you, but you have spikes you know, so you run around collecting rings with your fox friend who has two tails and can fly, I think his name was Two-Tails, or Fox Hound or something…" Onizuka rambled on slurring his words as he tried to figure out how the story went, and more importantly what story exactly he was telling.
Just as Auska headed towards the front door Onizuka finally got back on track. He spoke up and Auska froze in her tracks.
"The important thing is that you have him. Some one who, despite your abuse, has been there for you. But everything has it's limits and if you keep pushing him away sooner or later you'll loose him for good..
Obviously still drunk Auska simply ignored the ranting Onizuka and left the apartment to throw away the trash. The minutes ticked away as Auska waited for the elevator until she gave up on it and decided to take the stairs. Once she reached the landing she heard a bing and noticed the elevator doors close.
"Nice, now it decides to work." Auska said to her self very annoyed.
What, of course you where…
"Great it's bad enough he works with me, lives with me and goes to school with me, but now his voice is in my head and he's with me even when he's not with me. Sheist!" Auska stepped off of the elevator onto her floor and as she rounded the corner she sees Rei and Shinji at the end of the hall talking in front of the apartment. "Damn it, why do I always run into to those two?" Auska's eye's went wide as she saw Rei lean towards Shinji and kiss him on the cheek. Auska felt a hollowness inside and could do nothing but watch the two laugh and enjoy themselves. Auska was retrieved from her thoughts when she saw the door to the apartment slide open. She watched as Onizuka exchange words with the two teens and then started to walk in her direction. In a panic she ducked back into the elevator and closed the door. With the bing of the elevator bell her vision began to blur as she felt the tears start.
Shinji entered the dim apartment. He took off his shoes and made his way to the light that came from the kitchen. He saw Pen-Pen fiddling with a can of sardines and decided to offer him help. He took the can pulled the tab and returned it to the odd bird. He looked around the kitchen which was actually clean for once and decided to retire to his room for the night. Before he could enter his room he heard the front door slide open.
"Uh hey, Auska." Shinji said taking the initiative to start the conversation. "Your getting home kinda late, did you go out?" He asked timidly
"Oh shut up Third Child. What I do with my time is none of your business. You got that?"
"Um…ok…It's just that your usually home…"
"What are you my mother?"
"No it's just that I…"
"Shut the fuck up, I don't need worry or sympathy from a looser like you! You should just save it for your looser girlfriend, or dose Wonder-slut still not know what feelings are."
For the first time since they met Shinji felt all nervousness and shame he usually felt around Auska vanish. Instead he was consumed with a burning desire to express his feelings towards Auska.
"Fuck you Auska, you don't even know what you're talking about. I don't care what you do or say to me, I'm use to being a disappointment, but don't you ever talk about Rei like that! You don't know her and you sure as hell don't know me! Rei may not openly respond to her feelings, and I sure as hell don't understand mine, but at least we have them, so just fuck off already you fridget bitch."
Auska finally realized what Onizuka was talking about. Auska hung her down in shame and changed her tone. "Is that what you want Shinji? You want me to fuck off and be out of your life for good?"
Shinji approached Auska, who now had tears starting to run down her cheeks, as if to comfort her.
"Right now I don't fucking care what you do as long as it's away from me." Auska's tear came down harder now. Shinji turned to walk away but felt Auska's hand grab his left wrist. However it was different from Auska's usual firm abusive hand. Instead it was weak and pleading. He then felt Auska rest her forehead on his back as she sobbed. He yanked his wrist free from her and walked to his room. He heard Auska drop to her knees but Shinji didn't so much as turn. He just walked into his room placed the ear buds of his SDAT into his ears and laid down in his bed. The music started and that's when the tears came. As his eyes blurred he could only remember that day his father abandoned him. He rolled onto his side and curled into a fetal position as the pain in his chest grew. "What have I done?"
A/N: OOH see, less then a year this time. As you can guess even though Shinji and Rei's relationship has greatly improved they're not going to end up together…but that doesn't mean Neo-Rei isn't going to try ;) look out for the next chapter (which I've been working on parallel to this one so you can see everyone's P.O.V. See you next chapter, Chapter 5: A Transfer…Again/ The Black List and the Black Eva