Disclaimer: see chapter 1.

Folded Wings

By Random1377

Chapter 7

Much of the week passed without incident. Rei went about her business, Kaji went about his, and rarely did their paths cross for more than a few minutes at a time. Their conversations were polite, but generally shallow, as each was preoccupied with other thoughts.

By Wednesday, Rei was starting to feel the slightest bit uncomfortable, as she had not yet managed to gather any friends. By Thursday, she was dividing her time between staring out the window (to avoid undue attention) and actively considering each and every classmate one by one in a vain attempt to find one suitable enough to approach.

When Friday came around, the First Child was treated to her very first taste of an emotion previously unknown to her.

Panic.

Admittedly, it was only the barest hint, but for Rei, it was quite a learning experience.

Desperate times, she decided, called for desperate measures.

"Souryu…?"

Asuka did not glance up from her lunch. "What?"

"May I speak with you?"

"Must you?"

"Yes."

Heaving a disgusted sigh, Asuka drove her chopsticks into her bento. "Speak then, loser," she grumbled, "but make it quick… talking to you ruins my digestion."

Rei nodded. "When you first arrived," she said carefully, "you said that you felt it would be convenient for us to be friends."

"Do you have a point here," Asuka wondered, "or is a person asking you to hang out so rare that you have to live off the memory of it happening?"

Ignoring this question, Rei murmured, "Do you still feel that it would be convenient for you?"

"Nope," Asuka said with some satisfaction, "not at all… but out of sheer, morbid curiosity – were you ordered to?"

In a sense…

Considering her options, Rei realized that this was a do or die situation. "May I call you my friend…?"

Asuka'a laughter was unpleasant. "H… ha!" the redhead gasped, covering her mouth in an attempt to be at least mildly discreet, "you're… you're kidding, right? Do what you want, dork, I couldn't care less – just don't come over and think you're gonna hang out or anything, because I have real friends for that."

"I understand…"

As the First walked back to her desk, Shinji leaned over and murmured, "What was that about, Asuka?"

"Hell if I know," Asuka replied, stirring her food for a moment before adding, "I think she was hitting on me."

"Really?"

Asuka's hand flew out before Shinji could respond, clipping him lightly on the side of the head as she growled, "No, you idiot! I was being stupid! God!"

"Ok, ok!" Shinji groaned, rubbing his temple as he shrank back from the annoyed redhead. He hesitated for a moment, debating whether or not he should mention that the First had nearly (he was pretty sure) asked him out the week before.

I better not, he thought, quickly averting his eyes as he noticed Rei glancing his way, I don't know if she was going to ask that anyway. He frowned slightly as he stared down at his own meal, thinking, If she was… would I have said yes?

Finding this question too complicated to tackle over lunch, Shinji decided to push it off to another time – a skill in which he was, even at his young age, a virtuoso.

( 0 0 0 )

Kaji sighed as he pushed the door to his apartment open on Friday evening. "You left it unlocked again."

Glancing up from where she was doing homework at the kitchen table, Rei murmured, "Forgive me. I am still not in the habit of using locks."

"I'm still not… oh forget it."

Rei set her pencil down as Kaji closed the door, locking it firmly before turning his attention back to her. She averted her eyes as the man strode over to her, towering over her as she stared at the backs of her fingers.

"Shouldn't you be packing?"

"You are… that confident in my failure?" Rei whispered.

"Well you did get the Commander's signature," Kaji admitted, "you'll have to tell me how you managed that someday… but when it comes to social interaction – and don't take this the wrong way – yeah, I think you failed."

Rei slowly closed her notebook. "Is there any other way to take that?"

Kaji smiled. "No," he said lightly, "but my mother always said, 'if you're going to insult someone, try to do it politely.'"

"I see."

"So… are you going to be packing, or keeping that spare key a while longer?"

Reaching into her pocket, Rei pulled out the spare key to the apartment, setting it on the table with a soft 'click' of metal on laminate.

"I leave that decision to you."

"Then get out."

"Yes, sir…"

Rei gave a polite bow, gathering her school things without a sound before turning for the door. As she passed him, however, Kaji murmured, "You're not even going to try to convince me to let you stay?"

"Would it make a difference?"

"…probably not."

"Then it would be a waste of both of our time."

"Humor me."

"Pardon?"

Slowly, Kaji turned to face the girl.

"Convince me to let you stay."

Considering this directive for a moment, Rei finally set her books on the back of Kaji's couch. "I have not fulfilled your requirements," she said carefully, "what else may I offer to sway your decision?"

Kaji shrugged. "I don't know," he admitted, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "I guess I just kind of wanted to see what you would come up with."

"I… do not know what else I can offer you other than my body…"

"Guh!" Kaji nearly choked. "Where the hell do you come up with this crap? First the 'naked under the coat' bit, and now, 'I'll screw you if I can stay here.' Who have you been talking to?"

Rei was unembarrassed. "I have heard of such arrangements in movies," she said calmly, "as for the coat… I am not well versed in this type of relationship, so I consulted a popular women's magazine for suggestions."

Dragging his hands over his face, Kaji groaned.

"Figures."

"Mister Kaji?"

"Hmm?"

"What is it that you are looking for?"

Kaji sighed. "Spontaneity, I guess," he shrugged. "I think, maybe, I was hoping that you weren't really what I see…"

Frowning faintly, Rei whispered, "Which is?"

Looking her straight in the eye, Kaji replied, "Well it's just like Asuka's always saying, isn't it? You do anything you're told, and when you finally do show a spark of personality, you allow it to be crushed without even putting up a fight."

"That is an unfair conclusion," Rei countered immediately, "it has taken much to allow me to see what you yourself said I should see. I have spread my wings, Mister Kaji, and I stand at the end of the nest, prepared to fly… I would-"

"God, shut up about the wings already," Kaji snorted, "it's a line, Rei – I use it to pick up women."

Rei gazed up into his eyes, her conviction unwavering as she said, "That does not make it less true. I know that it is not your obligation to take me in, especially not when I have not done as you said I must, but I… why are you smiling…?"

Kaji reached out, putting his hand lightly on top of the First's head.

"Miss Ayanami?"

"Yes…?"

"Would you do me the honor of staying here?"

More confused than ever, Rei whispered, "I do not understand…"

"Take it or leave it," Kaji shot back, "a roof over your head and my lame company are yours for the asking. Going once… going twice… go-"

"I accept."

Kaji ruffled her hair.

"Good."

Turning on his heel, the man wandered off to his bedroom, shutting the door without another word and leaving Rei in a state of confusion so profound it bordered on the abstract.

How was she supposed to react in a situation like this?

She had somehow – God alone knew how – secured her place in Mister Kaji's apartment… though what had changed the man's mind, the First Child could not fathom. There was, of course, no way for her to know that Kaji had bumped into Asuka at NERV earlier in the evening and talked to the redhead at length about everything from school to EVA. Even had she known, however, she may not have been able to grasp why, exactly, her decision not to use Asuka's careless 'do what you want' comment on the topic of friendship as leverage had impressed the man.

Indeed, had she known all of the man's labyrinthine calculations, she still may not have been able to puzzle out why he had chosen to relent.

I suppose it does not matter for the time being, she mused, shaking herself from her ruminations and picking her schoolwork back up off the couch. What an odd turn of events…

( 0 0 0 )

Saturday morning arrived with an odd sense of impending doom. Rei had tangled with the Commander – sort of – and gained his permission, and while Horaki had rejected her, leaving her unable to find a substitute, Mister Kaji was still allowing her to stay.

Something bad was bound to happen – karmic law demanded it.

"Ayanami."

Rei glanced up as Hikari approached her desk.

Now, she thought, the repercussions would begin.

"Yes?"

Hikari sat down in the seat next to Rei's. "I saw that you put in an updated address form this morning," the class rep began coolly, "moving in with a relative?"

Rei shook her head. "No," she answered, "a work associate."

"Ah," Hikari said, "I see, well, I'll have the information entered in the school's database by lunch time."

"Alright…"

The girl hesitated.

"Your new address…" she said slowly.

"Yes?"

Hikari rose to her feet, giving Rei a tiny smile. "It's only a couple blocks from my house."

Rei digested this information, trying to understand its significance.

Seeing that the blue-haired girl was not getting it, Hikari sighed. "If you'd like to walk together…"

Blinking as realization sank in, Rei nodded. "Yes," she said softly, "yes, I would like that."

"Alright," Hikari said approvingly, "I leave at about six, so I should be around your new place by six-fifteen. See you Monday." She started back towards her desk, but paused, keeping her eyes facing forward as she whispered, "Oh, and umm… I'm sorry about the other day. I didn't mean to snap at you, I just had some other stuff on my mind."

Before Rei could reply, the class rep walked away.

Rei leaned back in her seat, planting her hands flat on the desk and spreading her fingers apart like a fan.

How… unexpected.

Though it was a bit late, Rei resolved to tell Mister Kaji about this development as soon as he arrived home from work.

She was to be disappointed as she found a note reading simply, 'don't wait up,' waiting for her on the couch.

Continued…

No pre-reader for this chapter – or any chapter. Good gravy, why do I keep noting this? Ok, let's make it simple… this story is not going to be pre-read for any chapter. There, now I won't have to say it every time.

Feedback is always welcome on any site with reviewing capabilities or by e-mailing me directly at random1377(at)yahoo(dot)com.