A/N:I still can't find a way to put audio into this thing… well anyway; the music titles are staying. Warn me if I get to technical or if I make to many mistakes.

Warning: None whatsoever… it's actually a very sweet and innocent chapter.

Disclaimer: Must I endure this every single chapter? Alright then… the characters in this fiction do not belong to me and I make no money whatsoever out of this.

Chapter 2

Old friends

Study nº 7 in C sharp minor op.25- Frédéric Chopin

Shinji Ikari, new student at the Haïa Institute of Music, walked slowly through the silent halls of the orchestral department of the facilities. He carried in his arms a bundle of books and papers and was now reading the paper on top of the small stack… a map of the facilities.

Now I'm supposed to go left on this corridor…

He proceeded to do so. The young man had a cheerful smile planted on his lips... there he was, at the school he had been dreaming to frequent for the last three years; he would have the best installations, the greatest lecturers, the finest concert halls and of course the top chances of succeeding in a grand musical career… it was from these walls that for the last ten years the finest fingers, lungs, spirits, minds and talents in the musical background came to the professional environment of the world. There was Vienna, America, the almighty Russia… but the best of interpreters in the chord instruments department had their studies at Haïa; and since Shinji was himself learning the cello he could consider himself in the right place.

And now I turn right and I find…

A dead end came in front of the teenager… after a few minutes he was again walking through the halls of the orchestral department, smile still planted on his happy cheeks.

Sugoi… this place is huge…

Sometimes stray sounds of instruments, steps, or voices erupted from the seemingly omnipresent veil of silence reminding Shinji that in little more than four days he would no longer be able to walk these corridors in such seeming calmness. He turned left at the corridor. The prospect of hundreds of students attending the school sprang something in Shinji's spirit… he wasn't afraid of feeling awkward knowing nobody; it was actually the idea of establishing new relationships… he had had his fair share of bad ones and didn't want to repeat the whole dreadful deal. It was actually one of the things that made the male youth so happy and confident… the idea of social nullity, starting all over, no strings attached; it sounded wonderfully.

Straight ahead after the left turn…

He stared at the exit to the facilities…a few minutes later Shinji was again walking through the corridors of the orchestral department, his smile had been replaced by a fading grin as he looked for some reference he could follow. The bundle in his arms was getting heavier each second, his muscles begging for the rest they had been denied during the flight. He sighed and stopped in the middle of the hall trying the figure out what to do.

Maybe someone will come along the corridor and I can ask for directions… who am I kidding? If there are people, they must be inside the classrooms studying and even if I do find them they probably won't be able to help since I'm as illiterate as a…

And then it came to him… the soft humming sounds of hammers hitting metal chords… piano playing and not to far away. But there was something else that brought Shinji to attention; what was being played precisely at that time. A slow sad tune that reminded him of lost feelings… a calm melody rising from a forest of dark sounds and ominous harmonics.

Chopin!

As if the bundle of papers in his arms had turned into a feather light weight, Shinji darted towards the sound following his ears.

There's only one person that would play Chopin like this!

Left, right, up the stairs, straight… the male figure ran through the corridors at fast pace only stopping when he wasn't sure where the sound had come from. He arrived promptly at the piano section but did not slow down to contemplate his achievement, still focused on the sound that bid him to come to its source. A few seconds later he was in front of a blue coloured wooden door with a glass window, in which was written: "Piano section/ 14". He inhaled sharply trying to catch his breath from the quick sprint and attempted to free one of his arms to knock on the door. The knock came sheepishly, Shinji doubting if he had such great musical recollection.

"Who is it?" A feminine voice, calm and calculated came from the other side of the door.

It's her…

Shinji smiled and said. "You know… you shouldn't play your chords so mathematically. Grief and suffering are never the sort of things you can plan so well."

"Shinji… SHINJI…" The calmness turned into joyful glee as sounds of running feet came to the door and it was swung open revealing a medium sized girl with sky blue hair, snow white skin and striking red eyes. "Shinji… it is you!"

The stack of books came to the floor as the two young teenagers came into each other's arms in a strong embrace. They parted all grins and somewhat childish giggles. Shinji stretched his arms wide.

"Well… I'm here! Told you, you couldn't run away from me Ayanami Rei…"

"I never wanted to Shinji-kun… now get yourself in here."

Shinji grabbed his stuff from the floor and entered the room. It was a small one with a wooden table, two chairs and a black upright piano. He dropped the bundle on top of the table, his arms thanking him for the rest they needed so much. He walked to one of the chairs and sat looking expectantly at his old childhood friend. Rei sat down on the chair in front of him.

"I'm so glad you have arrived… you're so different from two years ago. It's not the same talking over the phone and being right next to you. How has it been for you so far, the Institute?"

Shinji scratched his head smiling. "It's huge… it's going to take me some time for me not to get lost. I just hope this doesn't make me get late to classes."

Rei laughed. "I know what you mean… it took me awhile to walk the halls and know where I was. But it should only take you a few days… just memorize your ways to the different rooms you have to attend and then start exploring when you have time. If you get lost just go back where you were from the start."

Shinji snickered deviously "Thanks mom…"

The blue haired girl frowned and slapped his hand, annoyed. "Well if you don't want my help…" She pouted but only for a few seconds before she returned her happy sisterly expression. "God… it's so good having you here! I still can't believe we'll be living together just a few feet away from each other just like when we were neighbours back at Japan. I've missed you so much… and you have changed a lot; if the photos you sent weren't enough now you're here confirm it. You're not that little scrawny looking boy I met… man I'm old!"

"Thank you… I never thought you considered me scrawny. And about you getting old; please… you're two years older. Don't go all patronizing with me…"

"Well… I do have to act like the big sis around here don't I."

They both exchanged quiet laughs and stared at each other not knowing how to truly express their happiness. Shinji yawned.

"And how have you been… made any friends or does the cold, heartless piano virtuoso act still suit you?"

"You know that I'm not much for friends… few and good, that's what I think. The others can freeze for all I care… besides, I'm not that lonely without you. I've made some new acquaintances and I have a very good friend. I'll introduce you to him when I have the chance… he's here already so you'll probably meet before I'm able to make the proper introductions."

"Oh really…?" Shinji commented with a mocking expression.

"Don't act like that… you're not that young so I can get mad at you if I want to. It's nothing like that… we're just good friends and there will be no more than that between us… believe me, it's not going to happen."

"I guess you're right…" Shinji gave another jaw displacing yawn. "He'd probably die of hypothermia before he could even try anything on you."

"It's not that Shinji…" Her explanation was interrupted by yet another heavy yawn. "What's the matter… haven't you slept since your flight?"

"Hmm… no; I went to see Fuyutsuki before I turned to my quarters." That comment resulted in Rei frowning.

"Uncle Fuyutsuki needs a little remainder that humans need to sleep. You… go right to your quarters. Grab your things and go sleep… 10 hours of flight and a 9 hour jetlag isn't good for anyone."

"Ok, ok… I'm going." He got up grumbling and retrieved the hefty stack from the table. He went for the door and the moment he was about to exit he was caught in Rei's warm hug. She squeezed him gently and gave him a little peck on the cheek.

"Good to have you here little Shinji…"

"Good to be had… and I'm not so little anymore Ayanami."

He received a small smack on the head. "That may be true… but you're still my little Shinji."

"Ai, ai…"

He walked away to his bedroom, leaving Rei to her piano. She played the piece again… but wasn't able to continue… there was no place for grief or torment at that moment. She decided to play Mozart instead.

Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849): Cursed with a very short life, the compositor is the paradigm on the "Romantic artist". Both a great composer and an astounding piano player, his works for piano encompass his withdrawn and temperamental nature. The 24 études (opus 10 and 25) are obligatory for a piano student's repertoire. Study no. 7 op. 25 is one of the slowest (perhaps the only one that can be considered slow) and most introvert since it requires the interpreter to find out what to make of it.

A/N: See… I told you… Shinji's back to his solitary and worried self again… ok, perhaps not with Rei; but she was made for the part of adoptive big sister.

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