Every evra boda! Its everyone's most hated author back again for
another update! Ahhh the day the day of chapter 4. NO complaints about
length this time. This chap is at least twice as long as my any of my
previous ones! I've introduced a new character in this chap but its up to
you guys to decide whether I'll keep her or develop her! And Rei And Shinji
are going to have a little talk. Awww! And then Rei is gonna go Badass
maybe? No but still its good. At least I hope so! Hey and nobody told me
what they think of Pen-Pen murdering people and stuff! Screw you guys!
Anyways Random 1337 is still my idol, I'm still a lazy high school
student, and I still don't own Evangelion, Gainax does! But soon I will own
them! Though I doubt it
Changing Attitudes Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Revelations
He sat at his desk staring straight ahead and bored out of his mind. 'Wonder what Ayanami is thinking about today.' He tapped his finger on his desk bored and Asuka thoughts on the matter popped into his head. 'Sometimes it does seem like she doesn't really think for her self at all. Maybe she is a bit like a doll like Asuka says.' He pushed that thought put of his mind. 'No that's ridiculous Shinji, you of all people should know.' He mind flashed back to after the fight with Ramiel. His red laptop messenger icon blinked.
BasketHero Shinji was up man?
CelloMiXMaster Nothing much really.
Eva Unit-05 What's that bruise on your cheek?
CelloMiXMaster Asuka accidentally hit me this morning while she was arguing with Misato.
Eva Unit-05 Ahh Misato.
BasketHero What was that bitch complaining about now?
CelloMiXMaster I'd rather not say.
BasketHero Oh so it's like that now eh?
Eva Unit-05 We see how it is.
BasketHero Guess you don't trust us anymore. Should have guessed this would happen with an Eva pilot. We understand, we wont bother you anymore.
CelloMiXMaster IT'S NOT LIKE THAT! I DIDN'T MEAN THAT!
BasketHero Dude calm down, your so easy.
Eva Unit-04 lol, true.
Touji could be heard cracking up from across the room.
"Mr. Suzuhara have you something to share with the rest of the class?" the old sensei demanded.
"Um NO SIT, er , SIR!" he stumbled.
"Then I suggest you quiet down."
CelloMiXMaster lol, moron
Asuka from across the room activated her messenger program and searched for Shinji. She had found him in Room 545 of Tokyo-3 Chat Network. She clicked on it.
ADMIN You Have Been Blocked From Entering This Chat Room By Administrator Eva Unit-04.
She hit the desk with her fist and gritted her teeth. 'Errr I'll kill that Kensuke. I need to talk to Shinji damn't!'
A few hours passed. People were ignoring sensei, Asuka was grinding her teeth. Rei was stoic, Touji slept, Pen-Pen was out somewhere breaking someone's knees and burying them alive in wet concrete and Kensuke was typing madly away on his computer. So far the school had operated as per usual. Shinji liked it that way. But his enjoyment was always shattered whenever his paranoid ears thought they heard a cell phone ringing or a siren going off. That would never let him be to peaceful. The hard object with an attena his pocket constantly reminded him every time not to enjoy something too much. Chances were that it wouldn't be there after the next angel attack. The lunch bell rang and Touji awoke instantly and sprinted out of the room before anybody could even get out of their chair. Kensuke followed him as fast as could so he could get a good place in the lunch line. Sensei grumbled something and followed behind the students as they shuffled out of the room. Shinji just looked at them from his chair and collapsed his head onto his hands. He didn't really feel like going the lunchroom today, too noisy. He wanted to go outside but knew he have a heck of a time trying to convince Touji to go out there when Asuka was there. 'Guess I should try though.' He started to get up from his desk but something unexpected happened.
"Ikari?" a soft voice spoke. Shinji turned around not knowing anyone was left in the class.
"Oh hi Ayanami. What can I do for you?" 'I hope this isn't about Nerv,' he smiled.
"We have a sync test tomorrow at 1600 Hours, Doctor Akagi asked me to inform you."
'Guess it was to much to ask for, she's just. Ayanami,' he mentally laughed. "Oh alright Ayanami thank you." He stood up from his desk and prepared to leave the classroom. He got to the door before Ayanami spoke up again.
"Ikari," she said with a slightly higher than normal tone of emotionless voice.
"Sorry Ayanami I had thought you'd finished." Rei shifted uneasily. "What did you want to talk about?"
She could not interact with him here, this environment did not make her as comfortable as she could be. 'Perhaps another location.'
"Will you come with me to the roof top?" Rei may have seemed emotionless on the outside but inside she was racking with thoughts of rejection and uneasiness. She didn't know these feelings, they were very alien to her. 'What will I do if he says no?'
Shinji was taken aback completely caught off guard by her request. He gulped dryly. 'What could she possibly want? This doesn't seem like her to be making her own requests.'
"Sure I will Ayanami. Just let me make a quick visit to the cafeteria. I couldn't make my lunch today due to some difficulties."
"I am willing to share my rations with you."
"No thanks, I'm pretty hungry and I wouldn't want you to starve."
"I assure you I will not starve. The design of this city is to preserve its inhabitants." She was about to continue but was interrupted.
"Still if it's all the same with you I'd like to get my own."
"Very well." She paused. "Ikari I have noticed that you usually prepare your own bento everyday and as you have told me you could not today. Is there a problem with your household? I have noticed the bruise in your right cheek."
"No, no there is no problem Asuka just accidentally smacked me this morning it's no big deal, just an accident." That was the largest amount of words he had ever heard her say at once.
"You have come to school many times with these types of wounds before, were they accidents as well?" She shot back. Shinji sensed something in her voice.
'Did she speak with disbelief? Sarcasm?' Shinji was surprised.
"Well no, but, um kinda yah, but they were just misunderstandings between me and Asuka." Her eyes slitted minutely.
"I see. I will meet you on the roof shortly."
"Alright," he turned away from the door and sped down the hallway towards the cafeteria.
'I do not understand these feelings but some are not so un-enjoyable as to be pushed aside.' She stared at Shinji hustling down the hallway to secure a spot in the register line. 'I will protect you Ikari.'
She turned and walked quietly from the doorway towards the stairway.
Shinji was able to procure a school-made lunch quickly. Though not without interaction between himself and other two stooges. He told them where he was going and why. They laughed and him and made assorted remarks on the matter though he did expect them. He waved them off and continued the stairway that led upstairs.
The sinister man with glasses was out of his office now. He continued to pound his fists on it. A technician noticed this and ran to his side.
"Sir is everything alright sir!"
"There's nothing you can do about it!" he yelled not looking at the man.
'Unless,' he thought and turned his face towards the man.
"Give me your issued firearm!"
"Sir?"
"GIVE IT TO ME! HE'LL BE ON THE ROOF ANY MOMENT NOW! THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE!" The technician quickly pulled out his firearm and handed it to him the Glock 26. "BURN IN HELL YOU BASTARD!" He pulled the trigger and emptied a clip of 45' ACP rounds into it and reached inside and pulled out a rectangular object in gold foil.
"Son-of-a-bitch! I freaking own this place and I can't get a goddamn candy bar! STUPID MACHINE!" He ran back to his office leaving the low-entry technician in shock.
He opened the rooftop door and was immediately greeted with blue skies and blue hair, the image of Rei Ayanami sitting on the ledge of the school's roof looking out over the city. She was eating her bread silently over a paper bag with a red Nerv insignia on it. He gulped and moved and walked over to her and sat down next to her. She made no response to him. He looked down at her lunch again.
'It's just a small loaf of bread and a cup of artificial chicken broth. Is that all she eats?' The clear plastic wrapper around the bread beared a red Nerv insignia on it. 'Ugh that's the free crap they had out in the cafeteria there. How can Ayanami eat that stuff.'
"Ayanami do you always get your lunch from the Nerv cafeteria?"
"For the most part yes." She was curious as to why he asked but chose not to pursue citing it as a trivial matter, They ate together in relative silence for the next two minutes. Shinji was still trying to process what compelled her to eat that stuff, but decided that he wouldn't stand for it.
"Ayanami, I could make you a lunch from now if you'd like. Your vegetarian right? I could make you plenty of different things if you like and it's no trouble to me so.." He tattered off hoping for a positive answer. All Ayanami could do was blush and look bewildered but Shinji didn't notice as he was looking at the people below.
She heard and after her initial shock she began debating the proposition in her mind. She was silent for a minute or two before she spoke up.
"If you wish, thank you." Words of gratitude, in her entire life she had only said thank you to Shinji. Once again they fell into silence, though it was never at any point uncomfortable for either, although virtually no silences ever left Rei at unease. They fit together in a manner of speaking. They were both thinking about why they where here. And Shinji's mind was still trying to come up with an answer to why he was here. He looked at her face. She seemed perfectly comfortable the way they were almost a. satisfied look.
'Maybe she just wanted to sit with me. But Rei? That just doesn't seem like her, there has to be something she's here for otherwise she wouldn't be here. This doesn't make sense, I should ask her. But what if she takes offense? She's Ayanami, she doesn't take offense.' His mind flashed back to the time when she slapped him for insulting his own father. 'Hmmm, well if she takes offense. Then I'll definitely know it. Here goes nothing.'
"Ayanami I don't mean to be rude but why'd you ask me to eat lunch with you, you seem to be a very private person, it just surprises me and all," he tried not to emphasize the private part, lest it alienate her.
"Ikari, what is a friend?" Shinji was again shocked by one of her requests. She had a way of doing that.
"A friend, um," he struggled for an answer, he knew his answer would be bad.
"A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts correct?"
"Well yes for the most part Ayanami."
"And a boy or girlfriend what are those? I have heard the terms many times here and in the halls of Nerv."
"Well a boyfriend or girlfriend is a person you really like, above all others, um, usually meaning that you are intimately involved with that person."
"I see." This wasn't much information for her to her to take in, but the significance and meaning behind it all was harder to understand than say, quantum physics. Shinji looked at her while she turned her head to gaze at a tree in the distance. Shinji took another bite of his sandwich.
"Liking someone means that you wish to be with them, possibly in more ways than one." She said more like a statement than a question.
"Yes," he said in between bites of his peanut butter sandwich. He liked it that she could simplify things that would take him forever to do and then do it in a minute or two. She lifted her head again and looked at Shinji.
"Do you like me Ikari?" Shinji choked on his sandwich and coughed a piece out. It flew from his mouth over the edge of the building. He heard a scream of disgust and ducked out of sight from the people below by getting off and sitting behind the ledge. He choked nervously and realized that Rei had asked him a question and was staring intently at him. He took a breath.
"I'm sorry Ayanami what did you say?" Not quite believing his ears.
"Do you like me Ikari?" She said as calmly as ever. He switched mindsets and looked into her eyes trying to ascertain that the question was not a hostile one or a trick.
'God I've been getting too used to Asuka.' Realizing that what he was doing was ridiculous. Rei would never ask a trick question and she doesn't seem hostile.
"Sure I do Ayanami." He said with a smile. She nodded slightly then looked back out over the city and turned her head back to him in a matter of seconds. 'Why does she always look at the city like that?'
"I believe I like you as well. Does this mean we are friends Ikari?"
"If you would like to be." Then he watched her waiting for a reply. After a while he swallowed and realized that if she was going to say something then even she would have already said it.
"If it counts for anything I'd like to be your friend Ayanami. I think we would be great friends." Her lips changed position. 'Whoa is she smiling!' He was near ecstatic at that moment in time. Unbeknownst to Shinji because he's too much of a moron to notice Rei had finally got her blush under control.
"It would be pleasing to be your friend Ikari." He smiled for her.
"Great that settles it then, we're friends!" He put out his hand to shake hers. She lifted her hand from her lap and moved it towards Shinji's hand and blinked not quite knowing what to do. Shinji saw her confusion evident on even her stoic face and took her hand and shook it with his.
"Ikari why did we shake hands?"
'We.' That clicked in her mind. She had never before used that word in a conversation or with any meaning attached to it like she just did. 'I wish to be with Shinji as a friend would be. Like Shinji and the.' She paused in her mind. 'Two other stooges. Yes, when friends are together as a group, an entity. That is why.'
"Because friends do stupid things like that with another." He smiled. She did not understand but nodded anyways.
'My first friend is Ikari.' She thought.
Whatever tension that had been between the two the earlier was gone now. Shinji looked at her face. 'She is not a doll.' He smiled subconsciously. 'I knew father couldn't have smited her humanity, all she needs now is to learn and people will stop calling her the ice queen. She is a really good person deep down I know it.'
"Would you agree to eating with me again tomorrow?" She asked him.
"Yea sure, I'll want to know how the lunch I'm making for you will taste." Her cheeks warmed. Shinji hit himself for such a lame and weird reply, Rei took no notice. He clenched his lips together and looked at her. She wasn't doing anything hostile or mocking. 'Maybe I don't have to moniter what I say around her as much as I would around other people.' The right side of his mouth upturned at the thought.
"Ayanami would you like to come over for dinner at my apartment tonight?" Rei looked down at the tree 10 meters in front of them then rose her head again.
"We do not have any requests of Nerv tonight, I would be grateful to attend."
"Alright I'll make I cook and not Misato then!" he said laughing. Rei not getting the joke looked at him emotionlessly. He noticed that see wasn't laughing. 'She doesn't live with you moron.' A mental voice snapped at him.
"I do not understand." He stopped laughing slowly then just shut up feeling like a baka.
"Never mind, anyways would 6:30 be alright?"
"I do not have any other plans, yes."
"Cool then," he said as the warning bell went off. "Well I guess we should get back to class. He offered his hand to get her lunch bag from her and she gave it to him. He walked off and threw what was left of their lunches away.
"Thank you." She said under her breath. 'Words of gratitude,' she thought.
Shinji walked down the hallway with Rei walking by his side. He could already hear Asuka screaming as they neared the classroom.
"I know you spit that peanut butter sandwich at me you asshole." Shinji realized what was just said and retracted in fear and put his arms up when he saw her wanting to protect himself. Both Rei and Asuka noticed this.
"Ikari what is wrong?" Asuka just looked at him cock-eyed and returned to her original prey. Some anonymous boy was backed up against the wall by her. She started smacking him.
'Poor kid! He shouldn't suffer for what I did! He's just a guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Shinji rushed over to Asuka but realized who she was beating.
"What're you doing here?"
"Um no reason Asuka. I be going now." His speech stuttered because he was about to crack up. The boy she was beating was no other than Shirai Tsukasi. That kid thought he was better than everyone else in the school, and he didn't make a secret of it. He had even threatened them on several occasions including Shinji for paranoid reasons. He had thought that Shinji was selfishly hogging all of the girls affections in the school simply because he was an Eva pilot. Partially it was true but Shinji had no part in it. Many girls expressed their interest in him but he retreated from them and only actually turned them down when he got backed into a corner. Shirai had punched him twice and sent Shinji flying to the ground. "I swear I'm not," was all Shinji could get out before Shirai was tackled by a Section Two agent and electrocuted him with a 500,000 volt stun gun. He was taken in and interrogated as well. Apparently out of all the people that have tried to beat up Shinji, Shirai was only one that Section Two cared to intervene in. Needless to say that Shirai didn't bother him again after that. Shinji chuckled to himself, normally he would have stopped it and taken responsibility but two words came to mind. "Divine retribution," he smirked.
"What Ikari?"
"Um nothing Ayanami, let's get to class." They moved into the classroom together and parted ways to their desks. Several eyebrows in the classroom were raised instantly at the sight of this.
The giggling and gossip got even louder than it was before, all except for a few girls. Hikari Horaki who was surprised and amused, 'Rei and Shinji! That's so cute!' And a Tomoko Marina who sat in the corner of the room, she may as well have just disappeared from existence at that moment, 'Nobody would notice' she thought sadly. What she saw had made her mouth drop and her eyes get moist. 'I thought I would be able to tell him soon, but.but he's being taken away from me!' She felt betrayed and felt almost as much despair as she did when her mother died. This was as equally as bad when her father died in that horrible car accident three months ago. She was all alone now, she lived alone, and lived her life alone, the worst part by far though was eating alone. No one had even noticed she existed through out this entire time except for him, Shinji Ikari. She was for the most part short and a nobody kind of person. Her facial features were exceptional despite her glasses and plain brown matted hair but her body wasn't as well endowed as her classmates. Shinji was the only person who talked to her in a city of ten million. And that gave her a single goal, she had promised her father as he laid of his deathbed that night. She promised him that she'd live her to the fullest. And she was doing it in her own way. She was the highest ranked student in the entire school. She would have moved on to college a long time ago but she lacked the funds necessary. But she realized she wasn't very happy. And she wouldn't be happy until she could be with him, be with Shinji. She fumbled with her computer but she still couldn't get the messenger to work. She put her hands back down on her desk and sighed.
'I won't give up.' She said weakly.
Shinji sat at his desk moderately happy. Of course that doesn't mean he didn't have his head in his hands trying to mentally make sensei shut up with this crap about the Second Impact. 'God this never ends,' he thought. His laptop messenger icon blinked.
BasketHero So what did you and Ayanami do on the rooftop? ; )
CelloMiXMaster It's not like that, we just talked.
Eva Unit-04 Yah right, you can't expect us to believe that.
CelloMiXMaster You don't have to if you don't want to.
BasketHero Testy, testy, getting all defensive on us. Something must have definitely happened!
Eva Unit-04 true true He is getting awfully wily
BasketHero So what part of her body did she want you to touch first?
ADMIN Users BasketHero and Eva Unit-04 has been blocked by user CelloMiXMaster
BasketHero Oh ya something happened alright
Eva Unit-04 ya maybe we should leave him alone about it though
BasketHero Are u serious?
Eva Unit-04 no lol
BasketHero lol
Shinji could tell from the snickering they were doing from across the room that they were still talking about him. 'Stooges,' he snickered.
Red-Haired Beauty Shinji where the hell were you at lunch today!
CelloMiXMaster It's none of your business Asuka.
Red-Haired Beauty Like hell it isn't, I needed to talk to you! Don't lie to me either I know you were spending the time with your precious doll Wondergirl. What are you trying to make her do now!
CelloMiXMaster I have told you before Asuka she is not a doll. And it isn't like that anyways all we did was talk with one another.
He heard a loud 'Puh' from across the room.
Red-Haired Beauty Don't lie to me Shinji
CelloMiXMaster IM NOT! And what business of yours is it anyways!
Red-Haired Beauty Whatever
Shinji calmed down and decide to keep the conversation going because he had nothing else to do. He was also curious as to what she wanted to talk about before.
CelloMiXMaster What did you want to talk to me about?
Red-Haired Beauty Oh so now after you leave me behind to be interrogated by Misato and then ditch me at lunch! Now you want to talk to me!?!
CelloMiXMaster yes
Red-Haired Beauty When that bell rings I am going to kill you. YOU READ THIRD CHILD!
CelloMiXMaster Sure, now what did you want ?
Red-Haired Beauty Is this chatroom secure?
CelloMiXMaster This chatroom was set-up by Nerv for us pilots, no is allowed to access it except us.Its 1024 mbit encryption. Not even Kensuke can hack into it.
Red-Haired Beauty Ah sure I forgot
Red-Haired Beauty Misato says she's going to suspend my piloting priveledges if I can't give her an explanation as to what happened yesterday.
Shinji gulped.
Red-Haired Beauty I need you to help me remember
Shinji debated within himself whether he should come right out with the truth or fabricating a half-true story to save his own skin. He decided to come out with it.
CelloMiXMaster Asuka wait until school is over, we should talk about it this in person, trust me. Although its against my better judgment.
Red-Haired Beauty Fine! And what the hell do you mean against your better judgement! We'll talk after school then. But you better not sheisse me baka.
CelloMiXMaster I wont
In a rare occurrence Shinji actually decided to tease Asuka back, although it'll probably piss her off, but he thought it would be funny nonetheless.
CelloMiXMaster Oh by the way Ayanami I asked Ayanami over for dinner and she said yes. We'll all be eating together at 6 tonight
He typed it feeling an unnatural sense of self-satisfaction for himself and a smirk on his face. He heard a laptop screen slam shut from on the other side of the room. He chuckled.
"Stand up, bow, dismissed." Class was finally over and Shinji was thankful for it, the history lesson was so boring that watching he skin slowly and microscopically decay could have been considered thrilling. It always entailed the same thing, the Second Impact. Shinji got up, and out of his desk and gathered his books and prepared to leave.
"Shinji where the hell do you think you are going? Asuka snakishly said as she strided up behind him.
"Oh yah I thought I forgot something." He said under his breath and smirked. "Come on Asuka let's go to the park or something to talk about it."
"Hey THIS ISN"T A DATE OR ANYTHING SO DON"T GET ANY IDEA'S!"
"I didn't mean it that way! I'm sorry Asuka!"
"Whatever, let's go."
They arrived at the parked and Shinji headed towards a tree towards the center of the small island of nature surrounded by the creations of man. It was towards the mini-lake where he sat down. Asuka followed behind and took up position on the other side the tree and stood leaning against it.
"So what did happen yesterday? I remember some of it, like I hung out with Pen-Pen for some reason." Shinji gave a small stifled laugh, Asuka didn't hear it. He started going through the previous day's events from account. But with every word he said Asuka remembered more and more and was filling in the gaps that he couldn't. She knew he wasn't lying everything he said she could remember as clear as the day today and several things he knew nothing about.
Flashback
She bounced on and off the walls in the hallway of their apartment. She stopped in front of his room and the door was open. 'I wonder what kind of music Shinji he likes.' She was referring to his SDAT player that she could see from his door. He just left it there this morning for some reason. 'It's weird to think of Shinji with out his SDAT player.' She tried to step inside his room but the door wasn't open all the way. She impaled her chest and head into the edge of the door's edge and spun to the ground. "Ow, what is up with these damn doors! *Hiccup*" She regained her drunken balance as much as she could and stepped inside Shinji's room and laid on his futon. She slipped in the ear buds in her ears. 'Ode to Joy, not bad Shinji. Although I can think of better.' She fell asleep.
Back To Present
"I really did do that didn't I?" She slid her back down the tree and sat up against its roots next to Shinji.
"Yeah." She sighed.
"Alright, keep going Shinji." He followed orders and continued.
She finally realized those important things that were tugging on her mind. Being sorry to Shinji and her admission of friendship between the two. Her cheeks warmed. She knocked her back against the tree bark and then down in shame and looked at the ground in front of herself.
"Shinji you still could have easily taken advantage of me yesterday in more ways than one. Why didn't you?"
"Because I'd never do that to you Asuka, no matter how drunk you are." He smiled, "You are my friend and friends don't do that." Her heart skipped a beat and she was left speechless. Shinji just looked up at the bright blue sky with only a few pillow clouds in sight.
"Now we've got to think of something to get you out of this mess. Misato knows about you running off during our walk to school. If she didn't then Section Two isn't doing their jobs very well so we'll assume she knows. I could just tell Misato I said a very terrible thing to you during our walk to school and you ran off because of it. Perfect, it'll also cover up the drinking binge you had."
She though she might cry. Not only did Shinji not take advantage of her and then tell her the truth, he's now also offering her a way out of trouble paid with by his own neck. He was stepping into the line of fire for her for no reason.
"Ante baka," she cried under her breath. 'He's biting the bullet for me.'
"Asuka what's wrong?"
"You idiot! Why would you do something like that! There's no need for you to get in trouble too! Don't you even care about getting punished?" Shinji just looked at her in silence trying to understand why she objected to his plan of action. Asuka patience was wearing thin waiting for him to respond.
"Well!... You really are an clueless baka aren't you!" she yelled.
"Look Asuka it'd be better if I took this one because Misato probably not punish me very hard if at all and get you'd get off scott free." She shed a tear from right eye that Shinji couldn't see and sighed.
"Sounds good then," she muttered weakly and disheartened.
"Okay well I have got to go to the grocery store to pick ingredients for tonights dinner and some general stuff, you want to come with me?"
"Thanks, but no, I'm going home."
"Alright then," he said smiling and lifted himself up against the trunk of the tree and began walking away. Leaving Asuka sitting there at the tree staring at the grass by her ankles.
"Baka, she said quietly whilst staring off into the wild blue yonder.
Shinji finished gathering and paying for his food at the Tokyo-3 Kwik- E-Mart.
"Thank you and please come again!" the Indian clerk said to him as he left. Shinji entered the streets of the metropolis once again and rounded a corner on his left and was immediately greeted by a blue head of hair.
"Ayanami?" The young woman turned around. 'Yep, definitely Ayanami.'
"Hello Ikari."
"What're you doing in part of town now if I'm not poking your privacy?"
"You are not. I was requested temporarily at Nerv today. I am on my way to my quarters."
"Okay," He was waiting for the crosswalk sign to turn green. But while he was waiting he'd have the opportunity to talk to her. "Ayanami, if it's not too early for you, and its not for me." His speech stumbled. "If you'd like to come to our home now. You could help me cook." He asked hopefully. She was silent for a few moments before speaking.
"Very well I graciously accept."
"No need to be formal with me Ayanami." He bugged.
"May I help you with your bags Ikari?"
"Okay." He fished for the lightest of the many bags he carried and gave it to her. She gawked at it not accepting.
"I mean to help you Ikari, perhaps a bit more than an onion."
"Sorry Ayanami." He lets a medium slide down his wrist to his left hand and offers to her with the small one. She accepted both reluctantly. "I, well, you look very um, not designed to carry much." 'Smooth Shinji,' an inner voice harassed.
"I am aware, although my looks may be deceiving as I participate in Nerv's Fitness Training Program.
"Oh I didn't know you did that too. How long have you been doing it?" They both rounded another street corner getting closer and closer to the apartment.
"Approxiamentely four years."
"That long eh? Maybe you could give me some pointers." He laughed. "I started only a few months ago, maybe two.
"That would be acceptable." The corners of her mouth upturned slightly but disappeared quickly. 'What has just happened? My cheeks felt warm. I do not understand.'
They were there and Shinji and Rei stepped inside the complex's elevator. He punched the 23rd floor's button and the doors closed soon after.
"Ayanami, Asuka will be here and I don't think she that she likes you very much. But maybe," he paused a bit trying to choose his words carefully. "If you show a bit more personality while your there."
'Excellent Pilot Sohryu will be present.' He gulped.
"Just try not to be as stoic as you usually are I guess." He said with a crooked smile.
"I understand, I harbor no ill will towards Pilot Sohryu and it would be pleasant for her to cease referring to me as 'Wondergirl'" Shinji snorted and laughed. Rei looked at him trying to figure out why he was having difficulty breathing. "Are you having respiratory problems Ikari?"
"No Ayanami, I'm fine, sorry it was just kind of funny hearing you say that." They stepped from the elevator's open doors and to the door of his apartment. He fished in his pocket for his keycard, retrieved it and swiped it into the lock reader. Hearing an electric click and seeing the green light he opened the door and moved inside Rei following close behind. He placed the bags on the counter and Rei did the same in sync with him.
"Hey I'm home, I'm going to start dinner!" He heard a bedroom door slide open and shut and Misato rounded the corner into the kitchen.
"Hello Shinji, Rei." She said smiling and striding towards the fridge to grab another beer. Her mind sparked as she opened the fridge door and looked back up at them.
"Rei?... What're you doing here?"
"Ikari invited me for dinner, If my presence is not content with you then I shall leave."
"No, no it's great you here I was just - surprised that's all." She pivoted her head at Shinji and by the way she was smirking and her eyes looked devilish he knew something was coming.
"Oooo Shinji inviting your girlfriend over for dinner eh?"
"No it's not like that!"
"Hehe," she giggled, "a secret relationship! How romantic!"
"Misato!"
"Oh I'm only teasing!" She moved over next to the boy as hey was setting up pots and pans. She started drinking.
"Um Misato about Asuka skipping school the other day, that my fault. When were talking on our way to school a made a really mean comment to her and." He was cut off.
"Stuff it Shinji," She said taking another glug of beer. "She already sat down and told me everything when she got back so don't try to take the heat for this."
"I see. She was punished?"
"Yah I suspended her piloting for a week and made her sync tests two hours longer. And I'm also making her attend a few after-school remedial classes for drinking like she did and going off on an emotional trip for something as trivial as she did."
Shinji was very surprised. 'She didn't let me do it. Why? Could it be that she actually gives a crap about me or was it just a guilt trip?'
"The punishment is a bit harsh don't you think?"
"She asked for a hard one. So I gave it to her." Shinji decided to leave the subject where it was for now and get cracking on dinner. However these statements did not go unnoticed by Rei Ayanami.
"I guess I'll start dinner, hey Ayanami." But she wasn't there. "Ayanami?"
Rei knocked on the door.
"Come in," Rei opens the door. The girl inside gives her a strange contorted look. "Wondergirl? What are you I my room for?" she said angrily.
"I wish to discuss the earlier events of today with you. Ikari seems distraught over them."
"What? Did the Commander send you to fill out a report or something?" She mocked.
Rei teeth clenched. "No I have come of my own accord. I have also noticed that Ikari has come to school with an increasing amount of bodily wounds. I have reason to believe that most or all are inflicted by you." Asuka scoffed at her.
'Wondergirl coming here on her own. Unlikely.' Asuka knew everything Rei said was right but right now she would still never listen to her of all people.
"What're you getting at Wonder Bitch?" She said threateningly. Rei was frustrated now, she would rarely get twisted over anything, but this was something she'd sworn she do and it was for a friend.
"If you don't stop hurting Shinji I will find him a more suitable place to live. Far from you." Rei shot with a noticeable amount of anger at Asuka. Asuka head panged with fear. She wanted to mock her for being a doll but couldn't after what Rei just said. with feeling.
'What in Himmel?' They both stared at another in silence. Asuka gulped nervously like a young child in front of their parents. She knew Rei could probably do it too. You can't get that close the Commander without perks. Rei also had a higher security clearance than anyone here including Misato. 'Why does she care?' Rei regained her usually calm and stoic stance.
"Sohryu the next time I am here on unfriendly terms you will now know why. I will have Ikari reassigned to new quarters and you brought up on harassment and abuse charges. Also please stop calling me a 'Wonder Girl.' Other than that I have no particular animosity against you." Rei turned towards the door of Asuka room and slid it back open. "But I do find that you taking responsibility for your actions was quite admirable." She left the room and closed the door. Asuka just stared at the closed door trying to take in what everything she just heard.
"DAAAMN!" The sinister man with glasses in the dark room slurred. "If she wonder bitched me like that I would have slapped that beeho silly! Poppy you see dat!" The sinister man's older assistant calmly spoke not out of his normal mannerism.
"Yes, that Rei chick is quite the bomb."
Author's Rant
AH! ALL DONE THAT WAS LONG! HET REVIEW! Should I keep Motoko or not! I'd like a every review to have a yes or no pleaz! HEY NO MORE SHINJI-ASUKA THREATS! You people get scary about that.I still haven't decided who he's going to end up with anyways. All in all it wasn't a very funny chapter but who really gives a damn. Nobody that's who. Anyways REVIEW! I won't post CHAPTER 6: 'This isn't Normal' till I get at least 50 reviews! It may involved dinner that night but I'm not sure But they'll be traveling to Nerv the next day for sync tests and I'll developed Motoko Marina a lot if you ask! Things like her mother died while working on the EVA project! Hmmm! And an angel may attack who knows! NOBODY WILL IF YOU GUYS DON'T REVIEW! Muahahahha Come on its not hard. You don't have to be a member of FF.net to do it! Just scroll to bottom left of the page and submit one! GWAR ITS SO EASY! I love using cheap tactics like this.
Changing Attitudes Chapter 5
Chapter 5: Revelations
He sat at his desk staring straight ahead and bored out of his mind. 'Wonder what Ayanami is thinking about today.' He tapped his finger on his desk bored and Asuka thoughts on the matter popped into his head. 'Sometimes it does seem like she doesn't really think for her self at all. Maybe she is a bit like a doll like Asuka says.' He pushed that thought put of his mind. 'No that's ridiculous Shinji, you of all people should know.' He mind flashed back to after the fight with Ramiel. His red laptop messenger icon blinked.
BasketHero Shinji was up man?
CelloMiXMaster Nothing much really.
Eva Unit-05 What's that bruise on your cheek?
CelloMiXMaster Asuka accidentally hit me this morning while she was arguing with Misato.
Eva Unit-05 Ahh Misato.
BasketHero What was that bitch complaining about now?
CelloMiXMaster I'd rather not say.
BasketHero Oh so it's like that now eh?
Eva Unit-05 We see how it is.
BasketHero Guess you don't trust us anymore. Should have guessed this would happen with an Eva pilot. We understand, we wont bother you anymore.
CelloMiXMaster IT'S NOT LIKE THAT! I DIDN'T MEAN THAT!
BasketHero Dude calm down, your so easy.
Eva Unit-04 lol, true.
Touji could be heard cracking up from across the room.
"Mr. Suzuhara have you something to share with the rest of the class?" the old sensei demanded.
"Um NO SIT, er , SIR!" he stumbled.
"Then I suggest you quiet down."
CelloMiXMaster lol, moron
Asuka from across the room activated her messenger program and searched for Shinji. She had found him in Room 545 of Tokyo-3 Chat Network. She clicked on it.
ADMIN You Have Been Blocked From Entering This Chat Room By Administrator Eva Unit-04.
She hit the desk with her fist and gritted her teeth. 'Errr I'll kill that Kensuke. I need to talk to Shinji damn't!'
A few hours passed. People were ignoring sensei, Asuka was grinding her teeth. Rei was stoic, Touji slept, Pen-Pen was out somewhere breaking someone's knees and burying them alive in wet concrete and Kensuke was typing madly away on his computer. So far the school had operated as per usual. Shinji liked it that way. But his enjoyment was always shattered whenever his paranoid ears thought they heard a cell phone ringing or a siren going off. That would never let him be to peaceful. The hard object with an attena his pocket constantly reminded him every time not to enjoy something too much. Chances were that it wouldn't be there after the next angel attack. The lunch bell rang and Touji awoke instantly and sprinted out of the room before anybody could even get out of their chair. Kensuke followed him as fast as could so he could get a good place in the lunch line. Sensei grumbled something and followed behind the students as they shuffled out of the room. Shinji just looked at them from his chair and collapsed his head onto his hands. He didn't really feel like going the lunchroom today, too noisy. He wanted to go outside but knew he have a heck of a time trying to convince Touji to go out there when Asuka was there. 'Guess I should try though.' He started to get up from his desk but something unexpected happened.
"Ikari?" a soft voice spoke. Shinji turned around not knowing anyone was left in the class.
"Oh hi Ayanami. What can I do for you?" 'I hope this isn't about Nerv,' he smiled.
"We have a sync test tomorrow at 1600 Hours, Doctor Akagi asked me to inform you."
'Guess it was to much to ask for, she's just. Ayanami,' he mentally laughed. "Oh alright Ayanami thank you." He stood up from his desk and prepared to leave the classroom. He got to the door before Ayanami spoke up again.
"Ikari," she said with a slightly higher than normal tone of emotionless voice.
"Sorry Ayanami I had thought you'd finished." Rei shifted uneasily. "What did you want to talk about?"
She could not interact with him here, this environment did not make her as comfortable as she could be. 'Perhaps another location.'
"Will you come with me to the roof top?" Rei may have seemed emotionless on the outside but inside she was racking with thoughts of rejection and uneasiness. She didn't know these feelings, they were very alien to her. 'What will I do if he says no?'
Shinji was taken aback completely caught off guard by her request. He gulped dryly. 'What could she possibly want? This doesn't seem like her to be making her own requests.'
"Sure I will Ayanami. Just let me make a quick visit to the cafeteria. I couldn't make my lunch today due to some difficulties."
"I am willing to share my rations with you."
"No thanks, I'm pretty hungry and I wouldn't want you to starve."
"I assure you I will not starve. The design of this city is to preserve its inhabitants." She was about to continue but was interrupted.
"Still if it's all the same with you I'd like to get my own."
"Very well." She paused. "Ikari I have noticed that you usually prepare your own bento everyday and as you have told me you could not today. Is there a problem with your household? I have noticed the bruise in your right cheek."
"No, no there is no problem Asuka just accidentally smacked me this morning it's no big deal, just an accident." That was the largest amount of words he had ever heard her say at once.
"You have come to school many times with these types of wounds before, were they accidents as well?" She shot back. Shinji sensed something in her voice.
'Did she speak with disbelief? Sarcasm?' Shinji was surprised.
"Well no, but, um kinda yah, but they were just misunderstandings between me and Asuka." Her eyes slitted minutely.
"I see. I will meet you on the roof shortly."
"Alright," he turned away from the door and sped down the hallway towards the cafeteria.
'I do not understand these feelings but some are not so un-enjoyable as to be pushed aside.' She stared at Shinji hustling down the hallway to secure a spot in the register line. 'I will protect you Ikari.'
She turned and walked quietly from the doorway towards the stairway.
Shinji was able to procure a school-made lunch quickly. Though not without interaction between himself and other two stooges. He told them where he was going and why. They laughed and him and made assorted remarks on the matter though he did expect them. He waved them off and continued the stairway that led upstairs.
The sinister man with glasses was out of his office now. He continued to pound his fists on it. A technician noticed this and ran to his side.
"Sir is everything alright sir!"
"There's nothing you can do about it!" he yelled not looking at the man.
'Unless,' he thought and turned his face towards the man.
"Give me your issued firearm!"
"Sir?"
"GIVE IT TO ME! HE'LL BE ON THE ROOF ANY MOMENT NOW! THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE!" The technician quickly pulled out his firearm and handed it to him the Glock 26. "BURN IN HELL YOU BASTARD!" He pulled the trigger and emptied a clip of 45' ACP rounds into it and reached inside and pulled out a rectangular object in gold foil.
"Son-of-a-bitch! I freaking own this place and I can't get a goddamn candy bar! STUPID MACHINE!" He ran back to his office leaving the low-entry technician in shock.
He opened the rooftop door and was immediately greeted with blue skies and blue hair, the image of Rei Ayanami sitting on the ledge of the school's roof looking out over the city. She was eating her bread silently over a paper bag with a red Nerv insignia on it. He gulped and moved and walked over to her and sat down next to her. She made no response to him. He looked down at her lunch again.
'It's just a small loaf of bread and a cup of artificial chicken broth. Is that all she eats?' The clear plastic wrapper around the bread beared a red Nerv insignia on it. 'Ugh that's the free crap they had out in the cafeteria there. How can Ayanami eat that stuff.'
"Ayanami do you always get your lunch from the Nerv cafeteria?"
"For the most part yes." She was curious as to why he asked but chose not to pursue citing it as a trivial matter, They ate together in relative silence for the next two minutes. Shinji was still trying to process what compelled her to eat that stuff, but decided that he wouldn't stand for it.
"Ayanami, I could make you a lunch from now if you'd like. Your vegetarian right? I could make you plenty of different things if you like and it's no trouble to me so.." He tattered off hoping for a positive answer. All Ayanami could do was blush and look bewildered but Shinji didn't notice as he was looking at the people below.
She heard and after her initial shock she began debating the proposition in her mind. She was silent for a minute or two before she spoke up.
"If you wish, thank you." Words of gratitude, in her entire life she had only said thank you to Shinji. Once again they fell into silence, though it was never at any point uncomfortable for either, although virtually no silences ever left Rei at unease. They fit together in a manner of speaking. They were both thinking about why they where here. And Shinji's mind was still trying to come up with an answer to why he was here. He looked at her face. She seemed perfectly comfortable the way they were almost a. satisfied look.
'Maybe she just wanted to sit with me. But Rei? That just doesn't seem like her, there has to be something she's here for otherwise she wouldn't be here. This doesn't make sense, I should ask her. But what if she takes offense? She's Ayanami, she doesn't take offense.' His mind flashed back to the time when she slapped him for insulting his own father. 'Hmmm, well if she takes offense. Then I'll definitely know it. Here goes nothing.'
"Ayanami I don't mean to be rude but why'd you ask me to eat lunch with you, you seem to be a very private person, it just surprises me and all," he tried not to emphasize the private part, lest it alienate her.
"Ikari, what is a friend?" Shinji was again shocked by one of her requests. She had a way of doing that.
"A friend, um," he struggled for an answer, he knew his answer would be bad.
"A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts correct?"
"Well yes for the most part Ayanami."
"And a boy or girlfriend what are those? I have heard the terms many times here and in the halls of Nerv."
"Well a boyfriend or girlfriend is a person you really like, above all others, um, usually meaning that you are intimately involved with that person."
"I see." This wasn't much information for her to her to take in, but the significance and meaning behind it all was harder to understand than say, quantum physics. Shinji looked at her while she turned her head to gaze at a tree in the distance. Shinji took another bite of his sandwich.
"Liking someone means that you wish to be with them, possibly in more ways than one." She said more like a statement than a question.
"Yes," he said in between bites of his peanut butter sandwich. He liked it that she could simplify things that would take him forever to do and then do it in a minute or two. She lifted her head again and looked at Shinji.
"Do you like me Ikari?" Shinji choked on his sandwich and coughed a piece out. It flew from his mouth over the edge of the building. He heard a scream of disgust and ducked out of sight from the people below by getting off and sitting behind the ledge. He choked nervously and realized that Rei had asked him a question and was staring intently at him. He took a breath.
"I'm sorry Ayanami what did you say?" Not quite believing his ears.
"Do you like me Ikari?" She said as calmly as ever. He switched mindsets and looked into her eyes trying to ascertain that the question was not a hostile one or a trick.
'God I've been getting too used to Asuka.' Realizing that what he was doing was ridiculous. Rei would never ask a trick question and she doesn't seem hostile.
"Sure I do Ayanami." He said with a smile. She nodded slightly then looked back out over the city and turned her head back to him in a matter of seconds. 'Why does she always look at the city like that?'
"I believe I like you as well. Does this mean we are friends Ikari?"
"If you would like to be." Then he watched her waiting for a reply. After a while he swallowed and realized that if she was going to say something then even she would have already said it.
"If it counts for anything I'd like to be your friend Ayanami. I think we would be great friends." Her lips changed position. 'Whoa is she smiling!' He was near ecstatic at that moment in time. Unbeknownst to Shinji because he's too much of a moron to notice Rei had finally got her blush under control.
"It would be pleasing to be your friend Ikari." He smiled for her.
"Great that settles it then, we're friends!" He put out his hand to shake hers. She lifted her hand from her lap and moved it towards Shinji's hand and blinked not quite knowing what to do. Shinji saw her confusion evident on even her stoic face and took her hand and shook it with his.
"Ikari why did we shake hands?"
'We.' That clicked in her mind. She had never before used that word in a conversation or with any meaning attached to it like she just did. 'I wish to be with Shinji as a friend would be. Like Shinji and the.' She paused in her mind. 'Two other stooges. Yes, when friends are together as a group, an entity. That is why.'
"Because friends do stupid things like that with another." He smiled. She did not understand but nodded anyways.
'My first friend is Ikari.' She thought.
Whatever tension that had been between the two the earlier was gone now. Shinji looked at her face. 'She is not a doll.' He smiled subconsciously. 'I knew father couldn't have smited her humanity, all she needs now is to learn and people will stop calling her the ice queen. She is a really good person deep down I know it.'
"Would you agree to eating with me again tomorrow?" She asked him.
"Yea sure, I'll want to know how the lunch I'm making for you will taste." Her cheeks warmed. Shinji hit himself for such a lame and weird reply, Rei took no notice. He clenched his lips together and looked at her. She wasn't doing anything hostile or mocking. 'Maybe I don't have to moniter what I say around her as much as I would around other people.' The right side of his mouth upturned at the thought.
"Ayanami would you like to come over for dinner at my apartment tonight?" Rei looked down at the tree 10 meters in front of them then rose her head again.
"We do not have any requests of Nerv tonight, I would be grateful to attend."
"Alright I'll make I cook and not Misato then!" he said laughing. Rei not getting the joke looked at him emotionlessly. He noticed that see wasn't laughing. 'She doesn't live with you moron.' A mental voice snapped at him.
"I do not understand." He stopped laughing slowly then just shut up feeling like a baka.
"Never mind, anyways would 6:30 be alright?"
"I do not have any other plans, yes."
"Cool then," he said as the warning bell went off. "Well I guess we should get back to class. He offered his hand to get her lunch bag from her and she gave it to him. He walked off and threw what was left of their lunches away.
"Thank you." She said under her breath. 'Words of gratitude,' she thought.
Shinji walked down the hallway with Rei walking by his side. He could already hear Asuka screaming as they neared the classroom.
"I know you spit that peanut butter sandwich at me you asshole." Shinji realized what was just said and retracted in fear and put his arms up when he saw her wanting to protect himself. Both Rei and Asuka noticed this.
"Ikari what is wrong?" Asuka just looked at him cock-eyed and returned to her original prey. Some anonymous boy was backed up against the wall by her. She started smacking him.
'Poor kid! He shouldn't suffer for what I did! He's just a guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Shinji rushed over to Asuka but realized who she was beating.
"What're you doing here?"
"Um no reason Asuka. I be going now." His speech stuttered because he was about to crack up. The boy she was beating was no other than Shirai Tsukasi. That kid thought he was better than everyone else in the school, and he didn't make a secret of it. He had even threatened them on several occasions including Shinji for paranoid reasons. He had thought that Shinji was selfishly hogging all of the girls affections in the school simply because he was an Eva pilot. Partially it was true but Shinji had no part in it. Many girls expressed their interest in him but he retreated from them and only actually turned them down when he got backed into a corner. Shirai had punched him twice and sent Shinji flying to the ground. "I swear I'm not," was all Shinji could get out before Shirai was tackled by a Section Two agent and electrocuted him with a 500,000 volt stun gun. He was taken in and interrogated as well. Apparently out of all the people that have tried to beat up Shinji, Shirai was only one that Section Two cared to intervene in. Needless to say that Shirai didn't bother him again after that. Shinji chuckled to himself, normally he would have stopped it and taken responsibility but two words came to mind. "Divine retribution," he smirked.
"What Ikari?"
"Um nothing Ayanami, let's get to class." They moved into the classroom together and parted ways to their desks. Several eyebrows in the classroom were raised instantly at the sight of this.
The giggling and gossip got even louder than it was before, all except for a few girls. Hikari Horaki who was surprised and amused, 'Rei and Shinji! That's so cute!' And a Tomoko Marina who sat in the corner of the room, she may as well have just disappeared from existence at that moment, 'Nobody would notice' she thought sadly. What she saw had made her mouth drop and her eyes get moist. 'I thought I would be able to tell him soon, but.but he's being taken away from me!' She felt betrayed and felt almost as much despair as she did when her mother died. This was as equally as bad when her father died in that horrible car accident three months ago. She was all alone now, she lived alone, and lived her life alone, the worst part by far though was eating alone. No one had even noticed she existed through out this entire time except for him, Shinji Ikari. She was for the most part short and a nobody kind of person. Her facial features were exceptional despite her glasses and plain brown matted hair but her body wasn't as well endowed as her classmates. Shinji was the only person who talked to her in a city of ten million. And that gave her a single goal, she had promised her father as he laid of his deathbed that night. She promised him that she'd live her to the fullest. And she was doing it in her own way. She was the highest ranked student in the entire school. She would have moved on to college a long time ago but she lacked the funds necessary. But she realized she wasn't very happy. And she wouldn't be happy until she could be with him, be with Shinji. She fumbled with her computer but she still couldn't get the messenger to work. She put her hands back down on her desk and sighed.
'I won't give up.' She said weakly.
Shinji sat at his desk moderately happy. Of course that doesn't mean he didn't have his head in his hands trying to mentally make sensei shut up with this crap about the Second Impact. 'God this never ends,' he thought. His laptop messenger icon blinked.
BasketHero So what did you and Ayanami do on the rooftop? ; )
CelloMiXMaster It's not like that, we just talked.
Eva Unit-04 Yah right, you can't expect us to believe that.
CelloMiXMaster You don't have to if you don't want to.
BasketHero Testy, testy, getting all defensive on us. Something must have definitely happened!
Eva Unit-04 true true He is getting awfully wily
BasketHero So what part of her body did she want you to touch first?
ADMIN Users BasketHero and Eva Unit-04 has been blocked by user CelloMiXMaster
BasketHero Oh ya something happened alright
Eva Unit-04 ya maybe we should leave him alone about it though
BasketHero Are u serious?
Eva Unit-04 no lol
BasketHero lol
Shinji could tell from the snickering they were doing from across the room that they were still talking about him. 'Stooges,' he snickered.
Red-Haired Beauty Shinji where the hell were you at lunch today!
CelloMiXMaster It's none of your business Asuka.
Red-Haired Beauty Like hell it isn't, I needed to talk to you! Don't lie to me either I know you were spending the time with your precious doll Wondergirl. What are you trying to make her do now!
CelloMiXMaster I have told you before Asuka she is not a doll. And it isn't like that anyways all we did was talk with one another.
He heard a loud 'Puh' from across the room.
Red-Haired Beauty Don't lie to me Shinji
CelloMiXMaster IM NOT! And what business of yours is it anyways!
Red-Haired Beauty Whatever
Shinji calmed down and decide to keep the conversation going because he had nothing else to do. He was also curious as to what she wanted to talk about before.
CelloMiXMaster What did you want to talk to me about?
Red-Haired Beauty Oh so now after you leave me behind to be interrogated by Misato and then ditch me at lunch! Now you want to talk to me!?!
CelloMiXMaster yes
Red-Haired Beauty When that bell rings I am going to kill you. YOU READ THIRD CHILD!
CelloMiXMaster Sure, now what did you want ?
Red-Haired Beauty Is this chatroom secure?
CelloMiXMaster This chatroom was set-up by Nerv for us pilots, no is allowed to access it except us.Its 1024 mbit encryption. Not even Kensuke can hack into it.
Red-Haired Beauty Ah sure I forgot
Red-Haired Beauty Misato says she's going to suspend my piloting priveledges if I can't give her an explanation as to what happened yesterday.
Shinji gulped.
Red-Haired Beauty I need you to help me remember
Shinji debated within himself whether he should come right out with the truth or fabricating a half-true story to save his own skin. He decided to come out with it.
CelloMiXMaster Asuka wait until school is over, we should talk about it this in person, trust me. Although its against my better judgment.
Red-Haired Beauty Fine! And what the hell do you mean against your better judgement! We'll talk after school then. But you better not sheisse me baka.
CelloMiXMaster I wont
In a rare occurrence Shinji actually decided to tease Asuka back, although it'll probably piss her off, but he thought it would be funny nonetheless.
CelloMiXMaster Oh by the way Ayanami I asked Ayanami over for dinner and she said yes. We'll all be eating together at 6 tonight
He typed it feeling an unnatural sense of self-satisfaction for himself and a smirk on his face. He heard a laptop screen slam shut from on the other side of the room. He chuckled.
"Stand up, bow, dismissed." Class was finally over and Shinji was thankful for it, the history lesson was so boring that watching he skin slowly and microscopically decay could have been considered thrilling. It always entailed the same thing, the Second Impact. Shinji got up, and out of his desk and gathered his books and prepared to leave.
"Shinji where the hell do you think you are going? Asuka snakishly said as she strided up behind him.
"Oh yah I thought I forgot something." He said under his breath and smirked. "Come on Asuka let's go to the park or something to talk about it."
"Hey THIS ISN"T A DATE OR ANYTHING SO DON"T GET ANY IDEA'S!"
"I didn't mean it that way! I'm sorry Asuka!"
"Whatever, let's go."
They arrived at the parked and Shinji headed towards a tree towards the center of the small island of nature surrounded by the creations of man. It was towards the mini-lake where he sat down. Asuka followed behind and took up position on the other side the tree and stood leaning against it.
"So what did happen yesterday? I remember some of it, like I hung out with Pen-Pen for some reason." Shinji gave a small stifled laugh, Asuka didn't hear it. He started going through the previous day's events from account. But with every word he said Asuka remembered more and more and was filling in the gaps that he couldn't. She knew he wasn't lying everything he said she could remember as clear as the day today and several things he knew nothing about.
Flashback
She bounced on and off the walls in the hallway of their apartment. She stopped in front of his room and the door was open. 'I wonder what kind of music Shinji he likes.' She was referring to his SDAT player that she could see from his door. He just left it there this morning for some reason. 'It's weird to think of Shinji with out his SDAT player.' She tried to step inside his room but the door wasn't open all the way. She impaled her chest and head into the edge of the door's edge and spun to the ground. "Ow, what is up with these damn doors! *Hiccup*" She regained her drunken balance as much as she could and stepped inside Shinji's room and laid on his futon. She slipped in the ear buds in her ears. 'Ode to Joy, not bad Shinji. Although I can think of better.' She fell asleep.
Back To Present
"I really did do that didn't I?" She slid her back down the tree and sat up against its roots next to Shinji.
"Yeah." She sighed.
"Alright, keep going Shinji." He followed orders and continued.
She finally realized those important things that were tugging on her mind. Being sorry to Shinji and her admission of friendship between the two. Her cheeks warmed. She knocked her back against the tree bark and then down in shame and looked at the ground in front of herself.
"Shinji you still could have easily taken advantage of me yesterday in more ways than one. Why didn't you?"
"Because I'd never do that to you Asuka, no matter how drunk you are." He smiled, "You are my friend and friends don't do that." Her heart skipped a beat and she was left speechless. Shinji just looked up at the bright blue sky with only a few pillow clouds in sight.
"Now we've got to think of something to get you out of this mess. Misato knows about you running off during our walk to school. If she didn't then Section Two isn't doing their jobs very well so we'll assume she knows. I could just tell Misato I said a very terrible thing to you during our walk to school and you ran off because of it. Perfect, it'll also cover up the drinking binge you had."
She though she might cry. Not only did Shinji not take advantage of her and then tell her the truth, he's now also offering her a way out of trouble paid with by his own neck. He was stepping into the line of fire for her for no reason.
"Ante baka," she cried under her breath. 'He's biting the bullet for me.'
"Asuka what's wrong?"
"You idiot! Why would you do something like that! There's no need for you to get in trouble too! Don't you even care about getting punished?" Shinji just looked at her in silence trying to understand why she objected to his plan of action. Asuka patience was wearing thin waiting for him to respond.
"Well!... You really are an clueless baka aren't you!" she yelled.
"Look Asuka it'd be better if I took this one because Misato probably not punish me very hard if at all and get you'd get off scott free." She shed a tear from right eye that Shinji couldn't see and sighed.
"Sounds good then," she muttered weakly and disheartened.
"Okay well I have got to go to the grocery store to pick ingredients for tonights dinner and some general stuff, you want to come with me?"
"Thanks, but no, I'm going home."
"Alright then," he said smiling and lifted himself up against the trunk of the tree and began walking away. Leaving Asuka sitting there at the tree staring at the grass by her ankles.
"Baka, she said quietly whilst staring off into the wild blue yonder.
Shinji finished gathering and paying for his food at the Tokyo-3 Kwik- E-Mart.
"Thank you and please come again!" the Indian clerk said to him as he left. Shinji entered the streets of the metropolis once again and rounded a corner on his left and was immediately greeted by a blue head of hair.
"Ayanami?" The young woman turned around. 'Yep, definitely Ayanami.'
"Hello Ikari."
"What're you doing in part of town now if I'm not poking your privacy?"
"You are not. I was requested temporarily at Nerv today. I am on my way to my quarters."
"Okay," He was waiting for the crosswalk sign to turn green. But while he was waiting he'd have the opportunity to talk to her. "Ayanami, if it's not too early for you, and its not for me." His speech stumbled. "If you'd like to come to our home now. You could help me cook." He asked hopefully. She was silent for a few moments before speaking.
"Very well I graciously accept."
"No need to be formal with me Ayanami." He bugged.
"May I help you with your bags Ikari?"
"Okay." He fished for the lightest of the many bags he carried and gave it to her. She gawked at it not accepting.
"I mean to help you Ikari, perhaps a bit more than an onion."
"Sorry Ayanami." He lets a medium slide down his wrist to his left hand and offers to her with the small one. She accepted both reluctantly. "I, well, you look very um, not designed to carry much." 'Smooth Shinji,' an inner voice harassed.
"I am aware, although my looks may be deceiving as I participate in Nerv's Fitness Training Program.
"Oh I didn't know you did that too. How long have you been doing it?" They both rounded another street corner getting closer and closer to the apartment.
"Approxiamentely four years."
"That long eh? Maybe you could give me some pointers." He laughed. "I started only a few months ago, maybe two.
"That would be acceptable." The corners of her mouth upturned slightly but disappeared quickly. 'What has just happened? My cheeks felt warm. I do not understand.'
They were there and Shinji and Rei stepped inside the complex's elevator. He punched the 23rd floor's button and the doors closed soon after.
"Ayanami, Asuka will be here and I don't think she that she likes you very much. But maybe," he paused a bit trying to choose his words carefully. "If you show a bit more personality while your there."
'Excellent Pilot Sohryu will be present.' He gulped.
"Just try not to be as stoic as you usually are I guess." He said with a crooked smile.
"I understand, I harbor no ill will towards Pilot Sohryu and it would be pleasant for her to cease referring to me as 'Wondergirl'" Shinji snorted and laughed. Rei looked at him trying to figure out why he was having difficulty breathing. "Are you having respiratory problems Ikari?"
"No Ayanami, I'm fine, sorry it was just kind of funny hearing you say that." They stepped from the elevator's open doors and to the door of his apartment. He fished in his pocket for his keycard, retrieved it and swiped it into the lock reader. Hearing an electric click and seeing the green light he opened the door and moved inside Rei following close behind. He placed the bags on the counter and Rei did the same in sync with him.
"Hey I'm home, I'm going to start dinner!" He heard a bedroom door slide open and shut and Misato rounded the corner into the kitchen.
"Hello Shinji, Rei." She said smiling and striding towards the fridge to grab another beer. Her mind sparked as she opened the fridge door and looked back up at them.
"Rei?... What're you doing here?"
"Ikari invited me for dinner, If my presence is not content with you then I shall leave."
"No, no it's great you here I was just - surprised that's all." She pivoted her head at Shinji and by the way she was smirking and her eyes looked devilish he knew something was coming.
"Oooo Shinji inviting your girlfriend over for dinner eh?"
"No it's not like that!"
"Hehe," she giggled, "a secret relationship! How romantic!"
"Misato!"
"Oh I'm only teasing!" She moved over next to the boy as hey was setting up pots and pans. She started drinking.
"Um Misato about Asuka skipping school the other day, that my fault. When were talking on our way to school a made a really mean comment to her and." He was cut off.
"Stuff it Shinji," She said taking another glug of beer. "She already sat down and told me everything when she got back so don't try to take the heat for this."
"I see. She was punished?"
"Yah I suspended her piloting for a week and made her sync tests two hours longer. And I'm also making her attend a few after-school remedial classes for drinking like she did and going off on an emotional trip for something as trivial as she did."
Shinji was very surprised. 'She didn't let me do it. Why? Could it be that she actually gives a crap about me or was it just a guilt trip?'
"The punishment is a bit harsh don't you think?"
"She asked for a hard one. So I gave it to her." Shinji decided to leave the subject where it was for now and get cracking on dinner. However these statements did not go unnoticed by Rei Ayanami.
"I guess I'll start dinner, hey Ayanami." But she wasn't there. "Ayanami?"
Rei knocked on the door.
"Come in," Rei opens the door. The girl inside gives her a strange contorted look. "Wondergirl? What are you I my room for?" she said angrily.
"I wish to discuss the earlier events of today with you. Ikari seems distraught over them."
"What? Did the Commander send you to fill out a report or something?" She mocked.
Rei teeth clenched. "No I have come of my own accord. I have also noticed that Ikari has come to school with an increasing amount of bodily wounds. I have reason to believe that most or all are inflicted by you." Asuka scoffed at her.
'Wondergirl coming here on her own. Unlikely.' Asuka knew everything Rei said was right but right now she would still never listen to her of all people.
"What're you getting at Wonder Bitch?" She said threateningly. Rei was frustrated now, she would rarely get twisted over anything, but this was something she'd sworn she do and it was for a friend.
"If you don't stop hurting Shinji I will find him a more suitable place to live. Far from you." Rei shot with a noticeable amount of anger at Asuka. Asuka head panged with fear. She wanted to mock her for being a doll but couldn't after what Rei just said. with feeling.
'What in Himmel?' They both stared at another in silence. Asuka gulped nervously like a young child in front of their parents. She knew Rei could probably do it too. You can't get that close the Commander without perks. Rei also had a higher security clearance than anyone here including Misato. 'Why does she care?' Rei regained her usually calm and stoic stance.
"Sohryu the next time I am here on unfriendly terms you will now know why. I will have Ikari reassigned to new quarters and you brought up on harassment and abuse charges. Also please stop calling me a 'Wonder Girl.' Other than that I have no particular animosity against you." Rei turned towards the door of Asuka room and slid it back open. "But I do find that you taking responsibility for your actions was quite admirable." She left the room and closed the door. Asuka just stared at the closed door trying to take in what everything she just heard.
"DAAAMN!" The sinister man with glasses in the dark room slurred. "If she wonder bitched me like that I would have slapped that beeho silly! Poppy you see dat!" The sinister man's older assistant calmly spoke not out of his normal mannerism.
"Yes, that Rei chick is quite the bomb."
Author's Rant
AH! ALL DONE THAT WAS LONG! HET REVIEW! Should I keep Motoko or not! I'd like a every review to have a yes or no pleaz! HEY NO MORE SHINJI-ASUKA THREATS! You people get scary about that.I still haven't decided who he's going to end up with anyways. All in all it wasn't a very funny chapter but who really gives a damn. Nobody that's who. Anyways REVIEW! I won't post CHAPTER 6: 'This isn't Normal' till I get at least 50 reviews! It may involved dinner that night but I'm not sure But they'll be traveling to Nerv the next day for sync tests and I'll developed Motoko Marina a lot if you ask! Things like her mother died while working on the EVA project! Hmmm! And an angel may attack who knows! NOBODY WILL IF YOU GUYS DON'T REVIEW! Muahahahha Come on its not hard. You don't have to be a member of FF.net to do it! Just scroll to bottom left of the page and submit one! GWAR ITS SO EASY! I love using cheap tactics like this.