02:4 – Explanations – Part 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Evangelion or any of the characters they are the property of their respective creators. Please be aware that no profit is being made from this work of fan fiction.

Once more, I found myself standing at the door to my room, peering out through the smallest of gaps, watching as her naked body was bathed in moonlight. I watched, entranced, never realising she had started turning, slowing moving towards me. Her arms moved from her sides, covering both her breasts and the juncture of her thighs. I moved my gaze upwards, towards her face and in that instant I was frozen to the spot as our eyes met. The moment passed and I turned and fled from her gaze, fearing what she would do to me if she found out I had been staring at her naked body. I slipped into my futon, pulling the sheets around me and turning on my side, I faced the wall and pretended to be asleep. I hoped against hope that she would believe this visual fiction I had created, believe that I had been asleep the whole time and that seeing me had simply been her imagination.

For what felt like an eternity I lay there, cocooned in the silence when suddenly I heard a sound from outside…footsteps coming closer. They stopped suddenly and for a moment I thought that she had gone back to bed…it was not to be however as I soon heard the door of my room slide open and someone step inside pulling it closed behind them. I knew then that there could be no escape, she already stood between where I lay and the door. Accepting my fate I lay there silently, part of me still praying she would believe I was asleep and leave me in peace…when nothing happened I began to feel confused. I had heard no movement since she had entered the room; she had not left yet she had not struck me either. Perhaps she was testing me, waiting for me to betray the fact I was awake so she could punish me…I willed myself to lay still not moving and forcing my breathing to remain steady.

Moments passed still with nothing until without warning, the sheets were pulled away and I felt warmth appear beside me as the sheets fell back into place. Before I could consider what this meant I found myself pulled onto my back as she moved so she sat astride me. No longer finding any reason to hide that I was awake I opened my eyes to gaze up at her face, looking into those deep blue eyes, tracing the smile that stretched across her face. Her hands moved across my body, pulling my clothes away…I tried to scream at her yet I could find no voice even as she joined herself to me. Her legs circling my waist she pressed them into me, forcing the air from my lungs ever so slowly. As the effects of asphyxiation began to overcome me, she leaned down until her face was no more than an inch from mine. Suddenly she closed the distance and her lips captured mine in a brief yet fierce kiss. As she broke away the darkness finally began to overcome me as I slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing I heard were the words that slipped from her mouth…

"My Shinji."

I was torn from my slumber by the ringing of the lunch bell; it's resounding tones signalling morning lessons had come to an end. I lifted myself slowly from my desk, head pounding slightly and filed with afterimages of my dream. It has felt so real yet…something was fundamentally wrong with it. The way the dream Asuka acted confused me, it had been nothing like the real Asuka. My musing were interrupted by her voice as she began a violent tirade…I was surprised when I realised that for once this stream of verbal abuse was not directed at me but rather at many of our classmates. It seemed that the messages I had noticed her receiving before I had fallen asleep had been asking about our arrival that morning, most likely why she had been holding my hand. Once more it struck me that no one had questioned why I would be holding Asuka's hand, only why she would be holding mine. I quickly brushed that thought aside, turning my attention to the problem at hand. Following Asuka's rather…verbal objection, there was little doubt the class would now look to me for answers, despite their earlier behaviour. I decided to make a swift exit now, while they were all still in shock. Part of me felt guilty for leaving Asuka like that, yet I knew were I to try and comfort her it would simply make the problem worse, besides, I could see Hikari heading over to her and so I decided that I wouldn't be needed.

I got outside the classroom without incident, it seemed I was home free…that was until I realised that two people had followed me. Toji and Kensuke stood there, grinning like idiots. Obviously, they had seen me try to sneak away and had followed, intent on asking the questions Hikari had prevented them from voicing before. I knew I would never be able to avoid answering them now, sighing in defeat I signalled in the direction of the canteen. They both nodded in reply and the three of us started on our way, chatting idly. Usually I would have avoided going to the canteen, the food there was so bad, you could probably use it to kill an Angel if you loaded it into some kind of projectile…that is if you could prevent it from dissolving the container first. Today however I had little choice, making the pancake batter had taken longer than I expected so I had only had time to make breakfast for Asuka and Misato this morning.

When we arrived, we stood in line as usual, waiting to be served. I spent that time clearing my head and sorting out what I was going to tell them, trying to prevent myself from slipping up and mentioning something about the day before. Toji nudged me sharply, it seems that both he and Kensuke had finished paying and now we were going to look for a place to sit. As we walked I could feel Toji's gaze upon me, when we finally sat down and I caught sight of his face, I could see genuine concern in his eyes. Because of this, he did not begin questioning me immediately; instead, we started on our food, eating in silence. It was only when we had finished did he stretch out with his arms folded behind his head and asked me.

"So, Shin-man…what was the Red Devil doing holding your hand this morning?"

I paused momentarily before beginning my explanation, making sure that no one else was close enough to hear. It was hard enough telling Toji and Kensuke, if anyone else found out I had saved rescued Asuka and it got back to her that I told them…someone would need to come and rescue me. I began to recount the events of that morning, from the point I had started breakfast to the time Asuka and I arrived at school. I decided that it would be better not to mention my dream, it would raise too many awkward questions and might even lead them to questions about the previous day. When I told them about the car they sat there open mouthed for a moment, brains feverishly trying to process what I had told them.

Toji was the first to recover, a huge grin spreading across his face as mischief sparkled in his eyes.

"So, she let you hold her hand because you saved her…wonder what she'll let you hold next time…"

I am sure my entire face went red at that comment although I am almost certain that it was not for the reasons Toji and Kensuke expected…when we had fallen one of my hands had been caught between us and had ended up crushed against Asuka's chest. In those few moments, I had touched something that was most definitely not her hand. Looking back on it, the incident reminded me of what happened when I went to take Rei her new ID card. The only difference being Asuka was on top, and was very definitely not naked. This, of course, caused fragments of my dream to wash through my mind causing my blush to lighten as the blood journeyed to a different part of my anatomy. Luckily for me, that particular train of thought was derailed when someone called my name.

"Shinji?"

I looked up to see the class rep standing there. Not knowing how long she had been standing there I silently prayed that she had heard none of our conversation, particularly Toji's comments. If any of that got back to Asuka, I would be a dead man…

"I need to talk to you…alone."

I was surprised by her request, what could be so important that she wanted to tell me in private? Part of me feared that she had heard everything and this was simply a pretence to hand me over to Asuka. I pondered this for a moment before dismissing it out of hand; from what I knew of the class rep, she wouldn't do something like that. I nodded my response and got up from the table, giving a silent farewell to the guys, indicating we would speak later. Then, I followed Hikari away from there, out of the canteen, then down the corridor and into an empty classroom.

There was silence for a moment before Hikari spoke…and when she did her voice positively dripped with disappointment.

"Shinji…why did you do that to Asuka?"

At once, I was confused, not understanding what I was being accused of. My first instinct was to apologise but I bit back the words, for once trying to show some 'spine' as Asuka put it. I think Hikari picked up on the confusion and hurt in my eyes because a moment later, her eyes softened slightly, and when she next spoke her voice was somewhat softer.

"I've been speaking with Asuka. She told me…about the kiss…about everything."

I stood there, shocked by this new information. That meant Hikari now knew everything that had happened…then it occurred to me, what could she possibly believe I had done to Asuka? Once more, she seemed to read the unspoken question in my eyes and continued.

"Why did you pull away?"

I knew then Asuka had not told her everything…obviously; she had failed to mention one or two facts. Such as she had been holding my nose closed all the time we were kissing…that explained Hikari's question. Even so, something about this whole situation felt wrong; as if there was something more I was missing…pushing the feeling aside for now I explained to Hikari the missing details of what happened. She flushed slightly on hearing, apologising for making such an accusation without knowing all the facts. I could tell by her expression that she would be having a few words with Asuka, something telling me that I would not want to be around afterwards.

The lunch bell rang for the second time that day, signalling it was time for class to resume. Hikari turned to leave immediately, stopping at the door when I did not follow. She questioned this but I simply replied that I needed a few moments alone to think. She nodded and left, the door closing behind her. Luckily for me, it seemed that he classroom I presently stood in was not in use as no students entered. I remained there for a while, pondering what Hikari had told me and trying to fathom what it was about it that continued to bother me…having no luck I cast my eyes about the room, my gaze eventually coming to rest upon a clock mounted on the wall. On seeing the time my eyes widened in shock, it was almost half past three, meaning I had been standing in the classroom for more than an hour. Deciding it was already too late to return to class I departed the classroom and left the school grounds, deciding to go shopping at the special store I found. I felt that the promise of western food might at least delay Asuka's wrath.

By the time I left the shop, it was getting dark outside. I cursed silently and started to head towards the train station, intent on getting back to the apartment as soon as possible. Unfortunately I left my phone back in the classroom in my bag, I hadn't bothered to retrieve it after lunch. For a moment, I considered heading back to the school to get it but then I realised that it wouldn't do any good. The whole place would be locked up by now; it would have to wait until tomorrow…the train finally arrived and I stepped on board, immediately feeling the cool air from the air conditioning wash over me. Luckily for me the train was relatively empty and I was able to get a seat. I spent most of the journey thinking about what Hikari had said to me, wondering why such a simple action as me pulling away from her had gotten Asuka that upset. Originally I had thought it had been because she regretted kissing me but now I wasn't so sure. Fate chose that moment to intervene as the train slid to a halt at my station and I got up to leave, disrupting my thoughts. I departed the station and headed in the direction of the apartment, all thoughts of Asuka, and my conversation with Hikari forgotten.

When I arrived outside the door to the apartment I could hear voices coming from inside. It seemed that Misato and Asuka were arguing again, about what was anybodies guess. I pulled my key from my pocket and, in a considerable balancing act, managed to open the door without dropping any of the bags I held. When I stepped out from the hallway both their gazes turned to me…

"Shinji! Where have you been? Asuka told me you skipped the afternoon at school, I want an explanation mister!"

Misato spoke first. I could tell she was angry, no doubt hearing of my absence had only make her anger worse. I looked down at my feet, not wanting to meet her eyes at that moment usually, I would have apologised for something like this, but on this one occasion the words would not come. We stood there in silence for a moment longer before Misato ordered me to go to my room, leaving the shopping behind. She followed only a moment later, closing the door behind her.

She spent the next half an hour chewing me out thoroughly, my grades at school weren't exactly that good, so she told me I was in no position to be cutting school. Besides that, I had left my phone behind. She pointed out that if an angel attacked they would have been forced to waste time trying to find me. When she finished, she led the way back out of my room, quietly instructing me to make dinner. I was angry then but as I walked past her I caught sight of her face in the corner of my eye…unshed tears swelled there and I knew then she hated doing this as much as I hated having to hear it. Feeling a little better although ashamed at my behaviour, I gathered the bags and carried them into the kitchen before beginning dinner.

We ate in silence, once finished Misato immediately left the table. Sighing heavily, I got up from my place and began to gather the plates, starting to do the night's washing up. Not wanting to think anymore that night, I lost myself in this menial task until suddenly Asuka came along side me. She further surprised me when she picked up a clean cloth before offering her help.

"If you wash, I'll dry."

I stood there for a moment, shocked that she would make such an offer. As soon as I recovered from that initial shock I nodded, glad of the help she was offering to give me. We spent the a while like that, standing by the kitchen sink as I washed the various utensils and then handed them to Asuka to dry them for me. When we finally finished, she began to fold the cloth and made to walk away. I placed a hand gently on her shoulder, needing to say something to her then before I lost the courage.

"Thank you."

As I spoke those two simple words, I allowed my gaze to meet hers for the first time that evening. For once her face was not hardened with malice, she actually smiled at me. Suddenly I found myself leaning forwards, closing on her lips…at the last moment my nerve failed and rather than her lips I pressed my own against her cheek. Following this brief contact, I quickly walked away, heading to my room hoping that Asuka had not seen the blush that flared across my whole face.

A/N: Thank you everyone for the reviews, they are greatly appreciated. If you haven't guessed by now I am operating on a fortnightly update schedule, hopefully this time I will be able to keep to it despite the ever-increasing workload I am facing…

Six projects…

Anyway, that aside, I hope to have the next chapter ready for you two weeks from now although in the mean time I will be posting the final part of One Night Stand, in thanks for everyone who reviewed and asked for a conclusion.


Till next time,


Hououza

Chapter preread by That Other Guy