Differences

By Kale

Proofreading by The Master Chief


Chapter 02

Shinji stood dumbfounded in Asuka's arms, blinking several times in shock. Okay, I'm missing something here, Shinji thought to himself in a daze as Asuka barraged his face with kisses. Just why is she acting this way? So overcome was he that he didn't even notice Misato walk up behind Asuka and tap her shoulder.

"Whoa there, Asuka!" Misato teased, "Why not let him breathe a bit? And it'll be hard for him to get out of that plug suit while he's wearing you at the same time."

Asuka blushed and released Shinji, holding her arms behind her back as she took a good look at him. Indeed, he stood there in his plug suit, a rosy shade of red covering his cheeks. She giggled softly and looked down slightly, blushing in embarrassment from her outburst.

Misato gave Shinji a warm smile and a not. "You'd better take a bath," Misato advised, quickly adding "I'll get you a change of clothes, so don't worry."

Shinji nodded slowly and walked past the two girls and into the house, looking around cautiously as he made his way toward the bath. At least the apartment looked like it had for the most part. There was some blessing in that.


Asuka sighed softly as Shinji made his way into the apartment, her eyes glistening as she slowly turned around to follow him. "Shinji, wait—"

Misato blocked her with her forearm and gave her a hard look. "You might want to tone down the lovey dovey act, Asuka," she admonished the redhead.

Asuka gave Misato a puzzled look for a moment, then pouted at her. "Why?" she asked, her voice a bit whinier than normal.

Misato paused and closed her eyes a bit, then sighed and looked down at Asuka, her eyes heavy and weary as she spoke in gentle, hushed tones. "We both saw Shinji die..." She began, forcing out the words as she saw the tears start to well up in Asuka's eyes. "I can still remember Shinji leaping in front of you to shield you trom the 5th Angel's blast..."

"It's not like I forgot!" Asuka shouted bitingly. "But, he's right there..."

"I know he looks like Shinji, but..." Misato sighed again. "It's just, how can he possibly be here if he's dead...? Even Ritsuko says it's him, but..."

"Well I don't care why! He's here now, and that's all that matters to me!" With that, Asuka marched past Misato, her long red hair flipping about wildly behind her.

"He seems different somehow…" Misato whispered to herself as she walked back into her apartment. "I just hope he doesn't hurt her again..."


After making sure the apartment was still the same, which was at least some comfort, Shinji stopped in front of the bathroom door. I know she said she'd get me some clothes... Shinji thought, but I really should do that myself. I don't want burden anyone. He walked away from the door and headed over to his room, opening the door slowly. The sight was perhaps one of the most amazing and shocking in all his life. His sleeping mat was perfectly laid out in the center of the room, with an entertainment center comprised of a television, DVD player and several games consoles. On the left wall was a fine oaken desk upon which a desktop computer sat, two neat stacks of SDAT cassettes sitting next to the monitor. The whole setup looked rather clean, no dust or anything. It didn't look like anyone had even been in this room, save for someone to keep dust and insects away. Whoa.... This stuff isn't mine... Shinji mused in amazement as her shook his head and looked at the dresser at the right end of the room. What is all this? He quickly found a pair of black pants and a white button-up shirt, then closed the drawer and immediately headed to the bathroom.

Once in front of the bathroom again, Shinji knocked once to make sure it was safe. The silence was reassurance enough, and he opened the door and walked in, sliding it closed again behind him. Quickly setting his chance of clothes atop the sink, he removed his plugsuit and turned on the water, looking at the water slowly rising in the tub. When the water was finally up to his liking, he turned the faucets off and slid into the tub, sighing to himself as he relaxed, the warm water relaxing his tired muscles. He took this moment to run a checklist of everything that was abnormal. First, he was supposed to be dead. Not something people just forget in passing. Then, there was Asuka, dressed in a shirt and pants like he normally wears, smothering his face with kisses while trying to snuggle the life out of him. He shrugged and let out a sigh, giving up hope on figuring out anything anymore, gazing up at the ceiling as he relaxed in the tub.

"At least some things never change..." he murmured to himself as he gazed at the ceiling.


Asuka and Misato were sitting in the living room, watching TV when Shinji entered the living room, wearing a black pair of pants and a buttoned up white dress shirt, as he had always dressed. He took another look at Asuka, dressed in exactly the same manner, and shivered. Of all the things that had changed, this was perhaps the most unsettling.

Misato turned herself around from her spot on the floor to face Shinji. "Hey Shinji," she said warmly, "You hungry?"

Shinji put his hand to his stomach as it let out a small rumble, then smiled sheepishly and nodded. "I guess I am" he replied, a bit of a blush forming on his cheeks. "I'll start dinner."

Misato cocked her head to the side and looked at Shinji. "Since when do you cook Shinji?" The question didn't sound mocking or joking at all to Shinji's ear, but rather carried the tone of genuine confusion, which only served to confuse Shinji more.

He decided to take her to task on it, just in case. "Huh? What do you mean? I've always cooked since I came here." She knows that, Shinji thought to himself as soon as the last word left his lips.

Misato stood up from her seat on the couch. "Don't worry about it, I'll cook."

Hearing Misato offer to cook immediately set off more than a few bells of warning in Shinji's head. Before speaking, he looked over at Asuka, expecting some sort of reaction to Misato's announcement. Surprisingly, the redhead didn't react and continued to watch the TV.

Shinji looked back at Misato. "Are you sure?" he asked, making a last ditch effort to try and dissuade Misato from cooking.

Misato would not be denied. "I'm sure, now why don't you go watch TV with Asuka while I fix dinner?" The tone was kindly, but with just enough edge to suggest it was more than a request.

Once her mind is made up, there is no stopping her. Shinji thought. "Ok, I guess," he sighed with a shrug, praying silently to the gods that it would at least be edible.

While Misato made her way into the kitchen to start dinner, Shinji made his way to the couch in front of the television, plopping down on the opposite end from where Asuka was sitting. Tension permeated the air as the two youths shared an awkward silence as they sat there, silently watching a commercial for some new videogame. Shinji couldn't get over what had happened in the doorway earlier, and couldn't even begin to come up with anything to say. Instead, he simply sat there, staring at the screen.


Asuka looked at the television, but barely paid attention as the show she'd been watching came back from commercial. Her eyes kept darting back over to Shinji, who looked uncomfortable and out of place. Why's he so fidgety? Asuka wondered to herself. It couldn't have been because of the kisses at the door. Asuka sighed and shrugged, then smiled halfheartedly. There is one way to find out, I guess. However, as Asuka opened her mouth to break the silence, Misato walked into the living room. "Hey guys, what's with the silence? Getting' a little cozy?" Misato teased. "Anyway dinner's ready."

With that statement, both teens stood up off the couch and made their way to the dinner table. Asuka looked over at Shinji as he walked with her, and couldn't quite get past the look of dread in his eyes. What's with him?! Asuka pondered. You'd think Misato was a bad cook or something...


After the table was set and everyone sat down, Shinji warily took a bite of the steak in front of him, barely noticing that Misato's dinner at least looked better than normal. Wow, this is pretty good. Shinji thought as he looked at Misato.

"Very nice, Misato," Shinji said with a smile. "When did you learn to cook so well? "

Misato finished chewing the food in her mouth and swallowed. She then took a quick chug out of her can of beer before answering, "Huh? What do you mean Shinji?"

At least that's still the same, Shinji thought, looking at the can of Yebisu for a second before looking back up at her eyes. "You've just never cooked so well before," he replied.

Misato and Asuka shared a quick, confused glance. "You've always said I cooked well Shinji," Misato said softly.

Shinji had no reply to that. There is definitely something weird going on here, he thought, biting his lower lip as he did..

The 'family' ate the rest of their dinner in an uneasy silence. Surprisingly, Shinji was the first one to finish his dinner. He stood up and took his dishes to the kitchen where he deposited them in the sink. He then walked back into the dinning room. "Well, I'm going to head to bed. I'm a bit tired, and tomorrow's Monday."

"Ah... About school, Shinji..." Misato began, knowing what Shinji meant but not knowing the best way to say what she had to. "Maybe you should wait a couple of days."

Shinji looked at Misato and blinked in surprise. "Why would I do that?" he asked.

"Well…lets just say that it might be a bit awkward."

Shinji shrugged. Not like it would have been the first time.

"Besides, I need to talk to you tomorrow."

Shinji nodded, "All right, then. Good night Misato, good night Asuka."

"Good night Shinji" They replied.

Shinji then walked off to his bedroom, pondering the oddity of the whole day.


With Shinji out of the way for the moment, Misato turned her attention to Asuka. "Now do you understand why I told you to tone it down?"

"A little" Asuka replied. "He seems so different.... I know he's Shinji, but the way he acts..."

She isn't speaking in that monotone voice anymore, Misato thought, relieved to hear emotion in the girl's voice for the first time in seemingly an eternity. "Maybe he just doesn't remember certain things." Misato offered. "I can't imagine it's been easy for him."

"So... What should we do?" Asuka asked, her voice shaking slightly.

"I don't know, really," Misato admitted. "All I can do is talk to him, ask him about what he remembers, what he doesn't. You can do the same when you get home from school." Misato sighed a bit and put a hand on Asuka's shoulder. "Just... don't be too harsh with him, okay?" she pleaded with her redheaded charge.

Asuka nodded in agreement. "All right."

"We should turn in for the night as well," Misato told Asuka, yawning softly to emphasize how tired she was.

"Okay then," Asuka chirped as she nodded in agreement. "Good night, Misato."

"Good night, Asuka."

With that, both women stood up from their seats at the table and made their way to their bedrooms. Asuka paused in front of her room. She turned around and looked at the door with the familiar sign marked with the text 'Shinji's lovely suite'. Good night my Shinj, Asuka thought. Asuka then turned around, opened her door, stepped through and slid it shut behind her.


End Chapter 02


Author

What do you think? Both MC and I have been having writing troubles, and various other things have been going on. Such is the way of things. Anyway, don't forget to leave comments, as they're always necessary. Here's to hoping the next chapter comes out soon. See ya!

Proofreader

No, I have not abandoned Duke Nukem: Tokyo-3 Project. I'm just having a bit more trouble with Chapter 5 than I thought. Anyway, I'd like to thank Kale for sending this in to be proofread. I needed to think of something other than action, it might help loosen me up. I've seen him improve as a writer, and my work has gotten more and more easy since then. I look foreward to the day when both of us don't need much proofing in our works – keep it up, Kale, you're getting closer to being one of the better writers here. Anyway, feel free to send comments to Kale about the work. Unfortunately, I don't have a free email to send stuff to atm, as MasterChief@disc13.com doesn't work anymore (Sorry about the initial troubles getting the fic, Kale.) Anyway, I'd better quit rambling on. See ya soon.