To those it may concern, or rather, reviwers: OMG. OMG. OMG, OMG, OMG! Woah, had to get that out of my system. I am SO excited to get all these reviews in such short time...26 reviews in only 4 days! I guess it must be the fast updates. This quick one is for you guys : you make my blood heat up with JOY. I love you.
I hope YOU love the ending to this chapter. I'm oh so self consious about it! So don't forget to review this chap. and say you absolutely heart it. Literally, I'm gonna expect those words from someone!
Anyway, this may be the last chapter. I wrote this all a while back and I've been writing it's sequel for ages, so I can't really extend it much or anything. I might have one more chapter, so I'll keep it "In Progress" just in case. I hope you enjoy the 4th and possibly final chapter of Pushing the Limits of Our Friendship! I know I enjoyed writing it.
Don't forget to check out "Other People's Thoughts, PtLoOF"! I still have 2 more updates for that, I think. And also be watching out for the second part of my AU story, "Closer to You" and it's partner in crime, "Other People's Thoughts, CtY"!
Lots of loving coming your way,
Kenzie93!
FOURTH CHAPTER OF FIRST PART
"Ohhhh, do that thing you just did on my neck again…please, Asuka? Or will I have to tackle you?"
Asuka had spent the rest of the night listening to Hikari gush about Touji. She was mostly glad that Hikari hadn't lingered on Shinji's kisses, yet hearing about every little thing Touji had ever done became more than a bit tiresome. Shieeeest! Hikari's so devoted to him! It's embarrassing!
Eventually the three left, the sound of Kensuke's taunting voice ringing through the halls as Touji and Hikari walked closely side by side. Asuka sighed in relief as she shut the door, and turned to Shinji. He had a relaxed grin on his face.
"What's up, hot-shot?" Asuka joked. Shinji blushed good-naturedly.
"Not much, Asuka-chan." He replied gleefully. Asuka wondered what had made him so happy, but decided not to risk asking him.
"What do you want to do now? It's your house." She said, spreading her arms in a wide gesture. Shinji looked at her with a puzzled face.
"I'd usually just listen to music now or go to sleep," he said, glancing at the clock which read 9:45.
"GEEZ! And you need me to wake you up in the morning?"
"Asuka-chan!" he complained. "Well, what would you do now?"
"Read or something! I don't know! But I'm too worked up to go to sleep right now." She sighed woefully. "Poor me!"
Shinji chuckled. "Actually, we should probably do our homework." Shinji decided, setting off for his room to get pencils. Asuka tailed him, picking out a textbook from his bookshelf while he picked up his pencil case and sat on the bed.
"Shinji-kun?" Asuka asked, surprised. "What am I going to wear to bed?" Shinji blushed, affronted. Asuka sighed. "I'm not wearing nothing to bed, pervert!"
Shinji fell off his bed with a stunned look on his face, then jumped right back up, holding his nose. "Asuka-chan!" he yelped. "Don't surprise me like that!"
"What did I say that came as a surprise to you? Did you think I was so easy I wouldn't even wear pajamas?" she screeched angrily. Shinji blushed and shook his head quickly.
"You can borrow one of my shirts…?" Shinji offered. She smiled and walked over to his dresser.
"Thank-you Shin-kun!" she said, looking through his dresser hopefully. Unsurprisingly, she only came up with his school shirts and a few T-shirts. "Shinji! What should I pick?"
Shinji walked up behind her and looked over her shoulder. He pointed hopefully at one of his school shirts. She took it out and elbowed him so she could step back.
"I'm going to change in the hallway. Tell me before you leave your room! Or else!" she warned, stepping outside his room and slamming it shut.
Asuka almost wished she had stayed in his room and had him turn around, but figured it was much safer for him this way and sighed. She started to undress and was just buttoning up the shirt when she heard Shinji knock on the door.
"Are you done, Asuka?" he asked. She opened the door and he stepped out, dressed in his own pajamas.
He stared at the pile of clothes first. Asuka blushed at that, and kicked them to the side. Then he caught sight of her leg, and his eyes made the slow trek up to her face. Both of them were vibrant red by the time their eyes locked.
Asuka put her hands on her hips and glared. "Never seen a girl before, Shinji?" she asked him scornfully.
"A-Asuka-chan!" he said, seemingly surprised that it was her, and not one of his pornographic magazine girls. She wanted badly to slap him, but instead chose to get their bags and sit down at the dining table. He followed her, and Asuka was sure he was still staring, but busied herself in taking schoolwork out of her bag.
They had been working for about eight minutes when Asuka got fed up with it all. Shinji just kept staring, it was so distracting! She banged her fist on the table, which startled her friend and he jumped up in fear.
"Asuka? What's the matter!"
"Urgh! I need something tasty!" she groaned, staggering over to a bowl of sweets Mrs. Ikari kept well stocked. She brought it with her to the table and sat down. Shinji tried to ignore this and went back to work. Asuka, wanting some sort of revenge, stared at him as he attempted to do the homework. She was as loud as she could be while eating the sweets. Shinji was slowly looking more distressed and his eyes would flick from her to his laptop and back.
Asuka was getting bored. She stood up and returned the bowl to its rightful place. Before sitting back down, she leaned over in front of Shinji to see what problem he was on. "Ah, thermal expansion!"
Shinji tensed and Asuka rested her forearm on his shoulder. "Ha-hai." Shinji stuttered. He turned to face her and was startled by the view. Asuka suddenly realized he could see down her front, but stayed where she was.
"That's an easy one."
"No it's not!" Shinji said crossly.
"Yeah-huh! Basically, when you heat things up they expand and if you cool things they contract! It's so simple, mein gott!"
Shinji blinked. "Oh. I guess that makes sense."
"Well of course it does!" she leaned right down into his face. His sapphire eyes flickered frantically before choosing to rest not so safely on her eyes. Asuka felt herself heat up and wondered loosely if she had grown any bigger because of that. Then she wondered a bit more directly if Shinji had—
No! Don't be thinking things like that! She blushed and at that thought realized that Shinji was blushing himself. She bit her lip apprehensively. His face grew steadily closer. All of a sudden, Asuka shot up.
"We're you looking down my shirt? You PERVERT!" she cried, for lack of anything better to say.
Shinji looked shocked at this abrupt change of topic and spoke without thinking, also. "It's MY shirt!"
"You were, weren't you? Shinji, you immoral little boy!" she hissed. He stood up angrily.
"I'm not a little boy!" he said, taking a passionate step towards her.
She paused and stared at him cautiously. "No…I don't suppose you are anymore…" she blushed harder and went back to her seat. Shinji gasped and opened his mouth dumbly.
"What?" he asked finally, still standing.
Asuka turned around in the seat. "I agreed that you're not a little boy, Shinji-kun." She told him honestly, though she was slightly embarrassed. He reddened.
"Well…that's good then…" he said. "…Right?" he asked in a low voice, thinking she wouldn't hear him, obviously.
"Yes, it is good. I mean, that we agreed…not that it's good you've grown up…I mean, that's not bad either, but it's not what I meant…even though it's also good…I—" Asuka rambled on, her blush deepening. She stopped herself before she could tell him all of what she really thought. I think it's VERY good you've grown up, Shin-kun. Very—very—good…
Shinji smiled at her in a disconcerted way. "Um, exactly." He said reassuringly. He sat down next to Asuka and started up again on his homework.
"But…You're still a boy." She said after a moment.
He was confused. "Of course I'm still a boy! What are you thinking?"
She shook her head. "You're just a boy, Shinji. You're not a man—yet—is what I meant, so don't let it go to your head."
He frowned and returned to his work. After a minute he nudged Asuka with his elbow when she only continued to stare at him. Asuka shrugged and tried to get back to work.
Every once in awhile Asuka looked up and noticed how Shinji would stop working for short periods of time and his face would go through a flurry of emotions before he shook his head and started typing again. Once or twice he had looked at her to find she was already looking at him and they'd both color and turn back to the laptops. A couple times she had felt him looking at her and had tried hard not to blush.
They both felt appallingly on edge. How in the world will we manage the rest of the day? I think I might blow up before we can even go to bed…! Bed? Asuka thought. She was alarmed as the notion of sleeping in Shinji's bed flew into her head. Asuka sat up straighter and blushed heavily. She glanced at the clock to see how much longer she had before they should go to sleep. It was already quarter to eleven. Shinji, who had seen Asuka's movement out of the corner of his eye, also looked to the clock. He sighed and stopped working.
"Enough for tonight, don't you think Asuka?" he asked her, standing up. Asuka's eyes narrowed. "Time to go to bed!"
"…" she stared at him. He grabbed Asuka's hand and pulled her up and into the bathroom.
"You can use this toothbrush—"he offered one that was still in its box. "It's brand new!"
Asuka took the box and viciously opened it. At any time she was unsure of something, she reverted to anger to hide the confusion. They brushed their teeth together, and Asuka glared as they spit at the same time.
"Shinji? Where am I going to sleep?" she finally asked as they left the bathroom. He instantly blushed.
"My room?"
"Yeah, but do you have a sleeping bag?" She was nervous of his answer, but tried to ignore it.
"Erm, I don't think so…" he suddenly went pale and turned the other direction and started to pace. She could hear him muttering. "It'd be mean to have her sleep in the living room…And she certainly can't sleep in my parents' room, so…"
"I guess that leaves your bed, then." Asuka said, blushing.
"I'll…I'll sleep on the couch…" Shinji tried. Asuka shook her head.
"No you won't. We'll sleep together, baka!" Shinji colored swiftly and nodded uncertainly. They went into his room and she was unsure of what to do. She reverted back to anger. "You had BETTER not get any perverted thoughts about this!" she hissed. He shook his head quickly.
Asuka made the first move, laying down on his bed and looking up at him demurely. "Well?" she asked when he only ogled her. After another second, Shinji laid down as far from her as he could. "You'll fall off if you stay there!" She told him sternly. Asuka grabbed Shinji and pulled him closer to her, until he was almost right beneath her.
Asuka's brain was so filled with thoughts on their positions, but somehow she wasn't blushing very heavily. Shinji seemed too shocked to blush. Asuka leaned over him for another moment, then decided to let herself down. Asuka ended up laying half on top of him.
Her head, fuddled with how nice this felt, didn't tell her to move away, so Asuka buried her face into his shoulder and kept her arms around him. They hadn't slept in the same bed since they had gone to elementary school, and she had always liked the sensation of someone beside her. She felt so comfortable here with Shinji, although he was tense, and the tiny fear that Shinji's raging hormones would take him over was gone.
Asuka felt intoxicated and drowsy. She was almost asleep when Shinji moved his arms up from his sides to hold her. Asuka could barely breathe with the bliss at his action. She instead opted for kissing his neck.
It was the exact same kiss as earlier. Asuka would think it was a dream the next day and forget all about it, just as Shinji had. But, like Asuka, Shinji would never forget the sensation of the first kiss he had ever received from his best friend.
He didn't fall asleep for hours.
The next morning, Asuka was shocked to find herself snugly in Shinji's arms. She didn't move, but tried to understand what had happened.
Did I kiss him? Did he propose? Or was that all just part of my dream? Asuka thought groggily. At another time, she would be appalled at the dream she had had. It had been a romantic proposal in the classroom to the applause of her classmates. She couldn't see how a kiss in his bed would have fit in with that, but ignored it, thinking that just signified their relationship and then skipped ahead to the engagement.
Asuka looked up at Shinji's face. She was right on his chest, her arms around him too, so she didn't need to move much. His lips were moving slowly, but no noise came out, probably because he was on his back.
Asuka was overwhelmed by the flurry of emotions and disbelief. He looked so contented. And Shinji had, for once, not tossed around during the night.
"Shinji?" Asuka whispered. When he didn't respond, she poked him. Shinji was so deeply asleep he wouldn't notice a thing. Asuka decided that since he wouldn't know, she could give him an authentic kiss, instead of the tender one in the dream, though she had thought it sweet.
It was a rash decision, but Asuka didn't care. She thought she might burst if she didn't. So, Asuka pulled herself right up to his face and moved down. She was inches from his lips when she realized how wrong that would be. I can't kiss his lips if he's asleep! I want him to be fully conscious when I do! She cried in her thoughts.
The only way she could appease her body was to kiss him on the cheek. Asuka was thrilled at how warm his skin was. He still didn't wake, so she kissed his cheek again. This time he moved a bit and Asuka froze. She still wanted to kiss him badly, but knew it would be dangerous.
Though he had stirred, he was not yet awake. Smiling at the dream he must be having, he suddenly rolled over and moaned loudly. Asuka blushed. Shinji's ON me! And in his BED, too! MEIN GOTT! She gasped when he squirmed happily on top of her.
"Asuka…Mmmm…" he murmured in a pleased voice. Asuka stopped breathing. Is he still asleep? Is he dreaming about me? She wondered slowly. Shinji moaned again. "Ohhhh! That feels good." He sighed happily. She realized he was still dreaming and her thoughts ran in circles. What sort of dream is he having about me? Could I be the dream girl…? What is he dreaming? What am I doing? Are we…?
All Asuka could do was lie there silently as Shinji whispered sweet nothings to her in his dream. "You're so amazing right now! Well, you always are…mmph!" Was one of the most shocking, but hands down the most disturbing was "Ohhhh, do that thing you just did on my neck again…please, Asuka? Or will I have to tackle you?" he had asked quietly with a huge grin.
Eventually, Shinji had awoken from the obviously perverted dream he had been having. He looked confused to be on top of Asuka, even after waking up. "Asuka-chan?" he questioned sleepily. His hair was bedraggled and she unconsciously smiled and ran her fingers through it again. He leaned into her touch this time.
"Hai?" she asked as a reflex action. He smiled at her.
"Am I awake?" he asked, before plopping back down on her and nuzzling his face into her vivid auburn hair.
"…Yes." Asuka whispered, hardly able to control herself when his lips were again so close to her neck.
Shinji paused before moving back, an obviously fake smile trying to hide how startled he was. "Okay. You want breakfast?" he asked, getting off her slowly.
Asuka was glad she was finally free of him. She couldn't think straight when he was so close…and after the things he had said in his sleep, she was unsure if she'd ever be able to think straight again.
She rolled off the bed after him. I don't think Shinji realizes I heard him. He probably doesn't know he talks in his sleep! Well, it's doubtless better this way…
He had made them toast and then slumped down onto the floor in front of the TV. Asuka laid down on her stomach with her head in her hands and watched as he flipped through the channels.
"I'm so tired! I didn't get much sleep last night!" Shinji said conversationally.
"Really? You looked fine before you woke up." she told him casually. Shinji jerked unexpectedly at the statement.
"How—how long were you awake?"
Asuka realized that speaking had been a mistake. "About an hour." She answered despite the slight panic that was gnawing at her stomach.
Shinji looked embarrassed. "Sorry for being…er…on top of you…" He said quickly and wouldn't meet her eyes. She grinned unpleasantly.
"No big deal, Shin-kun! I didn't want to wake you up with that perverted dream you were having." She waited a second for it to sink in. "I thought it was very kind of me to lay there while you moaned and groaned and that hard-on of yours grew and—all that." she colored, not meaning to say so much.
Nothing could beat Shinji's blush, though. His entire head was red with mortification. "I—you could…tell?" He whispered with shame.
"Well DUH I could, Shinji! You were ON me! And I bet it was because we were in the same bed that made you think such dirty things!" In fact, she was certain that was the reason. "You kept saying things, too." She whispered uncomfortably. Shinji got up slowly and trudged into the bathroom. A moment later she heard water rushing that told her he was splashing his face.
She felt apprehensive and wished they could just make out now instead of dancing around the point. Asuka wasn't sure if Shinji liked her too, but if he was dreaming about her, and coupled with the looks he sent her way, he unmistakably lusted after her. Asuka felt oddly unique at the thought that likable Shinji-kun desired her. She was tempted to give him what he wanted for a second, but as soon as she considered it, she knew that would be a foolish thing to do. No matter how much she longed to be with him, she didn't want anyone thinking she was an easy slut, and besides, she needed Shinji to actually like her in the same way before she'd make a move.
And…Asuka was a bit disturbed by the dreams he had been having about her. She thought it hard to believe that he wanted her that way. She knew she was good-looking but she couldn't see why he was thinking such things.
Shinji walked into the room without a word and commenced watching the TV. Asuka waited a half hour of silence before she asked him the question burning in her throat.
"Shin-kun?" She waited for him to nod. He didn't turn to look at her, so she reached over and touched his ankle. He was bewildered by her touch and instantly faced her. "Do you—do you think I'm pretty?" she asked intensely. He stopped breathing.
"Why would you ask me?" He said after a minute of staring into each others eyes. "Most of the boys in our school would be more than happy to answer you."
"Then why won't you?" She wondered aloud. "I want you, not any of those other guys—to tell me, I mean."
They blushed. "Well, don't you already know? You must—you had to have heard it before?" he looked panicked.
"Shinji-kun, why won't you tell me? Is it because you think I'm ugly?" she roared. He stood up and she rolled over onto her back, propped up on her elbows, to look up at him with a glare.
He must have been sizing her up in the next minute. "…Fine." He said at last. "You are… outright jaw-dropping exquisite, Asuka-chan." He told Asuka with a blush.
She thought she had died for a second. No one had ever complimented her like that before in her life. Sure, she'd heard 'attractive' and 'cute' from people before, and had heard some boys calling her 'hot' a few times, but never so memorably as this.
"Go-good. I…thanks, Shinji." She smiled at him. After an awkward moment, she asked another question. "Do you think anyone would ever want to date me, though?"
He looked like a deer in the headlights. Shinji's eyes widened in surprise and he took a step backwards. "Why are you asking such weird things?"
"I just asked if you thought anyone would want to date me! I don't see how that's weird!" she scoffed and sat up a bit.
He frowned. "You should be talking to Hikari about this kind of stuff!"
"I'm asking you for a guy's opinion! Who would know better than yourself if I'm dateable?" She shrugged. "Why are you being so evasive?"
His frown evened out into a determined look. "I am not being evasive."
"Yes you are! You're still avoiding the question!" She yelled, anger mounting. She couldn't understand why he didn't want to tell her. "Would anyone want to ask me on a date?"
His eyes turned to the ceiling. "Obviously." He sighed. "I can't begin to imagine why you would need any reassurance! Almost everyone wants to date you, and I know for a fact that you get tons of invitations all the time and are always turning them down! If you want to date someone so badly, why won't you?"
"Would you date me?" she mumbled, but Shinji heard her and froze.
"Wha—what?" Shinji whispered heavily.
"I asked if you would date me." She looked right up into his eyes, and he was too stunned to look away. And in that moment, she suddenly felt like she'd gone too far, that she was pushing the limits of their friendship too hard. She shouldn't be trying to gain his heart in the first days she admitted to liking him. She turned her face away hastily, conscious that Shinji was probably receiving something from her in turn.
"I…I would! I would, okay?" he eventually said. She was so taken aback that she almost fell backwards. This is big. How can I respond to something so god-honest wonderful?
"Would you…?" Asuka finally asked.
"I just said I would! Geez, Asuka!" he groaned.
She paused. "No, I mean…Would—will you?" she made a point to look right at him when she said this. They blushed, but this time, neither broke eye contact. And now Asuka saw uneasiness in his indigo-blue eyes. Maybe it was too far, but…she needed this. She needed him.
"Are you serious?" he questioned slowly.
Asuka nodded and smiled as sincerely as she could through her nervousness. This was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. But she was equal to it. She was brave enough. "Completely."
"You…want to? Date me…?" he whispered uncertainly.
"Badly, yes." She whispered, confessing to both him and herself. He looked wild for a moment, probably shocked that Asuka wanted him. She knew he had low self-esteem—Shinji had never thought he was likeable though Asuka had told him countless times. It must have been unbelievable that someone wanted him. She knew that she herself had been confused at the idea.
"Then… what do you want me to do?" he watched with intent eyes as Asuka stood up and took a step towards him. She waited with an eyebrow raised.
After a few minutes, Shinji made a step towards her. Asuka inched forward slowly. Shinji little by little moved closer in return. "You could always kiss me?" She asked him hopefully.
And then, to the surprise and ecstasy of both Shinji and Asuka, he did.
END OF PART ONE (Pushing the Limits of Our Friendship)