I tell you, there's nothing I enjoy more than typing out the heading of every chapter.
I wanted to give a quick thank you to everyone who's stuck with me and everyone who's reviewed, favorited, and followed my story so far. I really appreciate the love. Also, I wanted to thank Satanic Park of Madness for adding me to a community! That's totally awesome! Hopefully more people will see my writing now, so that's great.
Also, just thought I'd add that I am considering making Misato part of the romance. I'm still ironing out exactly how I want her to fit in though. I know a way that I could add her in easily, but I'm not happy with the amount of estimated screen time she'd get, So, I'm holding off on making it official for now, but I am trying to come up with something.
Anyways, this is the first chapter with absolutely no scenes from the anime, rebuilds, or manga. So, without further ado, here's chapter five!
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Text Guide
Standard Wording
"Spoken Dialogue/Speech"
'Internal Dialogue/Thoughts'
(Flashbacks)
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[Slash denotes scene transition for the moment; this may be changed in the future so as to become more visible.]
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Disclaimer: I do not own or profit off of Neon Genesis Evangelion, End Of Evangelion, or the Rebuilds of Evangelion. I do not own Shinji Ikari, Rei Ayanami, Asuka Langley Sohryu, or any of the other characters/ideas from the Evangelion intellectual property collective. All licenses remain with the proper license holders. If asked to, I will formally remove this story from the hosting website.
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*Cruel Angel's Thesis and Eva intro starts playing*
Neon Genesis Evangelion
A Journey of Hate, Power, and Love
Chapter 05
You Don't Have to Walk Alone
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"Up we go, Miss Ayanami!"
Misato bent down and picked the sweet girl up off her feet and cradled her in her arms. Rei stared at Misato and blinked a couple times, shaping her mouth into a small o.
"Heehee, you're so cute when you're confused."
Misato looked into the girl's deep dark red eyes and smiled. Rei let out a little sigh and almost began to doze off.
"Aww, you sweet little thing. You must be so tired," Misato said as she began walking up the steps to Rei's apartment.
Misato had a strenuous night also, but she figured she had it better than the two pilots even though her legs were trembling as she carried Rei up the stairs.
'Shinji said her door was unlocked earlier, right? Maybe it still is. Then I wouldn't need to set her down to get her key. Still, it's dangerous for a girl to leave her door unlocked.'
Misato looked down at the girl, who was now asleep in her arms, and smiled again. She couldn't see too well but the moonlight was bright enough for her to make out her room number once she reached her floor.
"Okay, Rei. Four oh two, here we are," she whispered to the small girl.
Misato opened the door while still supporting Rei's small, fragile-seeming body in her arms. She edged her way through the door making sure not to hit the girl's head on anything in the darkness. Upon entering, she fumbled around on the wall feeling for a light switch, and almost tripped in the process, nearly dropping the girl who never once stirred. Finally, Misato found a switch and flicked it on. In the center of the room, a dim light shown as it hung from the ceiling, only loosely connected by a couple wires.
"Poor girl, how do you live here?"
Rei still slept in the older woman's arms though, not making any sound other than her soft breathing.
Misato looked around the dim room, seeing exactly what kind of environment the little pilot lived in.
"Damn, I should have adopted you too, Rei."
Misato steadily made her way to Rei's still bloody sheets. She cringed a little upon seeing them, but didn't let it bother her too much.
'How does NERV let her live here? Surely they could get her better housing than this! Then again, with the paycheck they give me…'
She lowered the girl onto her bed as gently as she could, trying her damnedest not to wake the exhausted little girl knowing she really needed to sleep. After setting her down, she gently tugged the thin sheets out from under her and softly set them on the girl. She looked down at Rei's peaceful little face and stroked her hair, similar to how she had been petting Shinji earlier in the night.
She bent down over her and kissed her on her head before whispering to her, "Thank you for what you did for me. Goodnight, Rei."
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-Remorse and Morning Time-
/
"Goodnight, my little Shinji."
Misato leaned over the boy and kissed him gently on the lips, being careful not to wake him after setting him on his bed. She felt his weak warm breath wash over her cheek. After a few more moments, she broke the kiss and stood up, looking down at him before turning to leave the room. After taking a step out his door, she glanced over her shoulder to look at him one last time and then shut the door to his room before continuing back to the kitchen.
'God, I'm so tired. I'm sure they won't call me into work though; not tomorrow, not after what happened. So, I guess I could stay up a little longer.'
She glanced at the clock.
'4:30 AM…'
"Mmm…fuck it. I've been up all night anyways. Might as well."
She went to her fridge and grabbed an armful of Yebisu, and then, tiredly, her legs carried her to her couch in the living room. Lazily picking up the remote, she tried turning on the television, but soon remembered that there still wasn't any power.
"Oh, fuck everything! How did I forget? My biggest and boldest plan yet, and I've already forgotten my good deeds not even two hours later. Uh, guess I'll drink in my room or something. "
She got up, struggling to hold all her beer and began to make her way to her room. She was about to reach for the handle to her door when the lights all shot back on.
"What the fuck? Ugh, of course we get power right as I give up on the idea of television." Her legs were shaking, but she decided that she would rather watch TV and get drunk than simply drink in bed, so she forced herself to walk back to the couch. She dropped all her beers on the cushions, picked the remote back up and began flipping through channels trying to find something at least mildly entertaining.
'I've got to get a DVD player. Blu-Ray might be too expensive for me after buying that lingerie earlier this month. But, I want something more interesting than the crap that's broadcasted on this junk.'
She finally found something that looked interesting as she looked intently at the screen. A severed head was sitting on a table with what appeared to be milk leaking out of the cut. But the weirdest part was that the head was still talking.
'What the hell am I watching?'
"I admire its purity," the head on the screen spoke in a staticy voice.
"Eww, ugh, guess it's better than nothing," Misato said as she cracked open one of her beer cans and started chugging it down despite the revolting picture on the screen. Soon though, her thoughts drifted to other things.
'I wonder who I'd even wear that lingerie for.'
She looked away from the television and down at her lap, thinking back to her sexual encounter with the boy yesterday. She really enjoyed it for the ten second's she actually gotten in. She found another kind of pleasure in simply fooling with someone so much younger, so inexperienced. It aroused her in ways she hadn't been familiar with before.
'… I guess...after what happened with Shinji…maybe I could wear it for him…'
A small smile grew on her face.
'What would he think?'
She giggled a little at the thought.
'Of course he'd like it. He's a boy.'
She looked up to the ceiling and sighed, still not paying attention to the television. So many things where on the woman's mind.
("Oh, Misato!" Ritsuko said, letting her face fall into her hands in exasperation.
"What? I haven't even said anything yet." Misato said, shrugging with a bashful smile.
Ritsuko lifted her head and looked at Misato with a mix of sadness, disgust, and sickened amazement.
"You didn't, did you?"
"What? I haven't even gotten a chance to say my piece yet."
"Misato, he's the Commander's son! What were you thinking? You could be imprisoned!" Ritsuko said in a hushed but scolding voice.)
"Ritsuko…Shinji…"
She leaned forward over her knees and braced her face on one hand, her beer in the other.
"Oh, what am I doing with my life?"
A couple tears started forming in her eyes and she took a drink of her beer.
"I just a raped a kid. Oh my god, what is wrong with me?"
She cried a little harder but tried to keep herself quiet so she wouldn't wake the boy in the other room. She brought the can to her mouth and emptied it as a few more tears rolled down her cheeks. She quickly grabbed for another of the cans she'd brought to the couch, opened it, and began drowning herself.
'He liked it, didn't he? But, what if he didn't? What if he tells someone? What if they take him away from me? What if they put me in prison?'
She finished another can of beer and she tossed it at the ground next to her feet,
'Okay, calm down. He liked it. What guy wouldn't like it? He's not going to tell anyone. Who would he even tell? He has no one to talk to, does he? So, no one is going to take him away from me and I'm not going to prison. Besides, I work for NERV. They'd probably let me off easy, even if I did give a kid his age a blowjob.'
Misato took deep breaths trying to calm herself as the effects of the alcohol barely started to set in.
'But, why doesn't any of that make me feel better?'
/
Heat, burning heat, burning red heat.
A steadfast queen with fine silver-blue hair.
"REI! REI!"
Light, blinding light, immaculate blinding light.
"SHINJI, FIRE!"
A heavy heart, a heavy arm. One last pull of the trigger. One last chance. The final effort that would make or break.
Strength, forceful strength, piercing forceful strength.
Splitting, tearing, blazing like a shooting start through the night.
Screams, bloody screams, terrible bloody screams.
It's done. It's over. No more for now.
Pain. Not of the flesh, but in the mind; the heart.
"REI, REI, ARE YOU OKAY? REI!"
Lungs full of blood, descending, running.
A cradle, a womb of steel, struggling, searing into the grasping bones.
A door thrown open, crying, heat, blood; the smell of LCL.
A smile.
"Let's go home, Rei."
/
Shinji's eyes slowly edged open as he awoke.
"Mmmhmmgh," the boy groaned before turning over and yawning while he stretched, "Mmmh, what time is it?"
He threw the covers off him and slowly got up. His muscles and bones ached, but it wasn't too bad. He stood up and rubbed his eyes before scratching his head. Then, turning to face the clock, he sighed.
"It's already one in the afternoon? I wonder if Ayanami is still sleeping. I don't have her number. I guess I'll just have to check myself. Hopefully she's not naked again."
He blushed a little at the thought of what happened yesterday, but tried to forget. He reached for one of his new white shirts, and gathered up a pair of black pants. He got dressed quickly but not before noticing the silver aviators Misato had bought him almost a month ago.
"Hmm, I guess I should wear these," the boy looked out the window of his room, "It is kinda sunny today…and it would be a waste of Misato's money if I don't wear them."
'Misato…'
The boy wasn't entirely sure what to think of her. She was a woman, of course, and Shinji had never been great with women. Hell, he'd never been great with anyone from a social perspective. But, women almost frightened Shinji. Though, Misato wasn't usually too bad with him and she even tried to give him head. He didn't know how he felt about that though. She was so much older than him. It was illegal, and it frightened him, but it was so short lived that it didn't bother him as much as it probably would have if she had actually been able to go through with her actions. And, comparatively, to everything else that had happened yesterday, it really wasn't his biggest concern. In fact, he could barely even remember it after everything else that occurred. Truthfully though, it did make him uncomfortable to think about sex with anyone, and especially with someone as sexually mature as Misato; someone who, no doubt, had more experience than him. However, there was nothing he could do to change the past and he hadn't made a big deal up to this point. So, the timid boy figured there was no reason to do anything about it now. It would only draw attention that would make him uncomfortable. And, if anyone found out, he'd probably be separated from Misato. He really didn't want to live with his father, and though he wasn't the most social person, he'd grown to enjoy Misato's company and didn't really want to live alone either.
'I guess I'll just…see what happens…'
Shinji made his way to the exit of his room, and walked out to the hallway but he paused as he heard whimpering and moaning coming from the living room. He quietly slid his door shut and walked prudently forward until he could make out the source of the sound.
In front of him, Misato was hunched over on the couch. He could see some of her hair and part of her back over the headrest. The uncertain boy made his way to the woman who appeared to be sobbing as her body quivered.
"Muh-Misato?"
Her purple head lurched up and was at drunken attention. Shinji finally confirmed that she was indeed crying as he saw wet streaks under her eyes.
"Ohh, Shinji!" she cried out in a slur.
"M-Misato, what's wrong?"
The drunken young woman got up, almost falling onto the coffee table in the opposite direction, and then stumbled forwards and around the couch, making her way to Shinji. He looked at the table and saw a bottle of rum before turning back to look at Misato, seeing she'd fallen a bit and was now crawling towards him.
'I guess…she was really drinking last night. I can't blame her, though. Even if she is supposed to be my guardian… Maybe she just needed some way to unwind after all the responsibility that was placed on her last night.'
"Oh, Shinji," Misato said again, continuing to crawl towards Shinji until she reached his feet and then looked up into his eyes before hugging him around his waist and crying into his stomach, "I'm so sorry. Please, please, forgive me, please!"
"M-Misato, I-I don't understand."
"I'm sorry. I'll never do it again. Please, I'm sorry. I-I shouldn't have done that. I apologize," She slurred to the boy, her speech made even more incoherent with the fact she was speaking into his stomach.
"Misato? I…"
"I'll never put my mouth on you again, not like that, I promise. P-Please, f-forgive me for what I did!"
"Misato, it's…it's fine."
"N-No! No it's not!"
The poor woman sounded absolutely miserable. Shinji was really starting to worry about her and he didn't know exactly how to comfort her but he decided he'd try the truth first.
"Misato, there was so much stuff that happened yesterday. And, honestly, it's still all sinking in for me. I don't think I even fully realize what happened yesterday or last night and I might not ever. So, really, it's fine. I'm not…crazy about it happening again, but it's fine, Misato."
The woman continued to weep into the boy's shirt and muttered things that Shinji couldn't make out through the combined sobbing and drunk mumbling. Shinji had never been shown much love in his life and he was having a hard time finding a good way of comforting the older woman. He lifted his arms up and awkwardly embraced the woman's head.
"Come on, Misato. Let's go to the kitchen and I'll make you some lunch. Have you even eaten anything since yesterday?"
"Noooo," she whined.
"Let's go then. You'll feel better."
The woman grabbed onto Shinji's clothes and tried pulling herself up some. She wasn't very successful. She was hungry, tired, drunk, and sad; she couldn't very easily stand on her own feet. Shinji kneeled down and looked the beautiful woman in the eyes and put his arms under hers so that she could support herself. She was able to stand with Shinji's help. He repositioned himself and swung one of her arms over his shoulders and wrapped the other around her chest and then tried to bring her to the kitchen. She almost toppled the both of them a couple times, but he managed to get her to the table without her losing her footing. After setting her down, he went to work fixing her some instant miso soup.
"Shinji…du-don't y-you have to see Rei?" she slurred, trying to contain her tears.
"Well, yeah but…I want to make sure you're okay first."
"I'm o-okay. Y-You can see Rei"
"I have time Misato. I'm just going to make this instant soup and fry you some frozen shumai. I don't have much time, but I have enough to do that at least."
Misato folded her arms on the table and buried her face into them, still crying.
'I don't deserve him as a lover. I don't deserve him as a son or a ward or a friend. I don't deserve him at all. I'm supposed to be taking care of him and he's the one taking care of me. I can't even take care of myself half the time. How did I expect to be able to care for him? I'm a terrible guardian and a horrible mother,' Misato thought as she began lamenting harder into her arms.
Shinji approached her with the warm cup of instant miso and set it down in front of the crying woman's shaking arms. Then, seeing she hadn't seemed to notice the soup, he placed a hand on her and started rubbing her back.
"Hey, come on, Misato. It's okay. So, just come on and eat a little."
The purple haired woman looked up from her arms and picked up the cup of soup with her weak arms.
"Y-yeah, okay," she said, looking up and trying her best to smile at Shinji as he smiled back at her.
He made his way to the freezer and pulled out a package of frozen shrimp and pork shumai and started frying them in a skillet as the warm soup comforted Misato like someone's beating heart.
'I'm so lucky to have him,' she thought as she felt the warmness of the soup gently make its way through her palms.
She watched his back to her as he heated the shumai on the stove. The noon sun shone through every window in the apartment. The air conditioning blew quietly through the house and created a gentle air current that could be seen as it pushed the dust particles in the air around. PenPen was probably in his refrigerator for his noontime nap. And, besides the sizzling food, everything in the apartment was rather tranquil.
Soon, the shumai had finished cooking and Shinji brought it to Misato.
"Thank you," Misato mouthed to him as he set it in front of her.
Shinji had seen her tears had begun to stop flowing so hard. He wanted to comfort her some more, but her figured he really should be getting over to Rei's place soon. Half the day had already come and gone.
"Hey, Misato, I'll try to be back before sundown. I'll cook you a proper meal tonight, okay? So, try to get some sleep because it looks like you haven't had much. And get sober too, okay?"
The woman sniffled some and looked at him with her still unfocused and drunk eyes, "Yeah, sure. Of course."
Shinji smiled and made for the door.
"Shinji, wait-"
He stopped and turned around to look at her one last time.
"-I just noticed you're wearing the glasses I bought you. They look good. I'm sure Rei will love them."
Shinji blushed a little and nodded before continuing towards the exit of the apartment.
Misato heard the door open and close before whispering, "Goodbye, my little Shinji."
Upon exiting the apartment, Shinji sighed in relief. He didn't really know how to act around people when they were upset and though he didn't want to just leave Misato the way she was, he wasn't comfortable with trying to help her. It made him feel so awkward for some reason. It made him feel like he needed to open himself up to her and he didn't really want to open up to anyone. He was okay with spending time with her and he liked her, but he did want to retain a certain emotional distance from her.
"I hope she's acting more like her normal self when I get back…"
/
Rei had woken up very sore. The events of last night where still fresh in her mind and apparent in her body as she felt a slight burning and tingling feeling in her arm that she had used to guard Shinji last night. She tried not to let the miniscule pain distract her for the moment but hoped it wouldn't get worse. She hadn't experienced it in its full ferocity yet, but she knew that Shinji suffered from occasional phantom sensations as a result of piloting the eva and she was aware that she could experience the same at any time.
She remembered the burns she'd felt the night before, like the skin of her arm was curdling and shriveling away in the heat; the bright light searing into her eyes as she was barely able to keep them open. So much heat, so much pain, it was almost enough to make her cry out for help. But she didn't. There was no help for her. She was the help.
But, she was helped last night. She had never expected anyone but the commander to do it, but her fellow pilot did. Shinji Ikari burned his hands opening the super-heated hatch of her entry plug. Though she had no broken bones or physical injuries, what he did had caused her to question her entire life to put it lightly. It had created no shortage of chaotic questions in her mind. She had been raised to follow her Commander no matter what. She had been raised as the most loyal and the most dedicated, and it took years for her Commander to return her commitment and constant perseverance. And in that moment, she idolized him. It was the kindest gesture she'd ever experienced. She felt like she was useful and worthful and like she mattered to the only one she wanted to matter to.
And then came along this boy; this weak and afraid boy. And he did the same thing for her even though he didn't really know her and she didn't see how she deserved it. She didn't understand why he cared so much for someone who he had barely spoken to, but somehow he did. He cared enough about her to endure even more burns even though she wasn't in any immediate danger.
'I do not…I do not understand.'
She had no idea what she felt for the boy. Admiration, gratefulness, pity, anger, disappointment. She didn't really know anything about him and he'd only been in her life for a short time, but he'd already had such a profound impact on her existence.
However, Rei assumed that she would be able to ask him as many questions as she pleased once he arrived at her apartment. So, she decided to get ready for what remained of the day. She still hadn't cleansed the dried LCL from last night off her body and a shower sounded very good to her right about now.
/
Sounds of demolition crews echoed around Shinji unabashedly as he approached Rei's squalid apartment complex.
"Dangerous heavy equipment? Check."
He walked onto the apartment grounds and looked at the elevator.
"Unpowered elevator? Check."
'Guess I'll be using the stairs again.'
He made his way up the stairwell, even though his aching body didn't want to tolerate it. He found Rei's apartment and pressed the buzzer, but it didn't make much of a sound.
"Still broken doorbell? Check. Everything is looking pretty much like Déjà vu right now. God, I really hope I don't find Rei in the nude again."
Shinji put his hand on the door handle and tested it. It still wasn't locked.
"Unlocked door? Check."
He slowly opened the door and creeped in quietly.
"Seemingly empty apartment? Check."
Worried he'd walk in on her again, he announced himself.
"Rei? Hey, Ayanami, I'm here."
He listened for her but heard no answer.
"Unresponsive girl? Check."
'Better brace myself.'
He slowly walked down the little hallway until he reached her living space, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw a completely naked Rei waiting patiently, who, until recently, was hidden by the corner of the hallway and her room. Her hair was wet and her body was slick. It seemed as though she had just gotten out of the shower.
"Goh!" The boy cringed and jumped in shock as he caught a glance of her water-drizzled breasts, "WHOA, UH," the boy's face was quickly overcome with a blush as he closed his eyes and turned around, "CLOTHING! WHERE ARE YOUR- WILL YOU PUT SOME CLOTHES ON?"
"Is that…an order?" the little blue haired girl asked in a tone that almost sounded as though she were teasing considering she wasn't the least bit embarrassed.
"What? YES! NO! I-I don't know!"
The small girl stared at the boy, blinking in confusion, before dressing herself, slipping on her panties and clasping her bra on around her chest.
"Why do you look away? I do not understand," she asked in her trademark soft voice.
"Why don't you answer me when I tell you I'm here?"
"You informed me that you had arrived. I did not know you desired a response from me. If you had, I assumed you would have asked if I were present instead of introducing yourself," the girl said as she finished putting on her school uniform.
"Pilot Ikari?" Rei asked, waiting expectantly for the boy to face her.
"Yes?"
The boy was afraid to turn around, but curiosity was nagging at him and the girl hadn't responded. He figured that, perhaps, she was requesting his attention or maybe telling him that it was appropriate for him to turn around, and so he cautiously began rotating to face her.
Upon his turning around, the girl asked again, "Why do you look away?"
"W-well, be-because it's not right for me to look at you like that…though, I'm not sure it matters after what happened yesterday…"
The red eyed girl simply stared at him, waiting for him, watching him, peering into his soul that his sunglasses failed to defend from her piercing rubies.
"So," Shinji started in an attempt to break the silence, "What do you want to do today?"
"I do not know, Pilot Ikari. I assumed you would be the one to be telling me. It was your proposal that we spend the day in company of each other."
He hadn't really thought about what he'd actually do with the girl when he'd asked her. The request had sort of just slipped out of his mouth because of his groggy state of mind and his unnatural yearning to befriend the quiet girl. He had no idea what he'd actually do now that he was here. Come to think of it, beyond that, he didn't even know the girl very well. What kind of things would she even enjoy doing?
A somewhat coherent idea formed in the boy's mind, "Hey, what if we just get to know each other a little bit?"
The girl blinked in response, but didn't say anything.
"I mean, I don't know too much about you, and you seem interesting."
'Interesting? Is that really the best thing I could come up with to describe her?'
The boy was starting to fail at holding up the conversation and Rei wasn't making it any easier.
"We are fellow pilots now after all. So, tell me about yourself, heheh," the boy smiled and scratched his head awkwardly.
"What would you like to know?"
"Well, um…"
The girl continued to stare at him, waiting for his response.
'Oh man, I came really unprepared, didn't I? I don't even know what I want to know,' the boy thought, still scratching his head.
Rei, closed her eyes, turned away, and started walking to her bed. She sat down on it, her hands in her lap, and resumed staring at Shinji with her disarming red eyes.
"Pilot Ikari."
"Um, yes?"
"Sit," the girl gestured to a place on her bed next to her before once again placing her hand in her lap.
"Um," the boy gulped, "You can just call me Shinji, you know?" he said as he uneasily made his way to the spot next to Rei.
"If that is what you prefer."
"I do," he said sitting next to her cautiously as he took his sunglasses off and hung them on his shirt
The boy was starting to sweat rather profusely. He'd already been perspiring in the sun on the way to Rei's apartment, but her apartment lacked air conditioning and it certainly wasn't making Shinji any less sweaty. He looked around the apartment and noted for the second time that it really wasn't fit for its occupant. It was devoid of any form of entertainment. It lacked most basic capabilities of a normal home. There wasn't much furniture to liven up the place. It didn't really seem reasonable to house someone in a place like this.
"Hey, Rei, why do you live here?"
The girl turned to face him but didn't say anything.
"I mean, you don't have a Television or books. Do you even have any playing cards? By the looks of it, you don't even have any air conditioning. How do you stand living here? And the place itself doesn't even seem safe. "
"I do not need more than I have."
The boy paused for a second, considering her words, "…Well, yeah. I don't need to live in my apartment. When I ran away, I sometimes slept in boxes, but I probably didn't need those either. Still though, I'd prefer to live in my apartment nowadays…for the most part."
"Why?"
"Well, because it's comfortable, I guess."
"I am comfortable here."
The boy looked at her, unsure of what to say to her as she continued to stare at him with her attentive eyes. It was strange to him. He really didn't like attention. But, for some reason, the attention he received from Rei didn't disturb him as much as it did when other people gave him attention. Maybe it was because they were both eva pilots. Maybe it was because the way she gave attention was very different from the way others traditionally gave theirs. Maybe it was just that they'd already gone through so much together despite their lack of acquaintanceship. They didn't really talk and they'd already saved the world once, and perhaps that had already built some trust between the two of them that simply hadn't been recognized by either.
An idea came to Shinji. It wasn't revolutionary by any means. It was just a simple question brought on by Rei's seeming lack of enrichment and it was something that was easily relatable to Shinji. He figured he would be able to hold up a conversation with her, even if it was one sided.
"Rei, do you like cooking?"
"I…do not know."
"Do you have a favorite food?"
"No."
Shinji was somewhat taken aback by Rei's response. He didn't understand how someone couldn't have a favorite food.
"Really?"
"I do not have a favorite food. I do not see the point. However, I do not eat meat."
"Oh, well, um…don't you like anything?"
"I enjoy bathing," Rei stated, still staring directly into Shinji's eyes without a hint of embarrassment.
"Oh," the boy blushed, "um, yeah. I've…I've noticed," he stuttered as he inadvertently looked at her wet hair sticking to her porcelain face
If Shinji thought he was bad with girls before, he had no idea how he was even going to start and maintain a conversation with Rei. He sat and thought for a time as the girl continued staring at him. He tried to think of way with which he could interact with the girl without seeming awkward. He thought that maybe he could cook something for her-
"Do you have anything around that I could cook for you? Any ingredients I might be able to make into something?"
-but that idea was quickly dismissed with Rei's answer.
"I have instant meals. That is all."
"Then," the boy scratched his chin in thought, "…maybe we could…go shopping for something for you to eat?"
"If that is how you would like to spend the day," the girl said in an uncaring tone.
"Oh, well then, um…do you want to go then?"
"If that is what you would prefer."
This girl was so hard to socialize with and Shinji didn't know why he felt the need to talk to her. But, he was somewhat grateful that she was quiet. He had a hard time talking to people who talked more. It made him feel like he stood out more when he didn't want to talk. When he was around Rei, he felt more normal. And that comforted him. Perhaps that was why he felt so inclined to speak with her.
"Well, let's go then," he smiled at her and stood up, offering his burned hand out to help her up. She placed her hand in his and stood. Their eyes met and they looked at one another's colorful pools of emotion. Shinji blushed due to the close proximity of their faces. He might not have given her enough room to get up and he felt a little awkward being so close to her, but he couldn't pull away. Her eyes were so entrancing and powerful and they trapped him in place; they paralyzed him. He'd never been so close to her eyes before and he'd never noticed all the details in them.
"Is there something the matter, Shinji?"
He blushed even harder feeling her warm moist breath breeze across his face. He was so close to her. She spoke so softly and he still felt her breathing even now.
Rei was starting to become slightly embarrassed; afraid she had perhaps done something wrong or looked unsavory in some way. A very slight tinge of pink colored her face. If she weren't so pale, no one could have noticed. She wasn't very easily embarrassed and so this was strange to her.
She stared into his grey-blue eyes, only now deciding to notice the intricate patterns in them, 'His eyes…they are like storm clouds,' she thought as she calmed her embarrassment and became absorbed the same way Shinji was, 'This is what he was seeing.'
"What? No," Shinji said as he tried to break eye contact with her, "There's nothing wrong. It's just that your eyes…they're really…really red. They're very, uh...pretty."
Rei's face lit up a hot pink. She'd never been regarded in that way before.
"You…embarrass me," the girl said quietly as she forced herself to look away from the boy.
"Oh, sorry. It's nothing to be worried about," the boy said as he tried to smile at her, "Anyways, how about we get going?"
"Yes."
Shinji hadn't even realized he was still holding her hand as he began walking and ended up almost dragging her with him. He quickly let go and blushed as he looked away from her and continued for the door with Rei following behind him.
/
-Puella et Lunam-
/
Rei and Shinji had just gotten off one of the few remaining working trains in the city after the battle last night. Their stop was a couple kilometers from one outdoor market that Shinji knew relatively well. It was about the only place in the city he really knew besides the Geofront and the area around Misato's apartment. Misato went shopping here occasionally when Shinji requested it of her so that he could actually make something edible for the two of them when one or the other required nourishment. He knew that if he left the cooking to Misato, she'd either ruin the food or burn the entire apartment complex to the ground, but Shinji didn't really want to work with instant meals so he'd convinced her to actually go out and get some real legitimate food. This time however, he had decided he'd be buying a relatively large assortment of snacks for Rei so that she could try them all over the course of a few weeks without requiring his presence to prepare the food for her.
The pair walked along the surprisingly busy streets of Tokyo-3 under the sunshine. Off in the distance, Shinji could see the angel he'd killed last night, an ominous reminder that he could never be too comfortable and that he'd always have to be ready for an attack. It was breezy today, and the scent of blood was carried through the air from the angel's corpse. Scaffolding had been built around the body so that disposal crews could begin removing it. How they'd get rid of something as hard looking and crystalline as the angel was beyond Shinji, but they'd found a way with the other two and he figured they'd find some way with this one as well.
Shinji was also curious as to why people where so eager to get on with their lives so hastily so soon after the fight. He wondered why they didn't all evacuate. Perhaps, they were just like a stubborn old man who didn't want to leave his room; people do get stuck in their ways after all. Maybe they just didn't think about it or realize the danger or had a false sense of safety. Or mayhap they were all robots and had no regard for their own safety beyond their programming.
'Maybe…maybe they just don't care…like me,' Shinji thought, 'Maybe they don't care if they die. I don't care if I die. Not really anyways.'
He looked at Rei, who was walking beside him. Her eyes remained fixated ahead of her, seemingly eyeing the angelic carcass as he had been. He wondered if Rei felt the same as him, perhaps even more so. Every time Shinji's will had faltered since he got to Tokyo-3, Rei had...not really jumped at the opportunity, but she did readily offer her servitude without regard for the safety of her own life. He frowned a little at the thought of the girl perishing.
The two walked onwards down the street, Shinji beginning to fear that the market had been destroyed last night. By now, he usually smelled the food cooking but all his nose could find was the scent of blood in the air. Shinji looked at Rei. Her short blue hair was calming. It looked kinda nice after having air dried. He wondered if that's why it looked so soft but still somewhat unkempt.
'She's really pretty. I wonder if she always lets her hair air dry.'
Shinji was broken from his thoughts though as Rei had decided to speak.
"Ikari, it smells like Eva."
"Yeah…yeah, it does."
Rei stopped, Shinji barely noticing she had ceased moving from the corner of his eye.
She looked at him and asked, "Does it bother you?"
Shinji was somewhat uneasy answering her, fearing he may disappoint the girl with his response.
"It does some, yeah."
"Why?"
"Well, because it hurts. When I get inside the eva…it's just too much sometimes. The pain…it's unreal."
The girl looked at him seemingly accusingly, though she was really just deep in thought.
"Pain...it is pain you fear? And the Eva brings you pain. Therefore, so does anything you associate with the Eva."
Shinji was somewhat weirded out by the accuracy of her statement, but decided not to let it show, and instead replied with, "Uh, yeah. I guess."
"I feel pain in the Eva, just like you," she said as she brought up her arm and ran her delicate fingers over it, remembering the searing burns she'd felt last night, "But that does not deter me. I do not let it."
The girl returned her arm to her side and looked at Shinji.
"Besides, pain is not exclusive to the Evas," she said as she took a few steps forward and diverted her gaze down to Shinji's burnt hands, "Pain may embody many things, not all of which are related to the Eva."
"I…I know, Rei."
Rei looked into Shinji's eyes through his sunglasses again for a moment, and then back down at his hands.
'I wish to know why he did it. Perhaps this is not the right place to ask though. I will wait,' she thought as she examined his hands.
The girl looked back up and began walking before she uttered a quiet, "Come," that Shinji struggled to hear over the bustle of the street and the pair were back on their way to the market.
Soon, Shinji could finally smell the market's food through the blood scented air. It made him somewhat sick thinking about the food with the smell of blood all around, but he figured he'd have to ignore it. The two rounded the corner of a building and before them was the market. Colorful food stands where everywhere and the scent of all kinds of delicacies pushed the smell of blood out of their minds and noses. Shinji had seen this all before, but this was a new experience for Rei and she had some difficulty processing all that was going through her mind. Giant colored banners where hung above them. The redolence of fried shrimp and pork mixed with the fragrance of tsukemono. Sounds of sizzling assaulted Rei's ears as did the banter of the people around them. An explosion drew Rei's attention as she saw a few small girls playing with pyrotechnics. Being here, Rei could have forgotten all about the angel. There were so many things for her to pay attention to, so many things to occupy her mind.
"It is lively here," Rei said to Shinji, who obviously didn't hear her soft voice over all the sounds.
"What, Rei?" he said as he leaned closer to her.
"It is lively," she said just loud enough for him to hear.
"Haha, yeah, it is, isn't it?"
Shinji guided her a little deeper into the market before shouting to her again.
"You know, the first time I came here with Misato- erh, Captain Katsuragi, she got really lost."
"Is that a regular occurrence for the Captain?" Rei asked, remembering how many times the woman had gotten lost last night in the hospital before finally finding the exit.
"Oh, yeah, kinda. She gets lost pretty often. I don't even know this city, and I think even I have a better idea of the layout," Shinji said as he chuckled a little at the woman's directional antics. He didn't see it, but Rei smiled a small smile and probably laughed internally to herself.
Shinji lead Rei onwards, through the market as all kinds of food passed them by. He was heading to the packaged snacks area, and so much of the food didn't give Shinji any second thoughts despite how tasty most of it looked.
They arrived at the packaged snacks stand which was run by a young and somewhat shy looking brunette woman. The stand itself was painted pink with white diagonal stripes and black dots inside the stripes. There where all kinds of biscuits, candy, and packaged baked goods lying about the counter and shelves. Shinji saw a bag of Calbee's Kappa Ebisen Hot Garlic Shrimp Chips and immediately grabbed three bags for himself.
Rei was looking over all the different foods, but she had quite a bit of trouble deciding what she'd even want or if she wanted any of it. She knew that she'd have to try every individual food item to know if she actually liked it or not, but it seemed illogical to her to buy something and find out she didn't like it.
"Shinji," Rei requested quietly.
"Hmm? Yes, Rei?"
"Please, pick something for me. I do not know what I desire from this selection of goods."
Shinji was surprised by Rei's words. He figured she knew herself better than he knew her and that she would probably make a more informed choice with her preferences, but he decided not to question it too much. So, he went about picking out some of his more favored snacks for Rei.
"Hmm, what about this?" Shinji said as he grabbed a plastic wrapped box of Manju.
"Or some of these?" he said as he plucked a bag of wasabi peas off a shelf.
"Oh, and these too! These are good," he said grabbing a box of Kinoko no yama.
Rei still didn't really have a preference, and so she simply nodded at the boy as he went back to picking even more things off the shelf.
Rei watched as the boy grabbed a multitude of food items, wondering if he'd even be able to carry it all. He picked out all kinds of candies and seasoned snacks. She didn't even understand how she'd be able to eat all of it. She usually didn't eat very much, and this much food seemed excessive. It was her idea to let the boy pick out food for her though, and so she left it to his discretion.
"Ooh, Rei, you'll love these. These are new, but they're so good.," the boy said as he turned around and presented a box in his already stuffed hands.
Rei blinked in surprise and then read the box, which said Cookies and Cream Pocky. She looked back at the boy, blinked again, and then nodded slowly.
Shinji smiled at her, "Well, this should be enough," and brought the food to the counter.
The cashier smiled at him and started ringing up all the food. Usually, Shinji wouldn't have bought this much, but since he started working at NERV, he'd been getting his own paycheck. It wasn't as much as someone like him deserved, but NERV wasn't a charity by any means and most of its money went into Project-E. But besides that, Shinji didn't buy a lot anyway and he wasn't into luxurious living, so what he and Misato made together was plenty to support their lifestyle.
The cashier bagged the food and handed it to back to Shinji, who then eagerly strode back through the marketplace with Rei following closely behind. The pair of teens arrived back at the street outside the market. The sun was starting to get low in the sky but it wasn't quite sunset yet, so they took their time walking back to the train station enjoying their peace while it lasted.
/
"Okay, okay, Rei. Now, try this one," the boy said, giggling as he handed her another piece of candy as they sat on her bed together.
The girl took the candy from his hand and carefully placed it on her tongue.
"So? How is it?"
The girl finished chewing and swallowed the confection.
"It is…sweet…not like the last though. It is a different sweet. I do not believe words are sufficient to accurately describe the different sweetnesses you have shown me today."
Shinji laughed again at her completely open and comically logical descriptions of the different treats he'd been feeding her for the past thirty minutes.
Rei looked at the boy, still puzzled with him and his reactions, "I do not understand why you laugh."
"Well, it's just like you said. Words aren't enough. I can't really explain it. You're just really funny when you try to describe things that you don't know how to describe."
Rei smiled a small bit at the boy as he laughed.
Shinji reached for the pocky he'd bought earlier; sort of disappointed he didn't buy some for himself. He opened the box and then tore a hole in the bag.
'Why do they double package this stuff anyways?' the boy thought.
"Okay, Rei, you're going to love this one," he said, pulling one of the cookie and cream biscuit sticks out of the wrapper.
Rei once again grabbed the food from Shinji's hand. Unsure of exactly how to correctly eat the food, she placed part of it in her mouth and left the other end sticking out of her mouth, treating the biscuit as though it were a lollipop as she ran her tongue over the creamy coating.
Shinji started giggling again and blushed a little.
'She's really cute when she's confused,' Shinji thought as he looked at the girl with the biscuit awkwardly sticking out of her mouth.
"Hahaha, Rei, you're supposed to bite it."
She stared at the boy even more confused than before and blinked. Shinji heard a little snap as the cream covered biscuit shifted in her lips, all the while she continued to blankly stare at him. He couldn't help but laugh even more. He didn't really understand why, but he just found Rei was capable of inflicting severe levels of laughter upon him with her struggling and confused actions.
After Shinji had calmed his laughter, he was able to ask her, "How is it?"
"It is…milky…creamy…and crunchy… It is pleasant to chew and tastes agreeable."
Shinji laughed a little more and sighed.
'She's not so bad to be around. Actually, she's really funny…to me anyways.'
"Oh, hey," the boy remembered something, "Um, I know I've already got you quite a bit of food, but I was wondering on the train if you would want to come over for dinner. "
The girl took another bite of the pocky stick.
"I mean, I don't think it would be a problem and it might be better than whatever you have around here. I'm sure Captain Katsuragi wouldn't mind."
"If that is what you would prefer, Shinji."
The boy's face lit up, "R-really?"
"Yes."
"Oh, okay! I'll call the Captain real fast and let her know."
The boy reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and accessed his contacts list, of which there where two; Misato and his father. He pressed the call button on Misato's name and put the phone to his ear. All he heard was ringing for a while and he feared she wouldn't pick up. Eventually though, she did pick up.
"Mmmgh, who is it? Shinji, is that you?"
Misato sounded sleepy, but luckily she didn't seem drunk.
"Uh, yeah, it's me."
"Oh yeah? Well, what do you need?"
"Oh, well, um, I was just wondering if…uh…if Rei could have dinner with us. She doesn't have anything here but a bunch of snacks and I just wanted to make sure she had a proper meal."
"Oh, yeah, sure, I guess. It's fine with me."
"Okay. Thanks, Misato."
"Yeah, no problem. Bye."
"Bye, Misato."
He hung up the phone, still somewhat worried about her. She sounded a little depressed and Shinji was hoping she wouldn't be. It would be really embarrassing for him if she broke down like she did earlier, especially if Rei was around.
Rei was looking at him expectantly.
"She's okay with it. You want to go then? I imagine you're starving. Last night really drained me. "
Rei answered without elaboration, "I suppose we should depart then."
And, Shinji made his way to the door with Rei following him as she had been all day. He reached for the door handle and the hot setting sun shined into the children's eyes as they walked out the door.
/
Misato had been awake for a couple minutes but she really didn't want to get up. She was still so tired and hung over and he was depressed. She simply didn't want to get up; she didn't want to do anything. She just wanted to go back to bed until she had forgotten about what she'd done. But just as she was about to pass out, her phone rang. She peeked out from under her covers and glared at the device as hatefully as she could, which wasn't very considering she wasn't too conscious. Though, as always, she made herself reach for the phone knowing it could be important given her position at NERV.
"Mmmgh, who is it? Shinji, is that you?"
"Uh, yeah, it's me."
"Oh yeah? Well, what do you need?"
"Oh, well, um, I was just wondering if…uh…if Rei could have dinner with us. She doesn't have anything here but a bunch of snacks and I just wanted to make sure she had a proper meal."
"Oh, yeah, sure, I guess. It's fine with me," Misato said as she moaned and rolled over on her mattress.
"Okay. Thanks, Misato."
"Yeah, no problem. Bye."
"Bye, Misato," was the last thing she heard before she hung up.
She really didn't want to talk right now and she frowned knowing she'd have to put on a happy face, embody a good attitude and-
"Mmmh, I guess I could dress up a little too."
The babe glanced at her closet. And within moments, she was impulsively rummaging through all of her articles of clothing trying to find the lingerie she'd bought a few weeks ago. She pushed a few dresses aside and found the white box. She tugged at the gold ribbon and it came undone and fell to her feet. She slowly removed the top and looked at the finely packaged white garments in amazement before walking to her dresser and setting them down.
She considered for a moment if she really wanted to dress up like this, but she couldn't really help it. Something deep inside her was urging her to act. She glanced out her window to the orange sky, and then back at the lingerie.
"Ooh, damn it!"
She quickly pulled her red jacket off and tossed it on her mattress. Then, she unzipped the black dress she regularly wore and wiggled out of it before throwing it over next to her jacket, leaving her only in her underwear. She unclasped her bra and let it fall to the ground. Looking down at her cleavage, she put her fingers on the scar between her breasts and sighed before slipping out of her panties.
The babe decided she'd freshen up with a shower and quickly ran out of her room and into the living room. She scampered over to the kitchen and towards the bathroom, but walking into the kitchen, she realized it was somewhat messy.
"Oh shit, I need to clean this quickly. But, how? Damn it, Shinji will probably be here soon. "
She looked around frantically trying to find some inspiration before remembering she had a package of large garbage bags in the pantry. Misato quickly ran to the pantry and hurriedly snatched a bag out of the box. Then, she jumped back to the kitchen table and started stuffing all the trash into the bag as fast as she could. After she successfully filled the garbage bag, she made for the door to put it in the dumpster, but stopped as she took a step out of her apartment. She looked down through her boobs and in between her thighs, remembering she was nude.
"What- what am I…WHAT AM I DOING?" she asked herself as her eye twitched and caught a glance of the upper lips of her maidenhead contrasted against the background of tiles outside her apartment.
She quickly stepped back inside her apartment and ran back to the kitchen, trying to think of her next course of action. She looked out the windows of her balcony and smiled. She ran to the balcony as fast as she could, many parts of her body jiggling in a varied manner of ways all the while. She slid open the door and looked over the railing of the elevated porch.
"Guess I'll just have to remember to get it later."
She tossed the garbage bag over the rails and watched it fall ten floors down as a man in an apartment below her shouted, "Whoa, what the fuck?" as the bag flew past his floor.
"Heh heh, sorry!" she called back as she leaned over the terrace which only barely hid her chest from any onlookers on the streets below.
She sprinted back to the washroom and turned on the shower, but before she got in, she remembered something else.
"Candles! I know I have some!"
She rushed back out and started fumbling though some of the cupboards around the kitchen. She moved pots and pans she didn't even remember she had. The babe pushed a wok aside and then found a set of white candles behind it.
"Oh, there you guys are!"
She brought the candles to the table and arranged a few of them into a couple abstract positions around the center of the table and then placed the remainder back into the cupboard.
"Uh, I think my lighter is still in my jacket. I'll get it later."
She then turned back around and headed to the restroom. The babe stepped into the hot shower and immediately squirted fruit-scented soap on a shower scrunchie and vigorously began scrubbing herself. She washed her breasts and then her midriff, scrubbing furiously before she moved the scrunchie to her butt and scrubbed hard there too before finally directing her efforts to her legs.
After rinsing the soap out of the scrunchie, she reached for her hand mirror she kept in the shower to confirm what she already suspected. She looked at her reflection and saw tear stained makeup printed on her face. She frowned a little, but picked herself back up and scrubbed it all off in a hurry.
She altered the pressure nozzle on her showerhead so that she could wet her hair a little quicker. She soaked her hair as she squeezed some shampoo into her hand and then lathered her hair with it as fast as she could. She rinsed it out with the intense pressurized spray from the shower before grabbing the conditioner.
"Oh, why do girls have to take so long in the shower? I'm in a hurry, but I still need to be beautiful!" She said as she spattered a blotch of the liquid on her palm and once again speedily rubbed it into her hair.
"Oh, I should probably shave too," she thought aloud as she reached for her razor. She picked it up and held it in front of her but was confused.
"This…isn't my razor. Hmm…I wonder if Shinji has seen my vibrator. I wonder if he even knows what a vibrator is… I guess I could do a little multitasking," she finished with a mischievous smile.
She reached for some shaving butter, squeezing it over her pubic area and then turned on the vibrator to smear it around over her short pubic hairs. She moaned as she reached for her razor a second time, successfully grabbing it this time.
"Time for a challenge."
And the woman touched the vibrator to her flower as she simultaneously began shaving her unwanted hair away.
'I really should pay for laser hair removal. It would beat doing this.'
She moaned a little louder as she continued to cull the hair from her vaginal lips. She dropped to her knees and then to her butt as she leaned against the shower wall to put her in a more comfortable position as opposed to standing. She slid the shivering device up and down her slit as her moans grew progressively louder
She shaved the last of her pubic hair away but she wasn't quite ready to climax. She struggled to get up and put her razor back where it belonged before letting herself fall back to the floor. Her breathing was getting rougher and more lusty. She pressed the vibrator to her clitoris and she let out a loud moan as the vibrations carried though the surrounding flesh. The pleasure she felt was steadily increasing as she threw her head back and flung her tongue out of her mouth so that she could breathe easier. He legs stiffened and her toes curled as she got closer and closer to cumming.
Misato used her free hand to start fingering herself while her other hand dragged the vibrator in circles over and around her clit.
"Mmmugh, oh, mmm, uhh, mmmph!
The babe bit her lip and finger fucked herself even faster as her juices started to flood out of her pussy. Her whole body was tensing up so much that it almost hurt her to continue her dexterous fiddling and feeling. Finally, breathless, her body convulsed in pleasure as she orgasmed and squirted her ejaculate everywhere.
"Oh," she gasped, "Oh, fuck. Oh, god! I'm…so lucky I'm a squirter!" she said as she brought her fingers to her mouth and began licking them clean. She looked at her trembling legs, wondering if she'd be able to stand so soon after cumming. She didn't have much of a choice though. She had to try. Shinji and Rei would probably be here soon and she still needed to get dressed.
She felt weakness in her legs as she stood up and rinsed the conditioner out of her hair, almost falling over a couple times in the process. After washing the enlivening liquid out of her hair, she turned off the shower and quickly patted down her body with a towel and then started blow drying her hair.
"Oh, man, maybe I shouldn't have been fooling around." She said as she was getting the last bit of dampness out of her hair.
She turned the blow drier off and set it on the counter. Misato looked in the mirror and realized she still didn't have any makeup on and that the sun had probably set behind the horizon by now.
"Shinji is probably going to be home real soon. Ugh, clothes are probably more important."
She walked out of the humid bathroom and checked to make sure the house was still empty. Lucky for her, it appeared the only other occupant was PenPen, who was currently staring at Misato in a strange way Misato laughed at the bird awkwardly and then scurried though the kitchen and living area back to her room.
"Ah, now I can finally try you on!" Misato said as she closed the door to her room and stared hungrily at the white lingerie. She walked up to it, and slid the thong over her hips.
She looked down in some surprise, "Wow, I'm surprised by how well this fits! It's perfect, just like I thought."
She then pulled the suspender belt around her waist, followed by her stockings and fastened the two together.
"Yeah, this feels right! Hmmhmm, now for you," she said as she gazed at the diamond studded cropped white bustier.
After fitting it to her physique, she scoured her closet for something to match the luxurious lingerie.
"I need something white! And Shiny! It should be shiny too."
She tossed dress after dress aside. A black dress, a purple feathered dress, a modest floral patterned dress, even the two dresses she bought along with the lingerie.
"There's gotta be something in here that matches!- Ooh, like this!"
She held up a short, tight, light-silver, strapless, sequin dress. She immediately slipped into it and found it went superbly with her lingerie and fit on her perfectly; allowing just a peek of her lower butt.
"Damn, do I look hot or what?"
The woman found a pair white strappy heels and put them on before going back to the bathroom to apply some makeup. She figured she'd go with a silver fading to a soft black to match the rest of her color scheme.
After doing her makeup, she was ready to make the final touches to the apartment before Rei and Shinji arrived.
"Heheh, I'm actually gonna pull this off."
She went back to her room once again, and grabbed her lighter out of the pocket of her red jacket and brought it back to the kitchen table as she lit the candles on it. She turned off the lights in the kitchen and admitted to herself that the soft glow from the candles was quite pleasant even though she was never really a candle person.
"Just one last thing," she thought as she smirked at her handiwork.
She went into her room one last time and came back out with a boombox and a couple CD's with some soft music on them. The babe placed the music player on the kitchen counter, out of the way of the table, and put one of the CD's in. She pressed the play button and adjusted the volume until it was barely audible and not too disturbing.
Misato rubbed her hands together mischievously as she smiled.
"Now? Heheh, now I just need to wait!"
/
"And that's where I live," Shinji said as he pointed up to his and Misato's apartment.
"I see," the blue haired girl next to him acknowledged.
Together, they walked up the stairs, their bodies still sore from the night before. Shinji guided Rei to the apartment room, and opened the door. The two walked down the hallway that led to the kitchen from the front door.
"So, I was originally thinking I'd cook some pork, but I guess since you don't eat meat-"
Shinji rounded the corner into the kitchen and froze. It looked…clean. And more than that, it looked…romantic. The white candles set on the table as the flames swayed back and forth a little, seemingly dancing to the love song that was playing through the dark room.
"What is wrong, Ikari?" Rei asked as she started to walk passed him so that she could see what had mortified the boy so badly.
Shinji blinked and then blushed.
"Uh-uh, um…I didn't do this. I don't know what's going on. I swear, I wouldn't try anything on you!"
Rei stared at the boy, unsure of what he was trying to say. Rei opened her mouth to ask something, but before she could, a seductive voice cooed from the shadows.
"Why, hello Rei."
"Misato?" Shinji asked, his body sweating in embarrassment.
"Good Evening, Captain," Rei murmured back in response.
"So," Misato started, "Did Shinji treat you well. What did you two do today? Hopefully nothing too naughty!" Misato purred as she took a few steps forward so that the candlelight pranced over her sequin dress
Shinji felt like he was about to pass out with all the blood rushing to his head.
'Oh my god! Misato, what are you doing?!' the boy thought as he fought the dizziness that was perplexing him.
"He provided me with a multitude of food items to taste test, Ma'am," Rei replied.
"Mmm, hmmhmm, a taste test? That sounds just like Shinji," Misato winked at the boy and walked behind Rei, putting her hands on the small girl's shoulders and began massaging them, "And what kind of things did he have you taste?"
The boy's body stiffened at Misato's innuendo, 'No! No, Misato, please! Not the sex puns! They'd all go right over Rei's head!' the boy pleaded internally to himself as he grew even redder.
"A cylindrical creamy stick like treat-"
'The Pocky!' Shinji thought as his eyes widened.
"-and some mushroom shaped chocolate confections among other things, Ma'am."
'The Kinoko no Yama!' Shinji's jaw dropped as he blushed.
Misato looked at him with a mock-surprised expression accompanied by a really goofy smile as she bit her lip.
Shinji looked back at her face, his jaw still agape as he imagined the lewd thoughts running through Misato's mind.
'No! NO! IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK, YOU PERVERT!' Shinji's mind scolded as he attempted to communicate with Misato through telepathy.
Misato had almost effectively been feeling up Rei as she moved one of her hands around her waist and hung the other arm over her shoulder and around her neck with her hand coming to rest on Rei's cheek. She pulled Rei's head, turning it a little to the right as she leaned her own head over the tiny girl's shoulder and spoke to her seductively.
"Mmm, I bet that tasted good."
"It was quite…pleasurable, Ma'am," Rei said with only the slightest of blushes on her face; probably elicited from Misato's sensual touching.
'Pleasurable?' Shinji thought as he felt his face burning up, 'Pleasurable? She really had to use the word pleasurable? Misato is going to have a field day with this later.'
"Ooh, hmmhmm, that sounds delightful,"Misato said as she arched her back and pushed her breasts into Rei, "Hey, you see that couch over there?" she said as she pointed to the piece of furniture in the living room.
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Why don't you go sit down and make yourself at home while I get Shinji all set up for the rest of the night?"
"Yes, Ma'am," Rei said and intently walked to the couch, promptly sitting down after Misato had taken her hands off of her.
Shinji's eyes followed Rei's swishing skirt until she sat down, and then he directed his attention towards Misato and addressed her with a hushed, "What is this, Misato?"
"Oh, you mean this?" Misato gestured to her short sequin dress she had on, "It's just a little game of dress up. I bet you'd like to see what's underneath," she said as she leaned over the kitchen counter and struck a pose.
"No! Misato, I mean…what is all of this? What's going on? Why is everything so clean? Why are there candles and music? Why are you dressed like…that?!"
"It's a special occasion, Shinji! That's what's going on!"
"A-a special occasion? What?"
"You know…for you and Rei!"
"What? I don't even-"
"Shh shh shh, just- just get cooking, would you? I have to tend to our cute little guest."
'Oh, I wonder what she could possibly mean by that,' Shinji sighed as Misato walked off.
Misato stepped into the living room as seductively as she could, "So, Rei, do you like movies?"
"I do not know, Ma'am."
Misato was somewhat surprised by the girl's response, but she didn't show it. She'd already heard about the girl's…odd attitude from other people working at NERV.
"Well, I guess I'll just see what's on," Misato said as she sat down very close to the girl and began flipping through the channels after turning the television on.
Rei remained quiet as she watched the TV. She briefly viewed the shows that Misato flipped through which consisted of one with a black haired girl and a living sailor uniform that talked to her, another with a bald man and a young adult making blue crystals of some kind, and finally a cheap horror movie with some overly bloodthirsty animal killing everyone in sight.
Misato sighed, "Hmm, I guess there's nothing good on tonight. Just a bunch of shows for boys," Misato said as she flipped back a few channels to the show with the girl and her talking clothes, "Whoever she is, she's a jewel. Don't you think, Rei?"
Confused by Misato's metaphor, Rei responded in kind, "I do not believe an animated character is a mineral."
Misato looked at the girl and blinked, "What? No, I meant like…she's bangin!'"
"Banging?" Rei questioned as it was her turn to stare in confusion.
"Yeah, like, she's hot!"
"Hot?"
"You know…like, she's sexy! I mean, look at her tits!"
Rei took Misato's words too seriously and gazed back at the TV as she intently stared at the girl's breasts…and her ass…and her groin area. A song began playing from the TV show as the screen showed close-up shots of various parts of the girl's body.
"Don't lose your way!" the singer said over the television.
"Whoa…now she's even more bangin' than before," Misato said in surprised awe as the girl on the screen had somehow changed her sailor uniform into something…much…much skimpier, "Now, why can't I have tits like that? Oh wait, I already do!"
"Her tits…" Rei said as she continued to examine the sexy girl, "Yes… I understand now. She is sexy," Rei, looked back at Misato, "Captain?"
Misato smiled at Rei as she finally got it, "Yes, Rei?"
"You speak strangely."
"Oh, do I now?" Misato said with sarcasm that Rei didn't pick up.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Misato sat quietly for a moment, not terribly bothered by the blue haired girl's strangeness. But, Rei had more questions for the older woman.
"Captain?"
"Hmm?"
"Is it considered good…to be sexy?"
"Well, I think it's good. Having pride in the sexiness of your figure makes you feel great and it's pleasant for others to look at. Especially when you're wearing sexy clothes also."
"Clothing…can be sexy?"
Misato was somewhat stumped as to how to explain it to the girl, so she used her own clothing as an example.
"Um, yeah. Look at what I'm wearing! It's a short, tight, strapless dress that shows off my curves, right?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"That's what I thought I thought too. Heehee. Anyways, look at my legs. You see my stockings? See how they're kind of see-through?"
Rei looked at Misato's stockings like she was told, not entirely sure what the woman was getting at, but went along with it nonetheless.
"See, these clothes are sexy," Misato said as she stuck her finger up in a counseling way.
"I see," Rei nodded.
"But, I'm also sexy," Misato winked.
"I do not understand, Captain. Is clothing sexy or are people sexy?"
"Silly girl, it's when clothing and people come together that sexiness is created. I can become sexier by wearing clothing that makes me sexier. Guy's usually love the kind of clothing that I'm wearing right now. It's considered very sexy," Misato said in a low flirtatious voice.
"Very sexy?"
"Yes, Ma'am, Miss Ayanami. Very sexy!" Misato said reassuringly while still keeping the lewd tone in her voice.
Rei looked down at her lap, deep in thought.
"So, therefore, it is good if I dress…sexy?" the blue haired girl questioned as she came to a conclusion.
"Yup!"
"Shinji had suggested that he and I should go clothes shopping the next time we spend time in company. He said that my school uniform and plugsuit were not a sufficient count of clothing and that I should purchase more. I believe I now have an idea of what I should procure."
"Oh, hey, that reminds me. You look pretty sexy in your plugsuit."
"I do? I was not aware that I already possess sexy attire."
"Dayum, girl! Haven't you seen how that thing accentuates your curves?" Misato said as she tried restraining herself from feeling up the small girl again, "It's almost like your skin; it's so tight on you! I bet Shinji gets a boner every time a he sees you in it!"
Rei tilted her head in confusion as she looked at Misato and asked, "What is a…boner?"
"Oh, well you see, a boner is when-"
/
Shinji knew how much Misato loved her curry. He'd been in Tokyo-3 for just over a month and he'd already seen her eat hundreds of curry dishes, most of which were instant. But, Shinji personally took a lot of pleasure in making Misato's favorite food for her, though he'd changed it up a bit this time since Rei was here. He wasn't making her usual curry, which had beef in it. No, this time, he was using eggplant so that Rei could have some if she wished. He'd also prepared some Soba noodles with shitake mushrooms and some Shitake and tofu gyoza since he and Misato were having a guest and none of them had a proper meal after last night as of yet. He figured everyone would be hungry and he was proud of his cooking; one of the few things he was proud of in his life at the moment.
He set the table, splitting the servings evenly into thirds around the candles on the table. He then looked into the living room at Misato and Rei. Misato had a smile on her face, which relieved Shinji after how she'd been earlier in the day. And Rei…Rei didn't have a smile, but she did seem totally engrossed in what Misato was telling her. Seeing both of them together brought a smile to Shinji's face.
"Hey, you guys," Shinji called as Misato and Rei both looked up to face him, "food's ready."
"Alright!" Misato shouted, "Almost time to dig in!" Misato said as she rushed over to her chair and took a seat, followed by Shinji.
'Dig in?' Rei thought as she took her seat last.
"All together now!" Misato shouted, barely able to restrain her appetite any longer.
"Thank you for the meal," Shinji and Misato said together. Rei was unaccustomed to the manners that the other two showed, but neither seemed to mind her silence as Misato began freaking out over what to eat first and Shinji was more in thought than anything else.
Dinner passed by quietly for the most part, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. Misato made the occasional sex joke that caused Shinji to gag and Rei to observe in confusion as the boy nearly choked to death multiple times. But it was really quiet peaceful, and they all craved the repose after last night's battle.
After dinner, Misato grabbed a couple beers for herself and headed over to the couch to get drunk while watching some cheap romantic comedy. It was almost midnight, but no one really seemed to care. They were all full and happy, and for the moment, they didn't have a care in the world.
Shinji and Rei were out on the balcony staring at the lights of the city and the moon respectivly while enjoying the occasional upsurges of wind sweeping through their locks and causing their skin to tighten and the hairs on their arms to stand on end. It was quite relaxing, but Rei still had one thing on her mind that had been bothering her all day.
"Ikari."
"Hmm? Yes, Rei?"
"Why did you do it?"
"Do what?" Shinji asked as he turned to look at her.
Rei still stared at the moon, "Why did you come to my aid last night? You did not need to. So, why? I desire to know."
Shinji was somewhat lost on her words, but tried his best to answer her, "Um… to be honest, I don't really know why. I just…had this urge. You…saved me. You saved the entire planet. It was the least I could do, really!"
The girl closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned towards Shinji and her eyes shot open as she looked directly into his.
"Thank you."
"What?" the boy blushed, "Oh, there's no need for thanks. I wanted to. I…I don't mind the burns….so it's no problem at all."
He wasn't telling the truth. He did care that he got burnt, but, at the time, it didn't really bother him. He didn't even think about the pain when he was struggling to open Rei's entry plug, and truth be told, the burns hadn't really hurt that bad today either. Maybe his pain tolerance had risen after being in the eva and feeling its pain. Still, he was self-conscious of the burns and the scars they would probably leave.
The girl smiled at him before looking back at the moon, "You do not need to lie to me, Ikari."
The boy was about to say something in protest, but decided against it as he went back to looking at the lights of the city.
"Hey, Rei," the boy said as he watched a few cars drive down the highway, "do you want to stay here tonight?"
"Why?" the girl asked without diverting her attention from the moon.
"Well, because I don't want you to get hurt. I'd be terrified if something happened to you and I was the only Eva pilot. And, I'm also just scared for you in general also. You seem like a nice girl and I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
The girl gasped quietly and looked at him as he continued to gaze out at the city, 'He…doesn't want anything bad to happen to me?'
"Why?" Rei asked again.
Shinji turned back to face her and he shrugged, "I guess I just care about you."
Rei's mouth opened a little in surprise. She had never heard anyone say that they cared about her, not to her face. She was in absolute shock, even if her face only portrayed it in a mild manor. She felt something strange bubbling up inside of her and she felt her eyes get a little watery and her throat get tight before she nodded at the boy and made up her mind.
"Yes, Shinji, I will stay here for the night if that is what you would like."
"Oh, really? That's great, I'll go tell Misato before she gets too drunk," he said as he quite happily walked back inside.
Rei looked down at the ground below her. A tear fell from her eye and her pupils watched it fall through the cold night air.
"What is this I'm feeling?"
The emotionally inexperienced girl didn't know if she liked what she was encountering and she forcefully attempted to repress her feelings before Shinji suddenly walked back out onto the balcony and began admiring the city skyline again.
"You can sleep on my futon, Rei. I'll sleep on the couch and Misato will be in her room."
"That is generous of you, Ikari."
The two sat in silence for a while. But, Shinji's thought's had been directed back to last night by Rei's question. He remembered how last night, she and he were in almost the exact same scenario they were tonight.
("You know, you're stronger than I am," Shinji said to Rei as they sat next to their Evas overlooking the dark Japanese countryside together.
"That's because…I have nothing else.")
"I wish I could be like you," Shinji said as he eyed a particularly entrancing purple neon light.
"You wish to be sexy?" Rei asked in confusion.
"W-what?" Shinji stuttered as he turned around, wondering where this came from.
"Captain Katsuragi said I was sexy."
"Oh, she did? Um, well," Shinji blushed, "Um…that's not exactly what I meant when I said I wanted to be like you. I just meant that…that I…wanted to be stronger…" Shinji trailed off.
Rei looked at him and blinked, "You must be dedicated then."
"Yeah…yeah, I know."
"Shinji?" the girl asked quietly as she faced him.
"Yeah?"
"I believe I should retire for the night. I require rest. Will you show me to your bed?"
"Oh, yeah, of course," he said as he opened the door of the balcony and went back into the living room, "Just follow me."
The boy led her down a little hallway and opened the door to his room as he watched the little blue haired pilot gracefully and demurely seat herself on the bed.
"Goodnight, Rei."
"To you as well," she said as she made herself comfy on the mattress.
Shinji smiled at her and then slid the door shut before he walked back to the living room. He sat down next to Misato who was only partially drunk; not enough to slur her speech.
"So, Shinji," Misato nudged the boy with her elbow, "when Rei said the taste test was pleasurable…she meant for you, right?"
"OH MY GOD! MISATO, NO!"
/
-Prelude: Fire and Sound-
/
"Ja, Mutti, I just got the call," an excited redhead girl spoke into her phone, "They're going to be shipping my Unit-02 on the Over The Rainbow."
She paused and let the person on the other end of the phone speak for a moment.
"Oh, I know! I heard they've already had three angels over in Japan! I'm so psyched! I'll finally be able to show my skills to the world!"
She paused again as the voice on the phone finished their conversation and told her goodbye.
"Auf wiederhören," the girl said in a sing-song voice as she hung up the phone.
"I need to get packed, haha!" the young woman said as she dashed off to her room.
"Look out, Japan! Asuka Langley Sorhyu is gonna show you how it's done!"
.
*Eva credits roll and Fly Me to the Moon plays*
.
"Why, hello everyone, sorry to keep you waiting. But never fear, Misato is here with the preview for the next chapter.
Evangelion Unit-02 is shipped to Japan along with it's pilot, Asuka Langley Sohryu. I take Shinji and his friends to meet Unit-02 and Asuka halfway and we fly out over the ocean. But, another angel attacks us, which is bad news for Asuka because Unit-02 isn't equipped for underwater combat. Also, like, my ex is totally onboard the ship also and I have to deal with him and his stupid sloppy unshaven scratchy face. Not cool. After we arrive back in Tokyo-03, Shinji and Asuka become fast friends! Just kidding! Before the two can exchange any blows though, another angel appears and we use Dance Dance Revolution to defeat it! Its all going to be in the next chapter; Tochter aus Elysium!
And the fan service! Don't forget the fan service!"
.
Alright, well, now that that's over, I really need to go get drunk. I expect chapter six is going to be long and it might be awhile before I can publish it. It's probably going to cover about the same amount of content as chapter 4. Anyways, remember, check back for updates!
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Update: Alright, guys. I decided to read another fic before starting on chapter 6. It's Reticence by Kraven Ergeist. It's an Eva fic that takes place in the rebuild continuity after 3.33. I'm enjoying it. I'm about three fourth's the way through it. Then, I'll officially start working on chapter 6!
Update: Hey guys, sorry for being so quiet. I've been a little preoccupied doing, you guessed it, writing the next chapter. Just made sure to check in with you guys to let you know that I haven't disappeared.
Update: Hey everyone. I'm really sorry chapter 6 is taking so long. I've been dealing with a couple things. I'll tell you all about it in chapter six's pre chapter author's note.
Update: Gosh, It's been over two weeks since I've posted Chapter 5. I'm really sorry for the wait, guys and gals. Chapter six is currently (8/22/2016, 2:53 AM) sitting at 9,285 words. I took a short break to type up this update, but I'm obviously about to jump back on it.
Update: I am really sorry, everyone! I just finished the first half of the sixth chapter. It's at 14,840 words right now. (8/25/2016 3:12 AM)
Update: Okay, so, Chapter 6 is at 22,173 words right now (8/31/2016 1:21AM). It might very well end up being longer than chapter 4, BUT I PROMISE YOU, IT'LL BE WORTH THE WAIT! I SWEAR, I GUARANTEE IT! Except maybe for those of you who dislike Asuka...I can't guarantee anything in that case...but I'm still sure you'll like it.
Update: Wow, it's now been a month since I uploaded chapter five. I feel so bad. I feel like it shouldn't take this long. This story is probably gonna be about 90,000+ words once I upload chapter six though.
Update: As though it weren't already taking long enough to get chapter six out. Word just crashed and I lost almost all my work on chapter 6. My fifteen back ups are nowhere to be found. I'm doing everything I can to recover the file, but I really don't know all that much about recovery. If someone wants to help me out, feel free. Otherwise, it could easily be another month before chapter six is out. Depending on many things. I swear, I'm never buying anything Microsoft again after this.
Update: I found...a part...of chapter 6. This is extremely upsetting. If I can't find the rest of it, it's still going to be awhile before chapter six is out. I am very sorry to all of you.
Update: Alright guys, I'm sure you'll all be happy to hear that I managed to recover...EVERY. SINGLE. WORD. of chapter 6. Happy days are upon us. I am deeply gratful for your patience. Chapter six should be out in a day or two. I won't sleep until it's published. The final update for chapter five approaches. I look forward to the day. And I hope you all love chapter six.
Final Update: CHAPTER SIX! CHAPTER SIX! IT'S HALE, HEALTHY, AND HERE!
