Alright, everyone. I guess it's time for my chapterly apology of how long it took to type this chapter. Life is catching up. I'm very sorry. But, you need not fear. I still work on this whenever I can.

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Text Guide

Standard Wording

"Spoken Dialogue/Speech"

'Internal Dialogue/Thoughts'

(Flashbacks)

/

[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 13

Worlds of Morning Mist

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"Y'know, Misato is gonna be pretty mad that her bird is missing again," Kaji said as he drove down a long empty road.

"Well, I'm sorry, Kaji! Hikari just kept telling me how much she wanted to see him again," Asuka wined, upset knowing that she'd probably caused her beloved no end of grief by further upsetting his friendship with Misato, "It was all she was talking about at school during the few days I was there this week."

Kaji looked in his rear-view mirror and saw PenPen laying luxuriously across the laps of both Ayanami and Horaki.

"Hey, speaking of which, why have you been absent so much?" Toji questioned as he leaned forward in his car seat.

"I've been testing in my Eva," Asuka lied, "But that's none of your business, stooge."

"Geez, no need to get so hostile. It was just a question."

"I'm NOT hostile!"

"Okay, kids. Don't get too riled up now," Kaji said as the wind blew through his hair.

It was a late Friday afternoon and Kaji had been driving across the Japanese countryside for some few hours with all of the kids somehow miraculously stuffed into his car after he'd picked them up from school… and stopped by Misato's apartment to steal PenPen once more. The close quarters were somewhat uncomfortable, though Shinji in particular didn't mind being squished in next to Rei.

Most of the trip had been filled with mildly wondrous sights and a couple stops for foodstuff and drinks. And, though everyone had been composed for the most part, Kaji suspected that the trip was starting to wear on them. Luckily…

"Ah! Sir Kaji! That's it!" Kensuke shouted as he pointed at a sign indicating towards the nature park's entrance.

"Wark!" PenPen squawked.

Kaji flipped the blinker on and turned into the entrance and before long, the paved road turned into one of dirt.

"Yeah! Woohoo! Almost there! I couldn't take being in this car for much longer!" Toji said as he threw his arms in the air.

/

-Days and Nights-

/

"Well kids, I'll get the tent set up. So, you can go explore some," Kaji said as he tossed a bag containing the tent on the ground.

"Are you sure? I mean, I could help," Kensuke said.

"Yeah, It's fine. It's why I brought you out here." Kaji said, waving a dismissive hand.

"Well, if you say so."

"Here, just take this with you and enjoy yourselves," Kaji said as he handed a walkie talkie over to Kensuke.

"Yes, Sir!" Kensuke exclaimed, saluting the man.

"Well...what do we do now…" Toji said.

"Well, I guess if we're supposed to explore," Shinji shrugged.

"We go that way!" Kensuke pointed in some seemingly random direction.

"Ha, well, alright!" Toji said as he started marching into the forest, followed shortly by Shinji and Rei who was carrying PenPen.

"Do these idiots even know where we are?" Asuka sighed.

"Don't worry, Asuka, I'm sure everything will turn out great," Hikari said with a smile.

"Ugh, Kaji. I want to stay here with you," Asuka groaned.

"No you don't."

"What? Why not?"

"Because if you stay here, you're going to help me put up the tent. That's nonnegotiable."

Asuka pouted sadly, slowly trudging into the forest following the other kids.

Kaji watched the girl disappear behind some bushes and sighed.

'It's for her own good. She needs someone else; not me.'

/

"Dude, I don't think I've ever seen or heard so many birds at one time!" Toji said.

"Yeah, I'm kinda surprised there's so many even if it has been a decade since second impact," Shinji said in wonder as he watched three birds sitting on a branch about thirty feet above his head.

"I wonder what they're saying," Hikari said as she stared up at the same birds as Shinji.

"What they're saying. So stupid," Asuka mumbled quietly to herself.

The kids walked easily through the forest with Kensuke now in the lead. Apparently, he knew about some secret place since he'd been here before and was rather intent to show it to everyone.

"Hey, Kensuke, man, how much longer?"

"Not much, it's just beyond that ridge. You know that we haven't even been away from camp for five minutes though, right?"

"Well, yeah, but everything seems longer when you're hungry."

"Mister Suzuhara, we stopped to eat three times on the way here!" Hikari gasped.

"I knoooow. But it wasn't enough, okay?" Toji groaned.

"He is a growing teen, class rep. His metabolism is pretty high. He needs a lot to keep himself satiated," Kensuke said.

Shinji and Rei both giggled some.

"Man, dude. I could really use some of Shinji's fried steak right now."

"Well, I guess I could make some once we get back home. It doesn't take too long to make, though the oil is a little messy sometimes."

"Oh, Mister Ikari, I didn't know you cooked," Hikari said joyfully.

"Haha, yeah. I cook all the time! My guardian sucks at cooking and she's drunk half the time too."

"Well, I cook all the time too. I have to cook for my sisters. Maybe we could trade recipes sometime."

"Oh, yeah. That would be great!"

"Hey, I cook too, you know!" Asuka butted in.

Kensuke and Toji both cringed.

"Oh, you do, Asuka? What do you cook?" Hikari asked with a smile.

"I mean… y'know… lots of things…"

"Oh, well, that- That's great, Asuka. Maybe we could all have a big party sometime and we could all cook a huge meal for everyone," Hikari said, still smiling.

"Yeah, that…that sounds fine…I guess," Asuka said uneasily.

"Hey, come on guys. Don't fall behind, we're almost there," Kensuke shouted.

"Wa wark!" PenPen squawked, flapping impatiently in Rei's arms.

"Oh my gosh! He's so cute! Can I hold him, Ayanami!?" Hikari squealed.

Rei held the bird out in front of her and handed him over to Hikari without a word. The class representative eagerly took the bird and held him like a baby before rubbing his belly and beak.

"Brrbrrbrrbrrbrr," the Penguin purred.

Hikari opened her mouth but couldn't say anything as the cuteness overtook her.

Rei smiled and Shinji chuckled at her reaction.

"I want one!" Hikari smiled and frowned at the same time, trying not to cry from the cute penguin in her arms.

"It's a shame there's not more of them around," Kensuke said as he pushed aside a few plants.

Everyone grew silent at Kensuke's comment. Despite the fact none of them were alive at the time second impact happened, it still affected them every day and weighed on the children.

"But hey, at least it seems like nature is recovering," Kensuke said as he turned around and faced everyone with a smile, "Come on, everyone. The place I want to show you, it's just around the way."

The rest of the children followed Kensuke for a few more minutes before he finally declared they'd arrived at their destination.

"Wa wark! WARK!" PenPen said as he looked at the sight.

In front of the kids was a small waterfall about forty feet high that poured into a large pool before continuing on as a small river. Lush plants grew on the shore and a large flat rocked jutted out into the water in front of the children, acting as a sort of patio.

"Whoa, I've never seen anything like it except in pictures," Shinji said in awe.

"Well, well, well Kensuke, you really outdone yourself this time," Toji said as he slapped his buddy's back in a congratulatory manner.

Kensuke looked rather pleased with himself as he rubbed his nose with his fist.

"Well, what are we waiting for?! It's time to strip!" Toji shouted as he pulled his shirt off.

"Don't you dare," Asuka growled, "I've already seen enough of you on that aircraft carrier."

"O-oh, n-no. Toji! Mister Suzuhara, you can't!" Hikari stammered as a blush burned across her cheeks, "It- its inappropriate!"

Toji had a confused look on his face as he had his shirt half pulled off over his head.

"I…I didn't mean like that, you little perverts. The shirt was as far as I was gonna go," Toji said with a smirk before tossing the garment on the large flat rock beside him.

"Oh, goodness me," Hikari said as she fanned her embarrassed face with her hand, "I… I suppose there isn't anything wrong with just that…"

"Well, it's getting kinda late, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to swim for a bit," Kensuke shrugged as he too pulled off his shirt.

"I hope you don't expect me to jump in. I didn't bring my swimsuit," Asuka huffed, crossing her arms.

"That's your loss, I guess," Kensuke shrugged again before taking his glasses off and setting them on his shirt.

"Yeah, I didn't really know we were gonna be swimming. I didn't bring a swimsuit either." Hikari shuddered.

"Well, you could just strip down to your underwear. It's basically the same thing," Toji said nonchalantly.

"You really think so?" Hikari said shyly while shifting in place.

"No, Hikari! Don't listen to them! They're just perverts and they probably think up fiendish schemes just like this all the time," Asuka said assertively.

"Oh!" Hikari exclaimed as she covered her mouth in astonishment.

"Or you could just not take off any of your clothes…" Toji said, trying to discredit Asuka's claims, "They're just clothes after all. It's not like there's a law saying you can't swim in them."

"But, wouldn't I get cold then? And it's getting dark out! I'd freeze to death!"

"Don't worry," Kensuke smiled, "We'll be by a campfire soon enough anyways."

"Well…I guess if you say so," Hikari said as she gazed out at the water and took a few steps closer to the shore.

"Okay, Shinji. Your turn!" Toji said as he pointed at the surprised boy.

"M-my turn?!"

"Yeah, to take your shirt off."

"O-oh, well, I didn't really intend to swim anyways," Shinji laughed dismissively.

"Nope! That's just not gonna do!" Toji shouted.

Shinji swallowed in anticipation, knowing he was about to be forced into something.

Toji suddenly dashed for Shinji and grabbed him, trying to restrain him.

"AH! TOJI! NO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

"DON'T WORRY, MAN! JUST LET IT HAPPEN! THIS IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!"

"M-MY OWN GOOD?!"

"KENSUKE! HELP ME GET HIS SHIRT OFF!"

"That sounds so homo, but I guess...I'll help."

"NO! KENSUKE! STOP!" Shinji cried!

"HAHAHA! SHINJI'S ABOUT TO GET RAPED!" Asuka laughed, eliciting forth a slight frown from Rei.

"SHUT UP! WE'RE NOT GOING TO RAPE HIM!" Toji spat.

"That's not what it looks like from here! HAHAHA!" Asuka continued to shriek in amusement.

"Tearing a shirt off a fellow man. This is probably the gayest thing I've ever done!" Kensuke said to himself, struggling to unbutton Shinji's shirt as the boy continued to resist Toji's grasp.

"Wha- what are you two doing to Mister Ikari?" Hikari gasped.

"WE'RE PREPARING HIM…FOR RITUAL SACRIFICE!" Toji shouted, trying to hold Shinji still.

Hikari gasped once again.

"Okay, it's done!" Kensuke said as he rapidly backed away from Shinji.

Toji quickly swiped the shirt off the boy's back and tossed it behind him before charging towards the lake, still grappling Shinji.

"NO! TOJI! GIVE ME BACK MY SHIRT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Shinji screamed right before being slung into the water by Toji.

"Okay, Rei! Jump in the water and go get him!" Toji said excitedly.

Rei looked confused for a moment, but figured that Toji was ordering her to retrieve Shinji. The girl, who was currently wearing a gray skirt and a blue blouse, reached under her skirt and pulled some white lace panties halfway down her thighs.

Asuka groaned in embarrassment, partly because she realized the fancy panties were something that Misato had most certainly bought for the blue haired girl and partly because she was ashamed to be associated with an Eva pilot who was so innocent…that she wasn't innocent.

"Oh goodness," Hikari said as her blush returned full force and she looked down at her feet.

"Whoa! WHOA! AYANAMI! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Toji said as he looked away and shielded his eyes.

"I was under the impression that people were supposed to remove their clothing before entering bodies of water. Am I mistaken?"

"NO! Er, um, well! JUST… JUST PUT THOSE BACK ON!"

"If that is your order…" Rei said as she slid the panties back up her thighs.

At that moment, Shinji surfaced from the water, coughing and breathing rapidly.

"Damn it, Toji!" Shinji said as he splashed some water at him.

"Get him, Rei! Now's your chance."

Rei sprinted across the large rock and gracefully dived into the water next to Shinji, flashing her panties in Asuka's direction before she disappeared into the water. Asuka groaned again and covered her eyes, trying to pretend she didn't see anything.

Before long, Rei resurfaced and wrapped her arms around Shinji's chest before dragging him back onto dry land.

"Uh…Rei…"

"Yes, Toji?" Rei questioned as she held Shinji's hand and continued tugging him alongside her.

"That's not exactly what I meant when I told you to go get him."

"It is not?" Rei questioned again, "I thought you wished me to retrieve him."

"Yeah… you were supposed to…like…get all romantic with him. But, y'know what? You're okay, Rei. You did fine."

"I was supposed to be romantic?"

"Yeah, man. Just like in the movies," Toji sighed as he put his hand on his face.

/

"Aren't you cold, Rei?" Shinji asked as he walked beside her on the way back to camp.

"Not really, no."

"I don't know how you can stand it. I'm freezing."

All of the kids besides Asuka had at least taken a quick dip, but Rei was the only one who wasn't shivering. Since the sun had gone down, even Asuka had felt a bit of a chill.

With it getting dark, Kaji had called Kensuke over the walkie talkie. Kensuke assured him he had nothing to fear and that they were almost back at camp. Sure enough, the group of children could see a fire through the trees and smelled something cooking in the air. Before long, the children were greeted by the older man, who was currently cooking some burgers over the fire on a makeshift camping grill.

"Oh, man. That smells so good," Toji said as he salivated.

"It's not Shinji's cooking, but I hope it'll do," Kaji said as he smiled at the children.

"Oh man, and would you believe my luck? Ayanami doesn't eat meat, so that means I get two patties on my burger," Toji said, clapping his hands together happily.

"Mister Suzuhara, please restrain yourself. We should be thankful we even get one," Hikari scolded him.

"But, if I don't eat it, it's going to go to waste!"

"What do you mean if YOU don't eat it?" Asuka asked suddenly, "That extra patty is just as much mine as it is yours."

"Well, kids, I hate to break it to you, but I bought the meat. That makes it mine. So, unless you can find an amicable solution, it's going on my burger," Kaji said with a wink.

"WHAT?! NO!" Asuka and Toji both shouted.

"I guess you could split it in half," Hikari suggested.

"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! YOU CAN'T SPLIT A PATTY!" Asuka protested.

"Y-yeah! YEAH, SHE'S RIGHT! IT WOULD MAKE THE BURGER UNEVEN!" Toji agreed.

"Ooh, you're right! What's am I thinking?" Hikari said as she covered her face with her hands and shook her head in embarrassment.

"Well, maybe since it's Rei's patty, we could let her decide," Shinji shrugged.

"I don't care," Rei said swiftly, obviously in a rush to make sure she wouldn't be drawn into the argument.

"Well, there goes that idea," Kensuke groaned.

"What about whoever can hold their hand over the fire long enough gets the meat?" Toji said with a smile, confident in his ability to resist pain.

"What are you? Stupid? You're soaking wet! And I'm not! And water transfers heat faster than air. You'd surely lose. And, on top of that, I'll have you know I dove straight into a volcano. You'd basically be handing me the victory. It wouldn't even be a competition," Asuka huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Well, fine then! If I win, it'll mean I'm objectively better than you," Toji said with a taunting smirk, "Even if you did dive into a… Wait, how'd you dive into a volcano?"

"Sorry kids, but we're only cooking beef over this fire," Kaji said with a chuckle, though there was a hint of seriousness to his voice.

Asuka sighed.

"Well, I guess it doesn't matter. Just know though, Suzuhara, that if you get both patties, you aren't getting any patties." Asuka said, suddenly seemingly content with not getting the extra.

"Wha-what's that mean?!" Toji asked, somewhat dumbfounded.

"You'll find out..." Asuka finished without another word before taking a seat on a log near the campfire.

"Hah, well…I guess that means I get two!" Toji said victoriously, though he sounded somewhat reluctant to proclaim it.

Shinji helped Kaji hand out the food while the rest of the kids sat down around the campfire. And as Kaji and Shinji took their own seats and began to eat, Asuka kicked the dirt by the fire into the air, attempting to make Toji's double stacked burger inedible with dust.

"ACK! SOMEONE HELP! As though assaulting people weren't enough, NOW SHE'S ASSAULTING MY FOOD!" Toji yelped as he frantically pulled his burger away from the dust cloud.

"Whoops. I had a muscle spasm," Asuka shrugged innocently.

Kaji gave the girl a quick sharp glare though, and it immediately lowered her spirits. She then began eating her own food in silence.

'Why? Why does he have to look at me like that? I was just having fun.'

Asuka swallowed her food and frowned.

'Is anything fun anymore?'

/

The next morning, light slowly filled the sky. Kaji had awoken before the sun had risen. The embers of the fire still burned under the ashes and, for a moment, he thought about rekindling it. But, mist filled the air and dew coated the grass. If he were to do it, he'd need to find some way other than the plants around him. And, for the moment, he had no reason to find another way. So instead, he reached into a backack near the fire and began grasping for some kind of food that he could use as breakfast.

He felt a few bags of chips and some more hamburger buns. He reached further into it and near the bottom, he finally felt a granola bar. He pulled it out and read the wrapper.

'Strawberry cheesecake?'

He tossed the bar back into the bag before reaching back in to search for something else. And before long, he felt another granola bar which he fished out quickly.

He read the label on it and saw it was just a basic honey nut one. And with that, he was soon tearing open the wrapper and devouring the food inside.

In a few seconds, almost everything was gone. Only a few stray pieces of broken nuts remained at the bottom of the wrapper.

"Well, that should hopefully last until a little after lunch time," he said as he dusted his hands off.

"Are you sure? That didn't look like much food?"

Kaji turned around and saw that Shinji was standing behind him.

"Oh, Shinji. I didn't hear you there. When did you wake up?"

"Awhile ago actually. I just didn't get up or anything because it felt too early to really do anything."

"You have problems sleeping?"

"Um, sometimes…"

Kaji rubbed the back of his neck and yawned.

"Yeah, I know how that is."

Suddenly, some rustling in the tent drew the attention of the two men. After a few more moments, Hikari peeked her head out of the door.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Oh, hey Miss Hikari," Shinji smiled

"Morning," Kaji said before yawning again.

"Well, um, I'm going to go get changed. And after that, if you need help making breakfast, I can try to…well, you know."

Hikari then stumbled out of the tent and ran off to the edge of the forest to change out of her nightwear and into something more appropriate for outdoors.

"So Shinji… You think you could cook us some fish for lunch?"

"Oh, well…I guess. But…we don't have any fish. …Do we?"

"Well, you boys were all wet last night when you came back to camp. And I just happen to have a fishing rod."

/

"Y'know man, uncooked fish doesn't smell all that great. Are we sure this stuff is okay? It's not rotting or anything is it?" Toji said as he cringed while looking at the fish that Shinji and Kaji were descaling next to the pool.

"Toji," Shinji said as he looked at him with an expression that told him he should know better, "We just caught them. They're fine."

"Are you sure, man? They don't smell edible."

"Well, that's because they aren't cooked."

"Well, yeah, but sushi isn't cooked either and it doesn't smell like this."

"Eugh," Asuka recoiled as she made a disgusted sound, "It smells just like how Shinji stinks up the kitchen with raw chicken. Smells like a wet dog. It'll go away in a bit once it's cooked."

"You guys should smell what fresh caught ocean fish smells like," Kaji said with a chuckle.

"Yeah, it's not even that bad, guys. You just haven't gotten used to it," Shinji said with a smile.

"Blegh, I dunno if I wanna get used to it," Toji said as he cringed even harder.

Suddenly, a fish that had been laying on the ground started flopping around, which startled Hikari.

"EEEP! IT'S STILL ALIVE!"

The fish almost landed on Asuka's foot as it continued to struggle.

"Ahh! Get it away from me!"

As much as he regretted it, Toji scrambled around on the ground trying to grab the fish. But, it was jumping around a lot and even when Toji managed to get his hands on it, it was slippery and hard to keep ahold of.

He finally managed to grab it though and he stood up and held the fish proudly in front of him.

"Haha! I got it! But...but now my hands are going to smell like fish…"

Asuka crossed her arm over her chest and scoffed.

"Ha, your hands probably already smell like fish from being a pervert."

"Say what!? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Um, guys?" Hikari said, trying to break up the confrontation.

"It means you're probably diseased and you can't keep your hands off yourself!"

"Oh, geez," Shinji mumbled as he tried to mind his own business.

At that moment, the fish in Toji's hands began struggling again before it slipped out of them and launched itself right at Asuka. And, before anyone realized quite what had happened, the fish hit her chest before sliding down into her cleavage.

"EEEEYAAHHH! SOMEONE GET IT OUT! IT'S IN MY DRESS!"

"HAHAHA, WHO'S THE DISEASED ONE NOW?" Toji laughed uncontrollably.

"OH MEIN GOTT! SOMEONE GET IT THE FUCK OUT!"

"She's only going to beat the crap out of whoever helps her. Better just leave it be," Kensuke said to himself as he continued to reel in another fish on the rod he'd borrowed from Kaji.

Asuka danced around uncomfortably trying to shake the animal loose from her clothing before it fell out from the bottom of her yellow sundress and landed right between her legs.

"Hahaha! It's like you just gave birth or some shit! Hahahaha" Toji laughed as he clutched his sides.

"YOU JACKASS! YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!" Asuka said as she lifted her leg and kicked Toji into the pool with…much more force than one would expect from a girl of her size.

"Oh, goodness. I hope you didn't knock him unconscious," Hikari said as she peered into the water.

"I hope I did! He deserves to drown!"

Much to Asuka's dismay, Toji surfaced a few moments later.

"Wha- WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR!?"

"YOU KNOW WHAT FOR!" Asuka yelled back at him almost two times as loud.

"Is this how it always is in Misato's Apartment?" Kaji asked Shinji with a grin.

"Pretty much," he sighed in response as the redhead and the jock continued to argue.

PenPen waddled out cross the rock in front of Hikari. And, at first, she smiled. But, upon seeing what had caught the bird's attention, her eyes widened and she tried to tell the bird not to do what he was about to do. But she figured he probably wouldn't have understood her given that he was a bird. And so all Hikari could do was watch in horror, her mouth agape as she saw the bird walk up right between Asuka's legs.

The penguin bent down and picked up the fish with his beak before turning his head upright and swallowing it whole, but not before its tail brushed against Asuka's thigh.

"EEEEYAH!" she screamed again as she jumped, nearly kicking the penguin in the face as she repositioned herself so that nothing besides the air was between her legs.

"Hey! That was my lunch, you little bastard! Give it back!" Toji said as he turned his attention from Asuka to the bird.

"God, even the animals are perverts nowadays."

The penguin looked at the two children with an expression that seemed to tell them to grow up.

"Don't give me that look!" Asuka huffed.

"Wark," PenPen squawked.

"What did you say to me?" Toji shouted as he pulled himself out of the water and confronted the penguin.

"WARK!" PenPen shouted back, seemingly challenging the boy.

"What was that?!"

"WARKIN' WAAAAAARK!"

"Oh, you're askin' for it!"

Toji charged the penguin, but the bird quickly hopped over to the water before diving into it.

"Damn it. He's got me…" Toji said as he clenched his fist and watched the bird pop up far out into the water a few seconds later.

Meanwhile, Asuka pulled her dress away from her with her fingers and smelled her cleavage.

"Oh god, my boobs smell like fish. This is horrible. Damn it, I have no choice but to go into the lake. I can't believe I didn't bring my swimsuit."

Asuka walked out onto the rock that was jutting out from the shore and gazed into the murky water.

She then turned to face Toji and woefully yelled, "THANKS, YOU STUPID JERK!" before she dove into the water.

"What did I do?" Toji asked as he looked around and met Rei's gaze as she sat next to Shinji.

He was seemingly looking for answers from her, but Rei had no explanation and only stared back at Toji.

Asuka popped out of the water and gasped for air, drawing Toji's attention as she screamed at him again.

"I STILL SMELL LIKE FISH, YOU ASSHOLE! AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY SOAP!" she cried, her voice echoing through the forest.

Rei sighed and Toji groaned.

"I hope her panties get hooked on Kensuke's fishing line. It's not like I tried to throw the fish at her..."

/

Asuka and Hikari sat by the fire. It was pretty late at night if the time wasn't already pushing into the early hours of the morning and everyone else had already gone to bed.

After Shinji had cooked the fish for lunch, the party had all gone on a hike for the rest of the day before returning back to camp only to eat what remained of the fish. Asuka had had enough of fish for the week and wasn't keen on the probability of her needing to eat it tomorrow. And, it didn't help that she still smelled a little fishy.

Asuka pushed a log a little more into the fire with her foot and Hikari tossed some pine needles on top of the fire to try to make Asuka smell like an evergreen instead of a fish. But, it mostly just made her smell like smoke…or smoked fish...or maybe just fishy smoke.

Asuka and Hikari both sighed at the same time.

"So, Hikari… How's… life?" Asuka asked, not able to find anything better to talk about.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I dunno. You're always such a…I dunno, a hard ass in the classroom. But, outside of school, you almost seem shy. Do you have like…a boyfriend or anything?"

"A boyfriend?!" Hikari blushed, "Um…no, I don't have one of those. But…I have had someone in mind."

"Yeah? Like who?"

"Oh, I couldn't say. You'd probably get mad at me."

"Heheh, mad at you? What's that supposed to mean? I mean, unless you're into Kaji or something, I don't see why I'd be mad."

Hikari gasped, but didn't say anything.

"Wh… What? Oh my god, you do like Kaji?!"

"N-no, no!" Hikari cried as she hid her face, "I was just surprised! I just didn't think you were into him. He's a little old for you, isn't he?"

"Wha- no, I mean," Asuka stuttered as she to tried too hide a blush, realizing she probably shouldn't have mentioned Kaji, "I just meant… like… he's too old for you too! …And me."

'What am I saying?' Asuka wondered as frantic thoughts raced through her mind, 'He's not too old. He's perfect. But I can't let this chick know that. She'd think I'm crazy.'

"Well… I mean… he is too old. But… I guess he is attractive…" Hikari said, trying not to sound awkward, "But no. It's not him. It's someone else."

'Or, maybe she wouldn't,' Asuka thought as she gave Hikari a forced smile.

"Well, who is it then?"

"It's… um… Mis...r Suz..ra…" Hikari said so quietly that the crackling of the fire actually managed to drown out her voice.

"It's who? I didn't catch that."

"It's... Mister Suzuhara…"

Asuka remained silent for a second before her smile faded.

"You know… that's the same guy…who threw a fish in my bra earlier…right?"

Hikari hid her face behind her hands and nodded.

"Whaaaaaaaaaat?! Oh my god, what could you possibly see in him?" Asuka said in a harsh whisper.

"His… compassionate side. I always thought he was a trouble maker. And, he is. But, recently, I've started to see more of him. Like how he missed school to make sure his sister was okay. I know some people's brothers wouldn't do that. And, I've seen how he is towards Shinji. He was such a quiet boy when he first came to our class. But, Toji brought him out of that some, even though I've heard that they had a rough start in their friendship. And, I guess, I just realized that Toji is…someone who follows his heart. And, I think he could be a good people person if he just straightened out his attitude some."

"You mean, like… by not throwing fish into people's boobs?"

"Yeah, that…and other things too. I wish he'd try to do a little better in school. His grades have been really bad recently because he doesn't do his homework ever. But, I guess it's good he's friends with an Eva pilot and that he's not totally wasting his time. But, I still wish he'd try to improve his work ethic too."

"Uuuuh huh, well, Hikari, listen up. I know all about boys, and I can tell you right now, Toji is..," Asuka didn't exactly want to say he was stupid and so she tried to find another word, "…simple. He's easy to figure out. You just have to coax him with something. Something he can't ignore. Something he has to chase after and work for, but something that he'd never turn down. And, if you can get him to chase that…thing, you can get him to do anything. That'll for sure improve his work ethic."

Hikari gasped and blushed before hiding her mouth behind her hands.

"You… you mean like… s… se… sex?"

Asuka's encouraging smile immediately turned into a look of disappointment.

"Hikari, uh… I was thinking of something more along the lines of food..."

"Oh! Oh, of course! What was I thinking?"

"Why don't you just…invite him over for dinner?"

"Oh! I can't do that! He'd know I liked him right away! And my two sisters, well, they're nosy. And, they wouldn't give me any privacy with him. And, I wouldn't get a chance to talk to him. And-"

"Okay, okay, okay. I get it. Bad idea. So, why don't you try making him a school lunch instead. But, don't tell him. Make sure it's a surprise so that he goes and buys food from the cafeteria. Then, he'll have a ton of food. And as much as it would sicken me to witness it, he'd be extremely happy. And…well, guys always get stupid ideas because they're perverts. They always think acts of kindness are signs of affection when it comes from a girl. So, he'd fall for you in…like…probably two weeks; give or take. And then you just gotta say yes to his advances."

"Wow, Asuka. You sound like you know a lot about getting guys to date you. How many boyfriends have you had?"

Asuka's eyes widened and she swore she felt like someone had stabbed her through the heart. But, she knew it was just the adrenaline that was making her chest hurt.

"I..."

She trailed off and turned to look into the fire. She saw herself in the flames, burning down everything around her.

"Asuka?"

"…I haven't had any," she said in a deep and quiet voice.

"You…you haven't?"

"Never. I've never had one."

"Oh… well, what about Shin-"

"No. He's already practically dating Wondergirl. And, I don't even really like…I don't like him at all. Sure, he cooks for me and other stuff. And, maybe I know him a little better than other guys. Hell, he might even be the closest thing I have to a friend. But, I don't like him. He's not a bad person, but he makes me sick."

"Oh…I guess I understand. But, maybe he could still be good for you."

Asuka wanted to glare at Hikari and let her know that she wasn't okay with where this conversation was going. But, for once, couldn't bring herself to call forth her wrath. And so, instead, she stood up without saying anything and began to walk into the forest.

"A… Asuka? Where are you going? It's dark out? You'll get lost."

"I'm going to go take a bath. I still smell like fish. If I'm not back in…forty-five minutes, you can come look for me if you want. But, you probably shouldn't because I'm not going to get lost. I learned how to navigate before I went to college."

"College? You've already been to college? But, then why are you in school?"

"You'd have to ask someone other than me. That's one thing I don't know."

Asuka soon disappeared into the darkness, leaving Hikari stupefied by the campfire.

/

-Moonlight-

/

Asuka wasn't afraid of the dark. But, being out at night in the middle of a quiet forest still creeped her out and made her tense.

"Should have brought my gun. But that would probably freak everyone out or make Kaji mad or something."

'And I don't need him to be any more upset with me. Why's he always seem distant or angry at me now? Is he trying to push me away? Is it because of Misato? Or…maybe…maybe I'm just too much for him.'

"It doesn't matter. I'm not going to let him push me away. No matter what."

She continued to walk in the dark, stumbling every now and then since she hadn't brought a flashlight with her and the moonlight was only just bright enough for her to see where she was stepping.

"The waterfall should be just up here," she whispered to herself as she pushed aside a bush.

But, upon moving aside the branch, she saw a certain nude someone standing not even ten feet from her at the shore of the shimmering pool. She gasped and let go of the plant causing the leaves to shuffle, drawing the person's attention.

"Pilot Sohryu, why are you afraid?"

"I'm not afraid, Wondergirl! I'm never afraid!"

"Then why are you hiding."

"Because you're completely nude!"

"What relevance does that have? You have seen me exposed before; at the onsen, I remember. You seemed fine being around me then."

"That- That's different, you freak! That was at a fucking hot spring. The atmosphere was totally different!"

"The…atmosphere? I do not understand…"

"You don't need to, damn it! Just get away! Get out! I'm trying to take a bath!"

"I desire to bathe as well, Pilot Sohryu."

"I- I can see that! But, still! I smell like a fucking sea animal, so get out."

"Why?"

Asuka was starting to get pissed, and she was tempted to stop hiding behind the bush and go slap the girl for testing her patience.

"BECAUSE I SAID SO, DAMN YOU!"

"Why do you not choose to ignore me and bathe anyways?"

"BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FUCKING CHEESECAKE FOR A BRAIN AND YOUR TITS ARE HANGING OUT."

"If it makes you more comfortable, Pilot Sohryu, I can submerse myself so that you do not have to see my breasts…"

Asuka didn't say anything, but she heard a splash as Rei presumably dived into the water. She finally came out from behind the bush and growled, angry that Rei had jumped into the water when she'd explicitly told her to do the opposite.

"You little brat," Asuka hissed right before Rei's head popped out of the water.

She couldn't even hear the girl inhale as she came up for air and it pissed Asuka off that she was acting so perfect; that she always acted so perfect. Or did she even need to act? Maybe she was perfect. Maybe, Rei didn't even need air to live because she was some freak from another planet. And that would make her better than Asuka. The thought made her blood boil.

But, the girl was such an anomaly that all Asuka could come up with was a, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!"

"I do not understand what is wrong. You will have to explain."

"I TOLD YOU TO GO AWAY!" Asuka said as she marched out onto the flat rock Rei had just dove from.

"And, I said that I desire to be here," Rei said as she made unflinching eye contact with the girl, Asuka's feet not even two inches above Rei's nose as she stood angrily on the rock.

"WHY? WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE HERE?" Asuka stomped on the rock, but Rei didn't even blink..

"Why must you be here, Pilot Sohryu? Do either of us really need to be here? Or are we here because we want to be here? I am here because I wish to be, and I believe you are as well."

"No, I need to be here! I smell like a fish and I need to cleanse myself."

"I believe you are mistaken…"

"WELL, I BELIEVE I'M NOT!"

"You are mistaken," Rei said sternly, which made Asuka shiver, "You do not need to be here. You wish to be here because you do not wish to give off the scent you currently do. But, you do not need to be here. It is not required of you. And because we both want to be here, I do not see why one of our wills should be given more value over the other."

"What are you even talking about you long winded…you damn…WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING!?"

"Because I wish to compromise with you."

"Compromise? COMPROMISE? I'M THE ONLY ONE COMPRMISING ANYTHING IF YOU STAY HERE! WHAT WOULD YOU EVEN BE COMPROMISING?

"I will compromise my peace for you if you will compromise your privacy."

"Your peace? WHAT KIND OF OFFER IS THAT? WHAT ABOUT MY PEACE?"

"Compromise, Pilot Sohryu," Rei said as she looked at Asuka with her unnerving red eyes.

"Hmph," Asuka said as she crossed her arm over her chest as she always did, "You're feeling pretty talkative tonight, aren't you, Wondergirl? You're lucky I'm feeling sociable tonight as well. Now, turn around."

"Why?"

"Because I don't want you looking at me WHILE I'M STRIPPING."

"I do not understand. I am familiar with female anatomy. I-"

Asuka kneeled down and put a finger on Rei's lips.

"Shhh! You're not familiar with my female anatomy. Now... turn around!"

"I am familiar with your body, Pilot Sohryu. I saw it at the onsen after the last angel had been defeated. And, even had I not, I have seen you in your plugsuit. I do not understand why it bothers you that I look upon you."

"I AM going to strangle you if you do not turn around!"

Rei remained silent for a moment before speaking at the glaring girl.

"I do not mind averting my gaze from you, Pilot Sohryu. I only wish to understand you. If it makes you comfortable, I will turn around."

'It's about damn time,' Asuka thought as she watched Rei rotate to face away from her.

"Close your eyes too!"

"I cannot see you, Pilot Sohryu."

"I don't care! Do it!"

"Very well."

Asuka began to pull her yellow dress over her head and tossed it on the rock.

"Your eyes are closed, right?"

"Yes."

She uneasily decided to take Rei at her word and unclasped her bra, which fell to her feet. Asuka suddenly realized that she may not have smelled as bad as her self-consciousness had led her to believe, though there was an unmistakable smell of fish.

She frowned as she pulled down her panties, all of her insecurities eating her alive. She wanted to cry. She wouldn't, but she wanted to.

After her panties dropped to her heels, she stepped out of them and timidly entered the water next to Rei.

"May I-"

"Yes, you can open your damn eyes now!" Asuka snapped out of embarrassment.

"Pilot Sohryu?"

"What?!"

"…Why are you afraid of me?"

"I'm NOT afraid of you! I already told you!"

Rei looked directly at Asuka with her unnaturally red eyes. And if that weren't enough, Rei was invading Asuka's personal space.

"Are you uncomfortable?"

Asuka could feel Rei's hot breath skimming across the cold water before it started wrapping around and blowing past her neck.

"Of course I am!"

"Why?"

"Because of you! You're acting so weird. Who wouldn't be uncomfortable?"

"Then you are afraid of me?"

Asuka felt Rei's breath on her neck again and it made her shiver.

"No! Of course I'm not afraid of you!"

"Then…why are you uncomfortable?"

"B- BECAUSE! People can be uncomfortable without being afraid, you dolt!"

Rei looked into the water, seemingly thinking on what Asuka had told her. Meanwhile, Asuka reached up towards the rock, attempting to grab her bra so that she could cleanse it of the fishy liquid that had been soaking into it throughout the day.

But, suddenly, she felt Rei's hand around her wrist.

"Hey! What are you doing, Freakazoid?!"

"Don't."

"Let go, Wondergirl! I need to clean it!

"It will get wet. It will be difficult for you to sleep in it."

"Who- Who says I'm sleeping in it!"

"You did not bring any other ones. And, given your discomfort, I did not expect you would be sleeping without it."

"Wha- What!? Have you been snooping in my things?!"

"I have not. I inadvertently took notice this morning. I awoke while you were dressing. Your suitcase was open."

"Oh… oh my god… Did… DID I REALLY LEAVE IT OPEN? Oh my god, you don't think any of the boys saw my panties, do you?"

"As far as I am aware, I was the only one who was conscious in the tent at that time."

Asuka bit her lip, becoming more embarrassed by the moment.

"Pilot Sohryu, why did you only bring one brassiere but three sets of panties?"

"That- THAT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSSINESS!"

"I am only trying to help."

Under the water, one of Asuka's fists was clenched while the other still held the bra above the water.

"Okay…okay, fine. Yeah, I was probably going to sleep in it. But, I still have to wash it."

"Please, give me a moment," Rei said as she tried to smile, though she ended up just keeping a straight face.

Rei turned and began swimming towards the shore.

"Wondergirl, wait! Why are you trying to…help me?"

"…Because someone asked me to."

"Who?"

"Chief Inspection Officer Kaji. He asked me…to be there for you…because he no longer can."

Asuka's gaze sunk and she found herself looking at the reflection of herself in the water.

'So…he really is trying to get rid of me. Why did he even bother bringing me here?'

She wanted to cry so badly, but she couldn't. She promised herself she would never cry, and she intended to keep that promise.

'You can't cry, Asuka. You can't. It was a promise. …but are promises even worth keeping anymore?'

"I will be back," Rei said as she continued swimming a few more feet to the shore before stepping onto the muddy bank and disappearing behind some plants.

"I… don't know what to do anymore…" Asuka said as she continued looking into the black murk she was bathing in.

Asuka then heard some leaves rustle as Rei reappeared.

"I am sorry, Pilot Sohryu. I could not find anything to help."

"What...were you even looking for?"

"A leaf that could be used for scrubbing. I did not find any that were suitable. But, you may use…"

Rei looked at her clothes, her grey skirt in particular. She walked out onto the flat rock it laid on before picking it up and walking over to Asuka who sat floating in the water by the edge of the rock. She crouched down in front of Asuka and handed her the skirt, who blushed both from what she saw between Rei's legs and just the gesture of kindness.

"You…want me to…use your clothes to clean…mine?" Asuka asked absently as she shifted her gaze from Rei's vulva to her ruby eyes.

"Yes," Rei said before blinking.

"But, why? Why would you do that?"

"Because I promised…to take care of you. And because…it's a bond."

"A... bond? With me?" Asuka asked, her voice becoming shallow.

"With everyone," Rei said as she smiled gently at the girl.

"Well… o… kay," Asuka said as she reached out of the water and grabbed Rei's skirt.

Rei then slid back into the water next to Asuka and looked up at the night sky.

Asuka was still hesitant to use Rei's clothes to clean her own, and she looked at her uneasily.

"Pilot Sohryu?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you refuse?"

"I…I don't know. No one's ever treated me like this. I just…"

Rei looked at Asuka and then swam a little closer to her before taking her hands in her own.

"Eeeeh! Mmmm," Asuka whimpered.

Rei pulled Asuka's hand nearer the water, forcing her to wet the skirt before pulling her hand back up and gently forcing her to scrub her bra. The whole time, Asuka could only stare back like a frightened bird being forced to take refuge inside a predator's den to save itself from a raging tempest.

"Can you do it?" Rei asked as Asuka still stared at her.

Asuka remained silent...

"Pilot Sohryu? Would you like me to clean it?"

"N- …no, I'll do it," Asuka said as she finally responded and began scrubbing her bra.

Rei then leaned back in the water, floating seemingly effortlessly as she looked up at the stars and moon. Asuka blushed as she saw Rei's breasts emerge from the water and she tried to ignore them, but found it hard to even though she was adamantly trying to convince herself of her straightness.

'Why can't I look away? Why can't I take my eyes off her? She's not that pretty. And even if she was, I'm not…a lesbian. It's just because she's acting nice. Yeah, that's why. She's acting nice and weird and I'm not myself.'

Asuka let out a trembling breath as she continued to scrub her bra.

"Rei?"

"Yes, Pilot Sohryu?"

"You said you were here because you wanted peace."

"I did."

"What is peace to you? Why are you here?"

"I am here to look at the sky."

"Yeah, but why?" Asuka asked with a shiver.

"Because…it reminds me of him. It reminds me…of the first night of my friendship with him; of how we saved our world...together. And how I promised to protect him. I remember him telling me…to smile. He was the first one to ever tell me to smile..."

Rei turned her head in the water and looked at Asuka with what was quite possibly the biggest smile that had ever been on her face.

"I liked it when he told me to smile. I didn't know how to feel and he helped me," Rei said with so much emotion that it actually freaked Asuka out to hear her talk with so much animation in her voice.

It was very apparent, even to Asuka, that Rei was extremely giddy right now and that her heart was fluttering.

Rei then turned her head back towards the heavens and, by her emotional standards, basically sung, "Every night, before I am about to sleep, I look out of my window. I look at the stars. I think of him. And I smile."

'I wish someone felt that way about me,' Asuka thought as she tossed her bra back onto the rock behind her and then reached for her dress.

"You know…that you love him, right?" Asuka mumbled, trying not to sound miserable.

Rei looked at Asuka again, still smiling.

"Do I? Do you think so?"

"I know so," Asuka said.

"How is that?"

'This girl! She doesn't even know that she likes him. What is she?' Asuka though to herself as she gave Rei a curious look.

"It's obvious," Asuka proclaimed, "The way you talk about him. The way you always glare at me when I make fun of him. The way you're always clinging to him during lunch period at school. And, I remember you used to look out the window in the classroom all the time, but now, every time I look back and see you, you're always looking at him instead. And you're always talking about how you'll protect him when we're at NERV. And when we're not at headquarters, you're constantly trying to be close to him...probably because he makes you feel safe or happy or something. In fact, I'd be willing to bet you wish you could trade places with me right now. I bet you wish you could live with him the same way I do."

"Perhaps you are right," Rei said as her emotions calmed down some.

"I am right! You're practically already dating him."

"Pilot Sohryu, what is love?"

Asuka was taken aback by the abstract question.

"I…um…love is how you feel when…when you always want to be around somebody. And, you always want to help them be better than they were the moment before. And… well, you trust them with all of your secrets and…maybe even your life too…if it comes to that. Love is when someone… makes you happy to be you."

"I see…"

Asuka looked at Rei with uncertainty.

"Do you feel that way about Shinji?"

"No. I don't. There are secrets I have that I cannot tell anybody. Commander Ikari won't let me. But, I would sacrifice myself for him."

Asuka would have put her hand on her face if both of her hands weren't full.

"Rei, those are NERV's secrets; not yours. You don't have to tell him those secrets. Though, if you love him, you probably should."

"They are my secrets too, Pilot Sohryu."

"Okay, well, even if they are, you don't have to tell him them all in one night or anything. You can give it some time. Besides, Shinji works for NERV too. What kind of secrets are so bad that you couldn't tell him?"

Rei sat in silence for a few moments, her feelings extremely conflicted between her sense of duty and her own human desires.

"You...may be right, Pilot Sohryu. Perhaps I will give it time as you suggest."

"I am right, Rei."

Rei smiled at the girl again, and somehow, Asuka found a way to smile back at her. And suddenly, she realized that things weren't so awkward. She wasn't embarrassed to be completely exposed in front of her fellow human; her comrade. In fact, there was almost a sense of relief with nothing between her and Rei.

"Rei, you really should tell him that he makes you happy and how much you want him. Don't wait. Don't ever wait to tell someone that you want them. I mean, waiting for the right time can be important, but you shouldn't wait any longer than you have to. You should tell him."

"I will, Sohryu. Thank you."

/

Asuka had a lot to think about as she laid silently in her sleeping bag. She was tired and she knew the sun would be rising in only a few hours, but she couldn't find it in her to rest. Sitting around the Campfire with Hikari and her bath with Rei had her wondering about so many things.

Was Kaji really trying to distance himself even further from her than he already was? Could she find a friend in Rei? Could she find a friend in anyone? Would she ever be able to be in a romantic relationship in which her affections were reciprocated? And how would she make sure that she wouldn't tear apart a theoretical romance with her constantly flaring anger and distrust of the people around her?

'Will I even live long enough to be in a meaningful relationship? An angel could show up tomorrow- no, right now, and I could die. I could die at any time. It wouldn't even need to be an angel. It could be a car, or a lightning strike or an earthquake. It could be a person. It could be someone I saved as an Eva pilot, just like that guy at the convenience store who tried to... to rape me. I could die this very moment and I'd be a virgin. I'd never have been in a relationship. I'd never have had a true friend. I'd be…alone.'

Asuka rolled onto her side and hugged herself.

"I've never...not been alone," she whispered as she hugged herself a bit tighter.

Suddenly, she heard a noise outside; a rustling.

She tensed up and watched the zip-up tent door intently as she tried to quiet her breathing.

She heard some crackling and her heart began racing.

'Oh god, it's getting closer.'

Asuka kept watching, trying to spot any shadows that were cast on the tent by the moonlight.

'Oh my god, what if it's a werewolf? Or an angel? Or a werewolf angel?'

She heard some more crackling and she pulled her sleeping bag over her head before moving it back a little more so she could watch.

Suddenly, the fire flared to life and spat out a few sparks before dying back down.

'Oh my god, what the fuck!'

She then heard a furious unnatural sound, like a crinkling plastic bag.

'Why am I acting like this. I'm Asuka Langely Sohryu. I shouldn't be scared. I'm not just talk. I meant it when I told Wondergirl I'm not afraid of anything, didn't I?'

Asuka managed to convince herself to crawl out of the sleeping bag as quietly as she possibly could before she reached for the zipper of the tent.

'It's probably not a werewolf. So, just stay calm, Asuka. Werewolves aren't even real.' She thought to herself before she finally grabbed the zipper and pulled as fast as she could!

She stormed out of the tent…only to find PenPen with a chip bag over his head.

'Damn stupid boys not cleaning up their trash!'

"What are you doing out here, you stupid penguin? You're going to get eat by something!" Asuka whispered angrily at the bird.

PenPen shook his head rapidly, eventually shaking the bag off. He looked at Asuka and squawked at her, seemingly trying to tell her that he was the only one doing any eating around here.

"Get back in the tent! How'd you even get out here?"

PenPen just cocked his head before waddling back into the tent.

Asuka sighed as she too walked back inside and zipped up the tent before shuffling back into her sleeping bag and slamming her head down onto the pillow, obviously frustrated with her lack of sleep.

/

-Mist-

/

"Hey. Hey Shinji," Toji whispered as he poked the boy's face, trying to get him to wake up.

"Hmm? What?" Shinji groaned as he rolled over and threw his arm over his face.

"Wake up, man. Kensuke's got some other place to show us. He's already up getting some supplies ready."

"Can't it wait? It's not even daylight yet, is it?" Shinji asked as he propped himself on his elbow and rubbed his eyes.

"Apparently, it can't wait. I don't think he'd've woken us up this early otherwise."

"Well, I guess if you say so," Shinji said as he crawled out of his sleeping bag and followed Toji outside the tent.

"Ah, good, Shinji. You're awake," Kensuke said as he tossed him a granola bar.

The sleepy boy struggled and fumbled to catch it as he himself was caught off guard.

"What are we doing, Kensuke?" Shinji mumbled.

"Yeah, where are we even going, man?" Toji added.

"That, my good Sirs, is a surprise."

/

"Wait, this is what you woke us up for?" Toji asked, confused and perhaps slightly disappointed.

"Sure is!"

"But…it's just a valley. I mean, I guess it's kinda nice…"

"Yeah, and we're on the edge of a very big very steep cliff. And it would be awesome to throw stuff off of it."

"Oooh…OOOOOOOHHH! I see what you're getting at!" Toji said as his brain started to work, "Hahaha! Shinji! Come here! We're throwing you off first!"

"What?! But why?!"

"I'm just kidding! You didn't really think we'd throw you off, did you? You sounded pretty scared there for a moment."

Shinji sighed in relief and walked a little closer to the edge. The sun had been up for a while now and it was apparent that it was going to be a cloudy morning. A cool breeze blew through the trees and pushed some of the fog that floated closer to the ground over the edge of the cliff.

"I mean, I guess this is a cool place to kick it," Toji said agreeably as he found a large round rock and took a seat on it.

"Yeah, the view is really nice," Shinji said as he sat down at the very edge of the cliff and looked down despite the fact he couldn't see the bottom because of all the mist, "It's kinda like we're in a cloud. I can't see anything anywhere. And- WHOA KENSUKE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Shinji took notice of the boy as he carried a frighteningly heavy rock in his arms.

"I know... huh huh heh, we can't see the bottom," Kensuke panted, "But we can still hear it!"

"Hey, just don't fall, man. I'm gonna be really pissed off if you do!" Toji said, obviously a bit anxious.

Kensuke chuckled before struggling to heft the rock above his head and then toss it over the edge.

Shinji watched it disappear into the fog and then silence followed. Shinji didn't count the seconds but it had been at least three or four until he heard a huge crash from the bottom of the cliff. But that wasn't all. Soon followed one of the strangest echoes Shinji and Toji had ever heard.

"WHOA! DUDE! THAT WAS AWESOME! THAT WAS AWESOME!" Toji said in awe as he sat up.

"Holy crap!" Shinji said as he looked down into the fog.

"That is why I wanted to show you guys this place!"

"I kinda wish we'd brought the others though," Shinji said.

"Hmm, I guess. But, I just figured that Mister Kaji was tired and…I dunno. Girls never seem to get much entertainment out of throwing stuff off cliffs from what I've seen. Asuka is kinda cute though. So, I guess it might not have hurt to bring her," Kensuke said as he scratched the back of his head.

"Kensuke, you're such a manwhore, you know? You think every girl is cute," Toji said as he crossed his arms over his chest and grimaced.

"That may be true, haha," Kensuke said as he chuckled in an embarrassed way.

"And what do you mean that it wouldn't have hurt to bring her? You do know how prone she is to beating people, right?"

"Haha, I suppose she is."

"Damn, Kensuke! You don't have a crush on her, do you?"

"Nah, I think's just something passing. Like you said, she's kinda aggressive for me."

"Oh, hey, speaking of crushes," Toji started as he smirked at Shinji, "So, Shin-man, how's everything going with Rei?"

Shinji blushed and tried to avoid eye contact.

"Things have been good, I guess."

"Aw, hey, come on, man. We're you're friends. You don't gotta act so shy around us," Kensuke said as he smiled at the boy, trying to ease his discomfort.

"Yeah, man. I mean, we both know you like her. And we know you went on a date and all, but…it doesn't seem like you're actually dating."

Shinji shuffled around uncomfortably.

"Oh, Shinji…come on, man. Don't tell me you…"

"Don't tell you I what?" Shinji asked, sounding somewhat concerned.

"Man, don't tell me you went on a date with her and didn't actually follow up on it by…well… you know; actually dating her!" Toji exclaimed as he threw his arms in the air, displacing some fog as his fingers swished through the atmosphere.

"I mean…" Shinji mumbled, not entirely sure how to respond.

"DUDE, NO!" Kensuke shouted, almost sounding like he was in pain.

"Dude! You can't do that!" Toji agreed, "You probably like…I don't know. You probably hurt her feelings or something! I mean, I know she doesn't say much, but she's a human too, man! She has feelings! And those feelings she has tell me that she loves you, man!"

Shinji's eyes widened some and then he looked back down at his feet and at the dirt and grass he was sitting on.

"I mean, I don't know if she really likes me that way."

"Shinji, she loves you, man. I know you haven't known her as long as me and Kensuke here. But, before you came to Tokyo-3, she never said anything…like, to anyone! She never hung out with anyone. She was always alone. She was alone, man. She was alone! And then you came along, and now she's hanging out with you and Kensuke and me at lunch! And, she's going on all these crazy adventures with us! And…I haven't talked to her about it, but I can see that she always wants to be close to you. She's always near you."

"That's just because I'm weak and she feels the need to protect me!" Shinji whimpered.

Toji got up from his rock and walked over to Shinji, kneeling next to him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Shinji, you're not weak. I…I could never do what you do. I could never pilot an Eva."

"Yeah, and despite how cool I think they are, I don't know for sure if I could either," Kensuke said as he too knelt down next to him and smiled.

Shinji tried to ignore the flattery his friends were giving him but he really had to put effort into not smiling.

"And besides. Even if she does want to protect you, I can't believe that's all there is too it. I won't believe it. Just like yesterday! She was right next to you, even when you were smearing your hands with those smelly fish scales. What was she going to protect you from then? Huh? Tell me that!" Toji demanded.

"I'm…I'm not sure," Shinji said as he laughed a little.

"Yeah! Exactly! That's because there was nothing for her to protect you from! She just wanted to be close to you," Kensuke said as he adjusted his glasses.

"Kensuke is right, man. You gotta quit lying to yourself. You know just as much as we do that you have feelings for her. She's your fellow Eva pilot. How special is that!? How many people can say that they have a friendship or a relationship where they truly, and I mean TRULY understand each other on that level. I mean, of course she wants to protect you, man. That's because you're important to her. And, she doesn't want to lose you."

"I guess you're kinda right about that. I guess our bond is kinda special," Shinji said as he twiddled his thumbs.

"Man, listen, you're like my bother. And, you could die. You're an Eva pilot. So, that's obvious. And, like, I just don't want you to die without saying what you need to say to the girl you love."

"You really think it's love?" Shinji asked as he looked into Toji's eyes for an answer.

"I know it is!" he said confidently.

Toji then stood up and offered Shinji his hand, which Shinji weakly grabbed, though his grip tightened as Toji hoisted him up.

"So?" Kensuke asked as he stood up with a smile.

"What do you say, Shinji? Are you gonna tell her?" Toji asked with a serious look in his eyes.

Shinji looked down and tightly shut his eyes.

'I mustn't run away!'

Shinji, with determination shining on his face like never before, looked straight into Toji's eyes.

"I'll tell her."

Toji closed his eyes in relief before opening them again and smiling.

"That's good to hear, man."

He then threw his arm around Shinji's neck and bent him over before messing up his hair.

"Ack, Toji!" Shinji groaned as he squirmed.

"Now it's finally time to throw you off this cliff!"

"That's not funny!"

/

Shinji, Toji, and Kensuke were almost back at camp. The hike back had mostly been light hearted conversation about how they enjoyed the chill of the wind on their skin or how it was nice to have hot food on a cloudy day. Things that brought small joys to their hearts. But, soon enough, the camp emerged in the mist and the chatter stopped.

"If they ask where we were, just tell them we went to take a piss. They don't need to know what we were talking about," Toji said in a low voice.

"Yeah, a two hour piss. That's believable," Kensuke chuckled.

"I feel like that would raise more suspicion than not saying anything at all," Shinji giggled as well.

They drew nearer the camp, and before long, Kaji's keen eyes had spotted the boys and he nodded at them silently as a good morning greeting.

And not a moment sooner had Rei stepped around the corner of the tent. Shinji's heart jumped at the sight of her.

Toji leaned over and whispered to Shinji.

"Hey, just remember what I said. Just find a nice quiet place to tell her, preferably outside of school and when we aren't around. Make sure it's just you and her. Now go get her," Toji said as he slapped Shinji's back, urging him forward.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Hikari shouted, causing Toji and Kensuke to jump.

"Oh, c- class rep! We were just out taking a piss," Toji said as he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Uh huh, that sounds like a likely story," Asuka said boredly as she sat by the ashes of the campfire.

Toji glared at the girl, but she paid him no mind.

Meanwhile, as Hikari was scolding Toji and Kensuke, Shinji walked up to Rei, and he met her eyes with a profound smile.

"Shinji, are you okay?" Rei asked with her usual measure of concern.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I was just out on a hike with Toji and Kensuke.

"That is comforting to hear," Rei said as she took Shinji's hand in hers and led him to the pile of still smoking embers that had once been a fire, "I did not think anything bad had happened to you, but the others seemed to be worried."

Rei stood close to the fire and even closer to Shinji as she clung to his arm. And Asuka, who was sitting on a log next to the fire as she ate some chips, smiled to herself as she looked at her brother and sister Eva pilots.

"What's up with you two? You seem extra close today," Asuka said with a smirk before she bit down on a chip.

Both Shinji and Rei looked at Asuka, she herself looking vacantly into the ash at her feet. But, before either could come up with an intelligible response to the girl, she spoke again.

"Hmph. Must be the weather. I guess it is a little bit cold today," Asuka mumbled as she went back to eating her breakfast, trying to hide the proud smile on her face.

"So, everyone? What are we doing today? We better make the most of it, since today is the last day of the weekend," Toji asked loudly as he gave a wink to Shinji.

"I don't really care too much what we do today so long as it's fun, but you better remember that we have a test tomorrow," Hikari said as she glared at Toji.

"Don't worry, class rep. I'll study with him tomorrow morning before school. He'll pass," Kensuke smiled assuredly.

"He better," Hikari growled as her glare softened a little.

"Well," Rei started, "If we are to be back at school tomorrow, I believe we should do…whatever our hearts feel is fun while we have time for recreation," Rei said with a smile.

Shinji looked at the girl and smiled as she gazed gently back at him with her red eyes.

"I couldn't have said it better myself."

.


*Eva credits roll and Fly Me to the Moon plays*

.

*Kaji clears throat*

"So... I guess Misato isn't here right now... That's probably a good thing. Because, she's obviously...um, well, she's having a hard time...handling with... well, me stealing her bird. And, yes, I did knowingly steal the bird this time. But, that's our little secret, so... don't tell her."

*Furious banging on the door of the recording booth*

*Terribly terrorizing terror envelopes Kaji's face*

"Oh god, what have I done? I thought I was the one who did the snooping- I mean, investigating around NERV."

"WHAT WAS THAT, KAJI!? DID I HEAR YOU OPENLY ADMIT TO STEALING MY DAMN BIRD AGAIN!?"

"I, um, no! It was Asuka's idea. I just helped her. SHE stole him. I was just the getaway driver."

"OH, BUT YOU'RE STILL A MEMEBER OF THIS LITTLE BIRD HEIST CREW!"

*Misato continues banging on the door*

"Oh, shit! She's gonna break the door down!"

*Misato breaks door down*

"YOU SONOFA BITCH! WHERE'D YOU TAKE MY BIRD!?"

*Misato assaults Kaji*

*General sounds of discomfort*

*Possible erotic sounds*

"Ooh, Misato. Why weren't you this kinky back in college? Oh, wait! You were! I forgot!"

"SHUT! UP!"

"Ugh, well, as much as I'd love to continue our little playdate-"

*Misato growls at Kaji*

"-we have a chapter preview to do."

"WHAT? YOU'RE DOING THE CHAPTER PREVIEW WITHOUT ME?

*Misato Quickly straightens her clothes and hair*

Do I look okay? Good! Okay, hi everyone. I'm really sorry! I was just worried about my baby birdy boy! But, um, well, I guess you already knew that so, yeah. Anyways...

In the next chapter, someone cuts the power in NERV HQ and the Geofront, which is kinda funny since it's supposed to be one of the most secure facilities in the world. And, oh god, my poor air conditioning. How? How could this happen? How could any of this happen? Who wrote this bullshit? This is despicable. But, that aside, the kids are stuck at the surface when the power goes out and they have to crawl through some air ducts and blah, blah, blah. Lots of fan service with two girls in skirts squeezed tightly against each other in an absurdly small space. It says something here in the script about Shinji getting a boner. Ooh! And right here it says he also gets someone's butt shoved in his face. And then some more stuff that nobody cares about. Oh, and an angel shows up too. It barfs acid out of its eyes... Yeah, that happens...

...

I mean, it's like whoever wrote this stuff is just writing it for the lewds...which is fine I guess..."

*Kaji sighs*

"You're just upset because you're not going to be in an air vent next to Rei and Asuka, am I right?"

"I didn't say that..."

*Misato glares at the script*

*Misato rhythmically taps fingers on the script in an angry fashion*

*Misato tries to pretend everything is okay*

"Well, I suppose there will be...some fan service in the next chapter... And, it's all going to be in the next chapter of Neon Genesis Evangelion: A Journey of Hate, Power and Love; Rust.

Rust? Really? Who the fuck named the next chapter Rust? This is absurd! I mean, it should be called-"

*Kaji gestures to sound booth to stop recording*

.

Update: Hey, everyone. Sorry it's taken so long. (I don't know why I even bother mentioning how long it is between each chapter anymore.) I've been trying to sort some stuff out with medical problems and work and other stuff. But, I thought I'd let everyone know that I'll probably be starting on writing the next chapter in earnest later today or tomorrow. And that it'll probably be out in a few days to a week just depending on how stressed I am for time.

Update: I've been working on chapter 14. I have a little over 2,300 words at the moment. I suppose that means it's going to be out next month...which isn't as bad as it sounds because tomorrow is next month. Seriously though, it'll probably be out in a little less than a week.

Update: Okay everyone. I think the next chapter is going to be out sometime this afternoon. (10/4/2017 10:39 AM)

Final Update: Chapter 14 is going up now.