Chapter 04
02.07.2008
No respect. Toji and Kensuke pushed dripping hair out of their eyes and glared daggers at a smirking redhead.
The taller of the two sodden boys growled at Shinji, eyes nailed to Asuka as she rolled up her sleeves then flexed her biceps at them, "That's it! You didn't really forget anything didja? But it doesn't matter cause I'm gonna...!"
"Shinji!" Toji's rant was interrupted by Kensuke's shriek, "Do you have any idea how fucking expensive these are?" He shook a popped 'water balloon' under Shinji's nose.
It was a late and wet afternoon in the Katsuragi residence and so far the Major's latest pet project was well underway. That is to say, chaos reigned supreme in her household and all of her questions were just about to be answered.
It started when Shinji's friends walked in. Asuka, who had then been hefting two water-filled balloons, testing their weight with her hands, sighted them exchanging greetings with Shinji at the door. Like a blossom to sun, her face immediately brightened and in true Asuka fashion acquired that cunning look that said, "Chaance..." Before anybody knew it, two water balloons were speeding gracefully through the air sailing with pinpoint accuracy toward their targets.
There was a splash. A moment of silence. Then a mad scramble to stop Asuka from going after two angry boys.
"Hikari, Ayanami, help! She's going to clobber them!"
Misato smiled benignly at the mayhem, absently tapping a finger on her chin. "Ara... so Asuka still hates their guts." The said redhead was struggling, held in place by Rei and Shinji and being talked to soothingly by Hikari. Misato turned her attention to the boys, "You two, inside and stop distracting her!" She waved them in and then winked at the man standing just inside her door. "Will Kaji get the same treatment, I wonder."
Asuka stopped struggling when she noticed her former guardian.
"You're in fine form today Misato." Ryoji Kaji tore his eyes from the Major and gave the redhead a warm disarming smile. "Hello, Asuka."
Shinji sighed, releasing the girl and shooting an irritated glance at Kaji. He wasn't sure how the redhead would react to the man but he definitely did not want to see it. "Kaji-san," he nodded acknowledgment, then turned and headed for Toji and Kensuke.
She'd probably jump him worse than she did me, Shinji figured glumly, walking towards his friends who were standing near the kitchen wringing out their shirts. "I'm sorry. Asuka's too fast; I didn't even see her throw. You want to change into dry clothes?" He stopped at their guarded expressions, "What's the matter? They're clean, I did my laundry yesterda -"
Shinji felt a cold wind go whoosh on his left side. Startled, he blinked. And found both his friends down on the floor, a grinning redhead seated cross-legged between them. It looked like she was gloating.
Propping themselves on their elbows , both boys tried hurriedly to get up, "Dammit Soryu! You'll pay..." And promptly got smacked back down by a push.
"Shinji... man, she's giggling." Toji stared at the girl from his place on the damp floor. "Yechh!"
Asuka leaned up close first to Toji then to Kensuke, innocently giving each in turn an ample view of her chest. Then she stuck out her tongue and tweaked their noses.
"Shinji..." Kensuke inhaled deeply and declared starry-eyed, "I'm in lurvvv!"
"Uh-huh," was all Shinji could say, drolly watching his friends try again and again to get up, only to get pushed back down by Asuka. "Well, good luck to both of you cause I think she found a new game. She's not going to get tired of this for a while. But what happened to Kaji-san?"
"Ignored." Kaji answered from beside Misato. He shot her a rueful glance after Shinji turned away, "Completely ignored."
"Feminine pique?" Misato asked deviously, watching Shinji and Hikari trying to convince the redhead to let the two boys up.
"Nah," Kaji answered easily, "She has eyes only for him, eh?"
"For now." A troubled look fleetingly crossed Misato's face. "However, we need our pilot back."
With a snap of rubber, Asuka was lured away by Rei, and the Major decided it was time to step in and take control.
"Thank you, Rei. Keep her in the kitchen for as long as you can. Hup hup, children! Fun's over. Time to clean up!" She was met with a chorus of groans.
x
x
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The days of fun and games with Nerv-issued prophylactics passed and, to Shinji's (temporary) relief, Asuka's interests moved on to more mundane things. For several nights, television (and Shinji) occupied most of her attention.
"Don't take it off." The object of the redhead's unwavering regard caught both her hands and looked her meaningfully in the eye. "I mean it, Asuka. I know it constricts the head and doesn't feel comfortable but it's for protection."
The girl squirmed and once again tried to remove the offending thing, but the boy remained firm and shook his head. "Don't take it off!" At his forceful tone, she finally relented, but not without a last sulky pout at him.
"That's not going to work this time because this is important so stop being so damn stubborn and mule-headed!"
"Ikari-kun," the soft voice of Rei interrupted them, "May we begin?"
"Yeah, yeah... begin, why don't ya?" Shinji replied testily, "Misato-san, are you sure you both know what you're doing?"
"Don't worry, Shinji," it was Dr. Akagi who answered smoothly, "I'm sure Asuka won't take any lasting damage."
"Besides, she has a helmet," the Major interjected.
It was seven o'clock on a warm, Sunday morning and Misato, the three pilots, and Hikari had all gotten together early on orders from Dr. Akagi. The huge gym they were in was just a few blocks from the school and was currently empty, save for their group. An abundant amount of sunlight was streaming in from the gym's high windows, bathing the two girls standing center-floor in a sea of floating dust motes.
"You may begin, Rei," Dr. Akagi nodded to the pair.
"Thank you." The First Child bowed to Asuka. "Pilot Soryu, shall we?" Asuka grinned and bowed back.
A worried Shinji started to pace, "Ayanami, not too hard, ok?" Rei gave him a quick expressionless look. "I know she can hold her own but what if...?"
"Ikari-kun, Pilot Soryu is skilled. It is only a sparring match." Then without warning, she closed in fast on the other girl and aimed a kick to her stomach, "KYAAH!"
Asuka sidestepped, and the match started, both girls moving at great speed. Leg swipe, jump. Side smash, block, and back flip. Asuka kicked. Rei dodged, then launched a punch.
Asuka caught Rei's fist with both hands and surprisingly didn't let go. In one fluid motion she twisted to one side pulling Rei to her, then slammed both palms forward onto Rei's flank. "Reiko kyohan-sho!"
"Ayanami!" Shinji shouted, as Rei staggered away from Asuka holding her right side. The First regained her balance quickly. Keeping a wary eye on her opponent, she took a few deep breaths then straightened to face her again.
"Shinji-kun, she's talking now!" Misato gaped from somewhere behind Shinji, "Good job," and patted him on the back. "Rei's fine. Stop over reacting or you'll lay an egg."
"How can you both be so... airy about this?" Shinji scowled, "The talking is from television. She's mimicking some pink-haired granny that she liked," Shinji's forehead wrinkled, "And a red-haired guy she was mooning over. She's got their moves down pat."
"No," Misato corrected, "I've seen Asuka fight. Maybe the words aren't hers but the moves are."
"But I saw her copy those from tv." He should never have allowed her to watch so much of those late night cartoon marathons, but it was the only thing he could think to do at two in the morning that distracted Asuka enough from an all out necking session.
"That palm strike, using the heel, she's done that before. Usually on the face." Misato glanced at Shinji. "But why are you blushing? You haven't used my present, have you?"
"No," he answered tightly. "Stop bringing it up..." Shinji suddenly screamed at the combatants, "Not her head!"
The First checked her kick at the last second inadvertently giving the Second another opening. Right fist closed as if holding a sword, Asuka smashed her hand at Rei's abdomen, "Juryo yozan-ken!" sending the girl flying back, to land on the wooden floor with a meaty thunk.
Silence echoed for a second in the almost empty gym, then Asuka and Shinji were running to the fallen Rei. Visibly shaken, Asuka dropped to her knees by Rei's side and reached gently to cradle her head.
"Ayanami! Are you all right? Ayanami?" Shinji knelt down by Rei's other side but couldn't see the girl's face, obscured as it was by Asuka's arms and bent head. "Asuka, let go, I can't see. How bad is it?"
"Ikari-kun, I am unharmed," Rei's voice arose from behind the pile of red hair, "Pilot Soryu, I am... fine." She put a hand to Asuka's chin and raised her face to catch her eyes.
Watching them, Shinji sputtered, the concerned words dying in his throat. Rei's tender smile. Asuka's overbright eyes. It tugged at something in his memory. At the same time it seemed so ludicrous that he started chuckling.
He was wiping tears from his eyes when he heard someone come up behind him. "Ikari-kun, stop laughing at them, it isn't very nice," Hikari scolded gently as she helped Asuka help Rei up.
"I'm sorry. I can't help it," Shinji gasped weakly, rolling on the floor.
"Oh, hush and get up!" she turned to Rei, "Are you okay?"
Rei nodded, losing the smile. Then gaining it back again when the redhead started bending her limbs and assessing her.
Asuka flexed and straightened Rei's right arm, then shot a questioning look at Rei's face; and flexed and straightened Rei's left arm, then shot a questioning look at Rei's face. Asuka checked all of Rei's limbs and even rotated both of her shoulders.
Then she started running her hands down Rei's body.
The First Child blushed, Hikari's lips twitched, and Shinji started laughing harder.
"Pilot Soryu..." still an attractive shade of pink, Rei put both hands on Asuka's shoulders and gave her an even bigger smile. Asuka's arms dropped and she grinned back.
Hikari sighed deeply, savoring the moment. The two girls were smiling, sunshine glinting on their hair, while somewhere in the background a boy laughed.
Then choked... and coughed.
Asuka and Rei stepped back and bowed to each other while Hikari turned to thump Shinji on the back.
A/N: This was a hard chapter to write. X( Enjoy!