Queen and King of the Ice

Later that day Kaji was standing next to a pay phone. "Yea, the test are going well. The pilot is proving to be more capable with each test." A voice responded over the phone and then silence.

Hanging up the phone Kaji shook his head and made his way down the street. There had to be some place good to have a drink and a meal in Berlin.

Feeling the vibration in his pocket he pulled his cell phone. "Hello..."

"Kaji!" her excited voice came down the microphone. "Its me!" she said as if that was the only thing that was needed, in fact it probably was with the amount of times she called, text and messaged him. It was a rather overly cute crush but could be overbearing a lot of the time.

"I'm getting stirr crazy in the house, do you want to come over for food? I.. can put some things in the oven for us?" she asked, as if asking him out on a date.

His name being called out over the phone he pulled the phone from his ear for a moment before shaking his head with a smile upon his lips.

"Hello there, Dinner sounds fine Asuka. I will make my way over." Kaji knew she enjoyed his company and wanted to keep her spirits high.

"Also if you want to get out of the house there is a skate station having a lock in this evening." Kaji paused. "We can get you into the world so you can enjoy the world you are training to protect."

"Ice skating?" she asked as her eyes widened, How romantic! That would be so amazing to go with Kaji.

"Sure. We can do that. They barely let me out of my room never mind the facility" she chuckled softly. "We can make it a date! We can go out for ice skating then dinner!"

"I am alright with that." Kaji replied knowing that as she got further into development of the Eva project the less time to see the world. He knew of her past and it had been harsh. If he could let her see things in a better light she might be able to get over her past and live for the future. "See you shortly."

"See you!" she hung up the phone and let out a loud squeal. "I'm on a date with Kaji!" She repeated as she danced around, before rushing to find a nice dress to wear.

Kaji took a small bit of time as he walked across town to pick up Asuka to escort to the Skate Station. Within his right hand is a pair of red and black skate's matching her plug suit in his grasp. Shopping was so much easier with the Internet when it comes to custom pieces. He was a gift giver because he enjoyed life. Standing before the door he was getting ready to knock but the door opened and she was ready for the night.

When she opened her apartment door to him, she was wearing a dark blood red strapless dress which fit to her still young yet womanly body. She was indeed growing up fast.

On top of her head, holding her hair into its long draped style, were her EVA Interface headset which she used them as hair clips most of the time.

"Hello there. You look like you are ready and here is something to get you going." Kaji handed off the Skate's before looking over at the city. "I hope you enjoy the night, Asuka. This one is for you."

"Oh I am ready to go!" She grinned wide and then saw the skates. "Oh my, these for me?!" she inspected them closer and grinned so much that her cheeks hurt. "Kaji! You're the best" she hugged him tight and then took his hand quickly and began to walk along side him.

To other's it would like a daddy-daughter time but to Asuka, it was a man-woman date.

As they arrived to the skate station Kaji gave a bright smile. "Alright, you know this is one of the best places to meet people of your generation. I have been known to bust my bottom on the ice from time to time in my youth so have no fear." Opening the door for Asuka, Kaji awaited her to enter the place. The lights where dimmed and the current popular music playing in the back ground.

She put on the skates and slowly began to make her way onto the ice; she seemed rather nervous on her skates and held onto the bar a lot. Could it be possible that the 'great and intelligent' Asuka.. couldn't skate?

"Why would I want to meet people my age? Their stup..." she stopped herself before she showed her 'other side' to Saji

Asuka was showing her determination and bravery like she always did when a challenge come before her. Listening to her stammer he smiled and watched as she come back around to him. She was doing well and as her eyes turned to look upon him he reached his right hand out for her as encouragement.

Kaji took a seat watching Asuka as she got onto the ice. She did not seem so confident at the moment so he pulled off his shoes and pulled on some footings to aide him on the ice to walk about. He was not one to skate anymore but he was not going to leave her on the ice to be in fear and uncertainty.

"Now Now, you are over thinking it. Lead with your toes and brake with your heals." Kaji slide upon the ice a little as he made his way to the bar standing aside her. A kind smile as he continued.

"I am here so do not fear the unknown. We all fall from time to time that's why we have friends to pick us up."

"You must be a really good skater then?" she asked as she moved slowly on the ice, embarrassingly blushing as she stayed close to the side, not letting go of the side. When he came over and took her hands, leading her into the ice, she grabbed onto his arms for dear life and looked almost scared.

"I.. I know.. I can do this... I'm not scared..." she stammered as she attempted to skate. "I never fall. I'm perfect. Always have been. Been from birth" She was concentrating on her feet but looked up to him and stared at him in the dim light; he was holding her hands, looking at her with that look. She turned dark red. Slowly moving closer, she could do it! She could kiss him right now.. she could..

CRACK

Asuka fell face first onto the ice as she'd leaned too much on one foot and it had slipped from under her. The hit was so loud several people turned to face and see what had happened.

Asuka immediately began to cry, she was only 14 after all, she tried to stop herself from crying.

Saji watched the crashing and burning as he has done a few times in his own youth. She lost her concentration and her tears caused him to sigh as he closed the gap hearing her cry. For his kindness he had only embarrassed her more on the ice. His hand reached down to caress her cheek and with his thumb wipe away the tear as the other come to wipe the blood from her lips and nose.

"I.. I.. I'm fine! I.. " she wasn't. blood was already dribbling down from her bust nose, bust lip and the gash across her forehead.

"You are fine. You just feel a little. Let us take a look at you and if you want we can return to the ice." Waving away the skate station medic Kaji stood and pulled Asuka up into his arms and carried her from the ice. He knew she did not want any of them looking at her in this state and luckily in his line of work he always has a small first aid kit just in case of personal injury.

Just being touched by him seemed to stop the tears. She was picked up and carried away to the seating in perfect silence; arms wrapped around his neck in princess style.

Sitting her upon the table he gives a bright smile. "Now lets take a look here."

Rubbing her nose with the back of her hand, she let him deal with the bloodied nose, lip and the large gash on her forehead. It wasn't serious and wouldn't need stitches but would hurt like hell once the shock of the impact was taken out of her.

"Thank you Kaji" she whispered quietly

"No problem. Next time we fall on the ice trying landing on your butt." Kaji replied with a joking tone as he was patching her up and cleaning her wounds.

"That's why we have padding down there." He was just glad she is alright after all he asked permission to take her from the place she had been captured in like a prisoner and not a place where she was to be the hero. Putting the bandage upon her forehead he tilted his head as he made sure it was straight.

"There we go. Sorry about that Asuka. You will get the ice skating down in time." Leaning his forehead to her own for a moment before leaning back on the bench to sit up straight. "Slippery surfaces are conditions you will be trained on for sure."

"Its not your fault Kaji" she smiled softly and touched the wound gingerly. "I.. I want to do it again" She told him nervously, standing up and looking to the Ice, she was obviously nervous about it.

"Well if you feel the need to go ahead. I will come with you and we can beat this together." Kaji remarked as he watched the redhead make her way to the ice. He was impressed with her fortitude when it come to wanting to forge on and get to the ice. Pain normally scares people from retrying from a failed attempt. Keeping pace he followed her onto the ice him holding his left hand her direction if she wanted his help he was there until she got her feet ready.

"I don't need to beat it, its already below me" she smirked with the assured Asuka patent smile. She began to make her way out onto the ice again, shaking occasionally as she had to hold onto him. but she began to keep it up.

She nervously made her way towards the ice and put her hand on the barrier as she began to get back on. It was true that she never gave up

Upon the ice Kaji looked up to the ceiling above them as they slowly worked a path across the ice. He could feel Asuka grasping and holding him close as if he gave her comfort on the ice. Giving a smile he did not say anything but kept an eye on her so she could enjoy the night even though he would have had her mingle with the other teens.

After about two hours, she was holding close to him, almost like a slow dance. Blushing again, she made sure to concentrate on her feet but it was hard with him so close. That was when her stomach growled so loud even he would hear it over the music. As the time past he could hear her call for food not from her lips but from her stomach. Giving a small laugh in reply to the sound, He aided her from the ice and onto the floor.

"I loved dancing with you on the ice Kaji" she grinned up at him, eyes adoring him and not realising that her love for him was almost childish in nature; that he was an adult and would have no time for her love; a child's love.

"Well, now that was eventful. What should we grab to eat? Do you enjoy anything in particular?" Kaji knew this place had only a selected handful of food items. He did know of a few restaurants in the local area that he could treat her at.

"There are a few restaurants but I'd like to go where you like to go" she smiled and turned, taking his hand and skating along the ice slowly with him to the exit. She put her hand to her head as she felt the pain return for a moment, but she had taken some pain killers so would be fine for a while

"Alright, then. We should try some food from the orient. Soon we will be heading that way you know." Kaji replied with a smile as he kicked his shoes onto his feet. He knelt down and aided Asuka out of her skates one by one before sliding her shoes upon her feet.