Lets just say that on top of Chapter 9, I have another 13K of Roleplay to convert into plot. Hope you enjoy this. Unfortunately the RP partner has had a lot of RL troubles and the Roleplay has stalled a lot, Hopefully by the time I get to the next few chapters released we'll be back to RP'ing. He is a great roleplayer and I miss him.

Evening Out

Kaji could tell something was wrong with Asuka. She was not just being playful when she wanted him to join her in the shower or to help her dress. Her mind is not letting her control her arm. Could it be an affect from the Evangelion and the battle she fought earlier? Something might be affecting the nervous system. It will be something he will report in shortly hoping the damage only temporary. He did not know how much more of N.E.R.V. she could handle this day especially how it has all played out.

Taking Asuka into the world. The world she is bound to save, the world she looks upon as being so foreign. Pulling into a parking spot Kaji turned off his car and made his way around to get her door. He enjoyed treating Asuka with special care and this meal together is to reinforce her feeling not only for him but the world.

The streets did refill and life for millions moved forward as they have after many conflicts in the history of Berlin. The scream alarmed Kaji as his gaze quickly searched the area and then looked to Asuka. There she was now scared and embarrassed. Kaji shook his head as he cupped the left side of her cheek in his right hand and spoke in a calm tone.

"Asuka, you are here with me. You are safe. Let us go and get you a new dress at the shop. My treat."

The look of fright upon her face sadden Kaji but he was not going to show it. Not now. Not when she needs him to be the calm suave guy she loves. Taking her to the dress shop up the street from the cafe he lead her inside his finger still petting her cheek trying to give her comfort.

"Hello, I am in need of a dress to fit my lovely lady here. She has had a long day." Kaji then gave her size to the elder woman behind the counter as he lead Asuka into the bathroom where he closed the door behind them getting some towels and soaping them up.

"Asuka, we will need to have you speak to the doctor about the arm and this fear. You do not need to fear however. We all know you are brave." Cleaning her up he washed her legs after peeling off her socks and shoes.

Asuka had stayed near him the entire time, she did not say anything when he spoke and offered to take her to get a dress. She nodded slowly and when taken to the bathroom, she bit her lip; obviously she was trying not to be upset and it was hard for her not to be.

"I... I am not scared..." she mumbled quietly, looking away as he cleaned her up like some... child. "And I'm not speaking to a doctor. They will stop me from going out, make me take drugs again, like they did before the EVA project; I had to stop taking them because if affected my sync rate" she admitted and sighed.

A minute passed and knock sounded at the door and Kaji slide his credit card under the door. "Also a nice pair of sandal. This is a date night. Thank you." Hearing the woman call the new dress is hanging outside the door Kaji smiled and pulled Asuka in for a tender kiss. "I am here for you. Let us go out on this date and fear not."

When she was cleaned up and dressed. Asuka stared at herself in the mirror and smiled nervously to herself. He picked a nice dress.

"I would like to go out on this date with you" she nodded to him and bit her lip as she walked with him, making sure to use her left hand; trying her best to make it grip his hand with some tightness to show she did not need a doctor but it was clear she did.

Arriving at the local diner they where going to enjoy a meal together Kaji smiled, his hand holding hers as he lifted it to his lips kissing softly.

"I hope you enjoy some Texan Style food." Opening the door to the establishment Kaji escorted Asuka in like a lady should be. Giving a wave to the waiter they are quickly sat. Kaji knew a few contacts here and there so getting reservations at a place like this was of little effort.

As they are seated he waits for Asuka to be seated first before sitting at her side smiling softly as he speaks confidently.

"You look stunning. Even if you are so troubled my dear." Kaji knew she was trying to hide her physical distress from him as well as her mental trauma. She was still developing who she is to become in the world. He knew the Angels would not come forever and she would thrive in the world atop a platform leading by example. Still every great leader is drowned in sorrows and mistakes that has left scars upon the very soul.

Soon the waiter arrived and Kaji gave his order then looked to Asuka for her to order her own and he sat there with her in quiet. He was giving her the company she seeks from him and the silent friendship only someone who knows ones deepest secrets. It was his job to know such things in the world of secrets and darkness he hopes never to let Asuka witness outside her duty as a protector of mankind.

At diner, she held onto her knife loosely, it fell out of her grip several times and she couldn't cut her meal, however this didn't stop her trying, she kept on attempting until she threw the knife away in rage, swearing so profusely in German that a couple a few tables over stared at them with agape mouths

As dinner went forward Kaji could see the struggles Asuka had with her meal but he knew if he helped it would injure her pride and he knew she was proud event to a fault at times. When she snapped Kaji quickly moved to capture her lips with his own kissing her even if she wished to continue in anger his right hand waving off the spectators. They knew not her troubles after all.

Giving a moment for the fiery redhead to calm down he broke the kiss from her lips as his hand was placed firmly upon her breast over her heart. "Asuka, my dear. I am here there is no reason to worry." Leaning in close to her right ear he whispered. "Let me help you, let us figure out to fix this. I do not want to see you in fear. In sadness. You are a fine young woman with much to do in this world. Trust me to protect you from the doctors who would do other then help you as you protect me from the angels who would destroy me."

Placing a small peck right below her earlobe as he sat back up his knife coming over to cut her steak for her with a smile upon his lips as he still leaned in close knowing she needed him like this in this time. He only hopes he can help her recover from this set back and she can continue being the proud warrior princess she is.

As he kissed her, it did shut her up from swearing, and looking down at the table as he cut her steak for her, she let him do it without saying anything; just being near him was enough.

Kissing his lip back as he finished cutting it up, she smiled softly as she ate with her fork. She did not get herself as drunk as their last date, she drank a little and kept close to him

"Thank you Kaji… for… earlier…" she whispered quietly. "I'm… I'm fine… about the Angel. I… I wasn't scared at all." She lied, she wasn't fine and she had been scared. "It just… hurt my arm" she sighed and held her left arm in her hand, tightening her hand around it but felt nothing. "Its like it doesn't exist "

"Are you sure? I feel something different watching you, Asuka. It is not weakness to speak of fear and pain. Your sync told you you lost your arm and your mind reacted. I watched the monitors as I watched you be the hero you are." Kaji spoke calmly as he leaned forward his elbows on the table as he looked deep into her eyes scruffy chin resting upon his hands. "Or you just want me to grow old and wither away in worry."

She sat with him, eating quietly as he looked and spoke to her. "I… I'm fine." she lied, looking down at her hand as she continued to try and open and close her hand on her lap.

"I'm not a hero" she whispered quietly. "I'm just a kid they found could connect with an EVA, sure, I've been bred by my family to be the best, but then what am I? Just an experiment? I didn't even know who my father was, my genes are from some unknown perfect specimen" she sighed quietly and looked away.

Rising from his seat Kaji waved to the waiter for the check. It seemed his lady scared the man off with the recent outburst. Kaji's little fiery redhead can bring the fear in man as well as the enemy she fight in battle. He is very proud of her but it hurts him deeply that she would hide things from him even if it is almost plain as day that she is in physical and mental distress.

"Here you go, Mr. Ryoji." The waiter spoke up him looking to Asuka as he spoke and with Kaji placing the cash upon the plate with the tip the waiter took his leave. "Thank you for coming in tonight. Please enjoy your evening."

Kaji smiled and gave a nod as he reached a hand to Asuka, "We will, thank you." Kaji looked back to Asuka.

"Are you ready my dear? We could still catch the meteor shower and the light of the light of Venus shines upon the world." Kaji was a man who enjoyed natures wonders even if not many people knew about his garden and star gazing. It might be a gentle shift for them both from the steel and danger of the world they live to see something much calmer and different. Besides he needed to do some watering and Asuka might enjoy his apartment due to the lack of camera's and sensors watching his and now her every movement.

She stayed quiet as the waiter brought the check and then nodded when he asked if she was ready to go, and to maybe watch a meteor shower. She'd never seen one before.

"Lets go" she nodded and stood up slowly, making sure her left arm was safe at her side.

Leaving the diner, she stayed close to Kaji, walking slowly and keeping her head down, she cuddled close to him, making slight jumps at loud sudden noises, but this time she didn't urinate herself