MY WHITE TIGRESS

Chapter 2

by Gunman

Disclaimer: Still don't own anything.

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kopakanuvafan20: Don't worry I plan to explain what happened to the Angels in the coming chaps.

Clope023: Gendo will get what's coming to him.

Ranma hibiki: will the Angels resurface? ...maybe.

PennStGuy: Even machines need a repair once in a while.

WriteShop: Give the author a little credit, will you? It's the first chapter, so there is more to explain.

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"Do you think she's alright?" Shinji asked as he loomed over the woman.

"I believe so, Shinji-kun." Rei answered.

"Well, we'd better not take any chances."

The pair managed to haul off the older woman to their room at the hotel. After several minutes the purple-haired woman woke up.

"MARRIED?" was the first thing Misato screamed when she woke up on the bed.

"It's a long story." Shinji said as he sat in a chair next to Rei.

"Start talking, boy!" the miffed woman said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Well, after Rei and I left NERV..."

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((FLASHBACK, One Year Ago...))

Shinji and Rei woke up in the forest and hiked down to the nearest highway where they caught a ride in a truck headed away from Tokyo-3.

The driver understood their wanting to leave, not knowing the real reason of course.

It was a few hours later, around dusk, when the driver arrived at his destination: the town of Suruga on the coast, more than five hundred miles from Tokyo-3.

What's more, they had arrived during the annual week long White Lotus Festival.

"Welcome young ones!" a small older woman at a food booth caught the pair's attention. "I haven't seen you around here before. Are you here for the festival?"

"Uh, we'd like to, but we don't have that much money." Shinji stated.

The old woman laughed. "Nonsense. You must stay. No money required."

"Really?"

"Oh, yes. The Festival is one of our oldest traditions. All are welcomed, even outsiders." she grinned, not telling them the real reason for the festival. "Stay, eat and drink as much as you want. Just tell the vendors that Onicohu said that it was all right."

"Uh... thank you." Shinji said as he escorted Rei into the festival grounds.

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Rei had never seen anything like the festival.

There were dozens of booths set up, half of them food.

Fried noodles, ice candies, bean candies, chocolate banana, okonomiyaki, seafood cakes, octopus-balls, rice cake in mitarashi sauce, nerian flavor, tsubuan flavor, corn and a whole bunch of other things that Rei had never tasted or seen before.

The other booths were filled with games and trinkets and even some traditional costumes.

While Shinji tried to win something for Rei at a shooting game, Rei came to a booth that was giving away kimonos.

"Can I help you, miss?" the merchant asked.

"Yes." Rei said. "The black Kimono with the blue flowers."

The merchant looked at the rather drab kimono and then back at the girl. She looked up and down at her and then shook her head.

"It doesn't compliment your appearance." she said.

"It does not?" Rei asked.

"Not really." the woman looked around and then picked out another kimono. This one was bright red with intricately woven blue, green and gold flowers and leaves connected by vines. It had a gold sash and ribbon around the waist. "This one, I think will catch many a young man's eye."

"Really?" she asked, interested but not visibly showing it.

"Yes. Try it on." she said as she took the kimono down from the wall and handed it to Rei. "There's a changing room around back."

"Thank you." she said, accepting the garment. "But I do not have much money. Onicohu said that it was not a problem for the food for Shinji-kun and myself, but..."

"Oh, don't worry. If our village elder gave you consent, then it's on the house. Please, enjoy."

"Again, thank you." Rei said as she went to change.

So, a new prospective couple, huh Onicohu? The woman thought as a young man suddenly appeared a minute later with a stuffed penguin in his hands.

"Uh, excuse me." the boy asked. "I'm looking for a girl."

"Oh?" the woman grinned at the boy. "Just any girl or someone in particular?"

"Well, she's kinda hard to miss. She has pale skin, blue hair and red eyes."

The woman's eye widened. "You mean... her?" she asked, pointing to the side.

Shinji turned to the side and froze. Rei had emerged from the back changing room dressed in a bright red kimono that looked amazing on her. She froze when she noticed Shinji staring at her.

"Rei-chan... you look... beautiful." Shinji gasped.

Rei blushed at Shinji's honest statement.

"Shinji-kun." she said as she noticed he was holding a stuffed toy. "You have won a prize."

"Oh! Uh, I won it for you." he said as he held out the toy to her.

"For... me?" she gasped, a little overwhelmed.

"Yes, Rei-chan."

"I... thank you." she said as she accepted the toy, smiling softly. Rei had never been given anything before. No gift from the commander or anyone else. She linked arms with him and walked off.

The vendor just smiled as she watched the pair.

"Ah, young love." she sighed.

The pair walked through the festival, arm-in-arm, just admiring the sights and sounds around them. Rei barely noticed them, as she was more concentrated on Shinji and the gift he had given her.

It was close to midnight when Shinji stepped away to use the restroom. While Rei waited patiently for him, a familiar figure approached the blue-haired girl.

"Greetings child." Onicohu said.

"Elder." Rei bowed to the woman.

"Are you and your husband enjoying the festival?" she asked.

"Yes, we are enjoy..." she said, before pausing. "Did you say, 'husband'?"

"Yes." she said with a widening grin. "The White Lotus Festival is a once a year event and we use it not only for celebration, but it also doubles as a marriage ceremony."

"Marriage ceremony?" she asked, slightly confused.

"Yes. Those who come to our festival, if they are outsiders who have great affection for one another, are married in the eyes of the village."

Rei mulled that over for a few seconds. "You did not tell us about this."

"I apologize. But then again, you did not ask." she smiled wryly.

Rei wondered just how she would have come up with such a question in the first place.

"So, Shinji-kun and I, are... married?" she asked the old woman.

"Yes. For as long as you remain in our village, of course."

Rei smiled at this amazing revelation and prospect. "Of course." she said. Married, to Shinji-kun. That sounds... agreeable. More than agreeable.

"Here, child." Onicohu said as she presented Rei with a card.

Rei took the card and looked at it.

"If you are interested, present this card to the clerk at the sea-side hotel. He knows me and will give you a room for the duration of the festival." she explained. "The festival lasts until Friday."

"Thank you, elder." Rei nodded, realizing that today was Monday. Actually, it would be Tuesday in less than an hour.

"And if you will take this old woman's advice, this would be a grand opportunity to... secure your relationship with your young suitor." she smiled as she walked off.

Secure my relationship? What did she mean by that? Shinji-kun favors me alread... Rei's eyes went wide as she finally caught on. She blushed a little at that.

Shinji eventually returned to the blue-haired girl.

"Sorry it took so long, Rei-chan." Shinji as he straightened his shirt.

"It is not a problem, Shinji-kun." she said as she took his arm. "Come. I have acquired a room for us at the hotel."

"Really? How did you do that?" he asked as she lead him to the sea-side hotel.

"The village elder was most helpful."

"I see."

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The pair headed to the hotel. Rei presented the card to the desk clerk, who smiled as he read the card. He gave the pair two keys to a very nice room.

Shinji sat out on the porch of their hotel room, just admiring the view of the ocean as the moonlight showed down upon it. The room itself was like a small house, looking just like an old-style house from the Taisho Era (1912-1926 AD). It was attached to the hotel only by a walkway, possibly to create the illusion of it being a separate, private house meant for greater relaxation.

Rei came out and sat next to him.

"It's so beautiful out here." Shinji said.

"Yes, it is." Rei said as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

"Rei-chan?" he asked. "Are you alright?"

"Yes. I am."

Just then, the fireworks started. The pair just sat and watched the display of light and sound for several minutes before Rei took Shinji's hand to lead him inside their room.

"Rei-chan? Is something wrong?"

"No, Shinji-kun. I simply wished to sleep."

"Oh, alright, I..." he said, then paused as noticed Rei remove her kimono revealing her naked body. "Rei-chan!"

"Do you object to looking at my body?" she asked.

"Well, no, but isn't it..."

"Come, Shinji-kun." Rei said, taking his hand and leading him to the bed.

"Uh... shouldn't we... have separate beds?"

"I do not wish to sleep alone."

"Are you sure? I mean... it's a little..."

"What is wrong?"

"Well... isn't it a little... indecent?"

Rei looked at him. He is hesitant. He doesn't not know what we are married, and still he wishes to respect my privacy. She thought. "It is not. I am not embarrassed by this, nor am I ashamed or offended. You should not be either."

"Oh. Alright. Shouldn't you put on some clothes though?"

"I often sleep nude." she explained.

"Really?"

Rei said nothing more as she got Shinji undressed as well, down to his boxer shorts, and paused as she ran her hands across his bare chest. Amazingly he didn't fight her.

"Rei-chan?" he gasped as she touched his chest.

"You are very handsome." she said.

"Uh, thank you." he blushed.

"Do you... do you think I am pretty?"

"Of course, Rei-chan. I think you're beautiful."

Inside, she smiled at that. "Will you... kiss me?"

Shinji smiled as he held her shoulders gently, leaning in to touch his lips to hers. Rei responded by wrapping her arms around his body, enjoying the kiss and the warmth that the boy offered.

They kissed for several more minutes, standing up, until Rei maneuvered them both to the bed, her naked skin illuminated by the fireworks that flashed outside their room. She laid Shinji on the bed as Rei mounted him, sitting on his stomach and gently running her hand over his chest.

"Rei-chan!" he gasped at her sensitive touch.

"Do you... love me, Shinji-kun?" she asked, leaning forward to stare face-to-face with him.

"Why do you ask, Rei-chan?"

"I wish to know. Because of the emotions you have awoken in me." she explained.

Shinji sighed in full understanding. He looked Rei in the eyes as he pulled her to him in a warm hug. Steeling his nerves, Shinji replied.

"Rei-chan, if there was a girl I could fall for and be happy with, it would be you." he said. "So, if I have to answer you right now... then yes, I do love you."

Rei smiled as she enjoyed his embrace.

"Thank you, my husband." she whispered.

"You're welcome..." he froze as her word registered in his mind. "Did you just say husband?"

"Yes." she said with a smile as he turned to look at her.

"Uh..." he said with confusion.

"Do you not like that title?"

"Well... hearing it from you, it's kind of nice, but why would you call me that? We're not married."

"Actually, we are." she said with a mild hint of worry.

Worry, because she had not told him this before hand.

"What?" he asked.

Rei spent the next couple of minutes explaining the situation to Shinji.

After she had told him...

"So... because everyone at this festival thinks we're a couple, and because of their festival tradition and all... they think we're married?"

"Yes."

Shinji just stared at the nude girl in his arms, the fireworks giving her an on-again, off-again glow.

"Shinji-kun, are you... alright?" she asked.

Married to Rei Ayanami. Shinji smiled. "And... this is what you want?" he asked.

"Yes." Rei replied.

A swell of pride beamed through her, as she knew that this was her decision.

Shinji smiled at the girl, touching her face and giving her a lite kiss on the mouth.

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Morning came and shown through the window, warming the sleeping teenagers as they remained wrapped in each others arms.

The light caught Shinji's eyes first, the lids fluttering open to focus on the lovely young woman in his arms.

"Good morning... Rei-chan." he whispered softly to her.

"Mmm. Shinji... kun..." she whispered softly as she snuggled closer to the boy.

Shinji continued to stare at the girl, just thinking about what had happened.

Last night, Rei had told him that they were married in the eyes of the village. He wanted to laugh at that, as he and Rei had never officially been boyfriend and girlfriend. Despite their kissing and such. But that also got him to thinking... if they were married in the eyes of the village, would they have to stay here as well?

Then again, that didn't seem so bad either.

The people here seemed good and kind, accepting of strangers, and didn't judge them like so many other people would have.

Actually only Asuka, his father, and maybe Ritsuko would have judged them. Others like Misato, Toji and Kensuke would have teased them.

The pair eventually got up and headed out to see about breakfast. As they did, they encountered a familiar, wrinkled face.

"Good morning, you two." Onicohu smiled.

"Good morning, elder." Rei said.

"Good morning." Shinji bowed.

"Would you care for some breakfast?"

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Shinji and Rei joined the elder for breakfast, and as they did she told them about how the White Lotus Festival came to be.

The Festival was apparently an ancient one, going back to the days of the Warring States Era. But it had not been celebrated for many years. When Second Impact occurred, more than half of the villages population lost their lives. In an effort to revitalize their lost population, they reinstated the White Lotus Festivals's marriage ritual. Every year since they had at least two or three new couples come and marry. Young couples such as Shinji and Rei were especially welcome, as they were so young and had many years ahead of them.

When Shinji and Rei heard this, they had to agree that it made a lot of sense.

But there was still one thing that was bugging Rei. She turned to Shinji and tugged on his sleeve.

"Shinji-kun?"

"Yes, Rei-chan?"

"I wish to take your name."

The boy balked and nearly spit out his bacon as she said that. "You... want my name?" he asked.

Considering his association with Gendo Ikari, he wondered if that was a good idea. Especially since in Japanese custom, the man usually took the woman's name when they got married.

"Yes." she said.

"And you really want to be married to me?" he asked.

"I would not have said anything if I did not." she replied.

Shinji smiled as he leaned in closer and kissed the blue haired girl on the cheek.

The elder smiled at this. After breakfast she escorted the pair to the town's temple.

At noon, both Shinji and Rei were married by Onicohu, who was dressed in formal ceremonial garbs, signing their names to the registry, which also made them members of the village itself.

Onicohu also offered to find them jobs in their village.

"You may now kiss your bride." The elderly woman said to the young pair.

Shinji turned towards Rei. Rei turned towards Shinji.

They stared at each other for a couple seconds, smiling, as they leaned in and sealed their marriage.

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Author's Notes:

I know, it's been a long, long time since I updated this story. I hadn't really thought about it before, I just started it and stopped going when other projects came up.

Hope everyone leaves me a review of this story and will keep dropping me suggestions for this and other stories.