I will try to keep spelling errors down to a minimum for all readers. That always seems to be a problem, as I type quite quickly. I will try and put in at least 2-3 new chapters before Dec. 14, when I have to leave my college for Christmas break, when I have a month off.

Shinji got up out of bed and stretched his muscles. He performed a few katas to get the kinks out. Straight kicks, roundhouses, grounded strikes. His reaction time since he made contact with that...consciousness inside of his EVA during the engagement with the Fifth Angel several weeks ago seemed to be dramatically improved, along with many of his other skills. His vision for example, seemed sharper than it had ever been in his life. Shinji vaguely remembered being...blinded by the Angel's energy attacks. The disorientation, the fear, the sheer surprise of the turn of events had opened up...something in the EVA. Something that had come back with him to the real world. There was still this overwhelming sense of familiarity with...whoever she was. It seemed vitally important that he remember who this woman was, and what she meant to him. But whenever he tried, he kept drawing a blank, a complete zero. This whole situation, and especially how it was connected to Rei Ayanami, was something that Shinji would have to make a priority.

Rei herself seemed a priority to him for some reason. Getting close to her, knowing her better, also seemed like something he was...driven to do.

Then there was Asuka.

She had started school in Tokyo-3 several days ago, and made a definite impression. Shinji thought that impression was similar to the one a bomb made after it impacted. Practically every male, and some of the females, were drooling over her. She had...to say that her personality was domineering was to put it lightly. She quickly became attached with Hikari, the class represenative, and now they went everywhere together.

But beyond this, she seemed fixated on butting heads with Shinji. The fact that he would not bend to her will like so many others seemed to irk her into a perpetual red haze. It did seem quite easy for him to stay out of her gravitational pull. They would constantly bump into each other in the hallways in school, and several physcical encounters had been forcibly averted by the intervention of Hikari or Toji and Kensuke. But...something seemed determined to happen. The both of them knew it. There was something there, definitely physical. Which way it would go, positive or negative, seemed up to fate.

Shinji got out of his room and showered. He then dressed for school and then began breakfast in the kitchen. He put out a plate of fish for Pen Pen, and began cooking for Misato and himself. Several minutes later, Misato walked into the kitchen, dressed in only a tank top and underwear. Under other circumstances, the two of them would have been uncomfortable with their living arrangements, a beautiful drunk and a juvenile in his hormonal prime living under one roof. But somehow, things were kept under control, and their relationship was friendly, even slightly familial.

Shinji put a plate in front of her and opened the fridge and pulled out a beer, which he also placed in front of her. She seemed to perk up once she began drinking up. She then dug into her food.

"So," she said, talking while she ate. "How are things at school?"

"School's..school. You know? Stupid shit, day in, day out. It's more fun hanging out with my friends. And Asuka is taking over the school. Beyond that, things are going fine."

"Taking over the school? Explain yourself."

"The girl definitely makes an impression. But I'm the only one, besides Ayanami who sees that that impression is not a good one. Everyone seems to be under her...spell, hanging onto her. She tried that with Ayanami a couple of days ago, and became quite violent when Ayanami was not immediately impressed, or cared at all. Since then, Asuka keeps calling rei 'Wondergirl'. I can tell Rei doesn't like that."

"Ohh. How can you tell what Rei likes and dislikes?"

"I can read people. I think there's definitely more to her than she lets on."

"Just wharever you do, be careful. The Commander is extremely protective of that girl. Keep things PG-13 with her."

"The Commander, you say? Now I have to do it."

"Do what?"

"You'll see."

Somehow, everyone got through the first half of the school day and made it to lunch. Everyone was quickly out of their classrooms and in the cafeteria and outside areas, enjoying the sunshine. As usual, Rei was sitting in a dark corner of the cafeteria, eating plain ramen in a cup. She looked up as Shinji approached.

"Ikari."

"How's things, Rei?"

"I am...healthy. Beyond that, nothing worth reporting."

"Cool...cool. Look, do you want to eat with us? I mean me and Toji and Kensuke? We always hang out under that big apple tree on the hill during lunch?"

"Why? And what do you do?"

"It's...relaxing, alright? And we don't do anything. We just eat and stare at the sky. There are worse ways to kill time."

"Why ask me?'

"Why not ask you? It's important, so I'm asking."

"Important? Me? Why do you care?"

'I care becaue Man was not meant to eat bland ramen in a dark cafeteria. You know you're the only one in here? Everyone else is outside."

"Yes, I know. I dislike crowds."

"It won't be a crowd. It'll be four people, including you. Can you do that?"

"I...can. But why me?"

"Let's say I like the fact that you can think for yourself. Asuka does'nt like that, but I do."

"Think for myself...?"

"Are you all right? You zoned out there for a second."

"I..am fine. Thank you. That was...kind of you to say. Interactions with the Second Child have been...difficult, to say the least."

"I think difficult is just the way she likes it. Come on, you coming or not?"

"You've brought a guest, Shinji."

"Yes, I did, Toji. Nothing has changed. Business as usual. You can relax. You too, Kensuke. Rei, just take a seat anywhere."

Rei sat beneath the tall apple tree on the hill overlooking the school. Down below, everyone was hanging out in the yard, the roof of the school, smoking, playing, being nonchalant.

The shade beneath the tree was cool, pleasing to Rei. sitting outside was not something Rei would have done on her own, neither was sitting with others. Shinji seemed similar to asuka, with a force of personality. Perhaps that was why the two of then clashed so often. Two strong wills like theirs would be in constant conflict. But Shinji did not use his personality like Asuka did, as a bludgeon to beat others with. Perhaps this waas why she agreed to come with him.

Suddenly, the mood seemed to darken, as Asuka approached them, followed by Hikari. Rei noticed that everyone outside stopped what they were doing to watch what was going to happen.

Shinji got up from lying on the grass. He met Asuka's stare. "You want something?"

"I'm not here for you, Third. I'm here for him." Kensuke cringed as Asuka pointed at him.

"What-What did I do?"

"You know what you did, you little four-eyed fucker. Selling pictures of me to the whole school! I had to kick quite a few asses to find out it was you, but you and I are going to settle up, baka."

"So what?" Shinji asked.

"So what?" Asuka raged. "I want al least half of the money you made off me, you little fuck wad. Consider it...a delay on an ass kicking."

"You know, if you're going to shake him down, at least say that you're going to do so."

"I'm not shaking him down! He crossed me, now he has to pay the price."

"He's not paying you a goddammed thing."

"What did you say, Third?!"

"He's not paying you a goddamm thing. No one's getting hurt by this. Kensuke, let me see your pictures." Kensuke opened his school bag and handed Shinji several packets of pictures. Shinji spent several minutes examining them.

"I don't see anything wrong with them. The most anyone can see of you is a little leg when you're in your volleyball uniform."

"I don't care! You're giving up those pictures, and I'm getting that money!"

"You know what, Kensuke? She's getting upset over the pictures. Tell you what. I'll buy the rest of them from you, Kensuke. She doesn't want them distributed, The rest will be in safe hands with me."

Money exchanged hands, and Shinji bought 274 pictures, along with all of Kensuke's negatives.

"There. You happy now?"

"Now give them to me! They're mine!"

"Yours? I bought them. They're mine, free and clear. Hey. Hey! No snatching!"

Asuka was grabbing at Shinji's hands, trying to get the photos away from him. Shinji placed her in another arm lock. This really set her off. Asuka began screaming and kicking. She finally broke free by headbutting Shinji in the mouth.

Shinji wiped the blood from his split lip. "I was trying to be nice, but maybe you need something more...drastic. Something more...profitable." Shinji took the packets of photos and began walking down the hill towards the school yard. Toji went up to say something to him, but Shinji waved him away. Rei watched as a large group of students gathered around Shinji. A great deal of yelling and clamoring could be heard.

Asuka was...floored, to say the least. "He-he would'nt...!" A degree of shock was in her voice and she slid to her knees on the grass. Hikari tried to get her standing, but Asuka was nonresponsive. Kensuke and Toji seemed to grasp what Shinji was doing. Rei saw a slim look of awe on their faces.

After ten minutes, the crowd dispersed, and Shinji walked back up the hill, sans pictures. He took out a wad of money from his pocket and counted. "I made back all I paid you for those pictures, Kensuke, and a little extra. What's wrong?" Shinji looked at Asuka, who seemed unresponsive. She was just staring at him, mouth trying to move, but no words coming out.

"Close your mouth at least, Asuka." Shinji said, a cold feeling suffusing him. "You look like a fish."

"How could you do that?!" Hikari screamed at him. "How could you be so...cold?!"

Shinji looked at his hand. It was slightly shaking. "I..don't know." Shinji walked over at Asuka and stooped down. He waved his fingers in front of her eyes. She was barely tracking him. He snapped his fingers. No response.

"I think I broke her. Wow. Ayanami, can you come here, please?" Rei got up from her seat and stood next to Shinji.

"I think Asuka has realized that no matter how hard you are, they're always someone harder. She came at me, I came back at her. The way I did it, that she didn't expect."

Shinji turned around and walked back to where he had been sitting previously. Turning his back on Asuka, he was the only one who didn't notice Asuka stand up. Her expression was barely readable, but her eyes were slitted and narrowed. Shinji turned around, seeing everyone else backing away. Even Ayanami stepped clear.

Asuka sprang at him, like a tiger, murder in her eyes.