Hey, looks like i'm back... i'm sorry, i'm really sorry for giving you short "chapter" again... but it seems that university took away any inspiration i had... sorry... but i hope, that something is better than nothing... i, for sure, have some problems with free time, 'cause university is at the first place for me... i won't abandon this story, just will publish it by smaller part and, maybe, with a bit more time between updates...

ShadowGreymon, NewFLavor4UrEars and Mike Kromer, thanks!
USAVet, as i wrote in one of previous feedbacks, chapters 1 and 2-part 1 will undergo complete revision after story is finished. that includes work spelling and grammar as well...
CrazyKidDeath, you too thanks, and... it's not a joke about Arael being called 'Angel-girl'. once i post chapter four and epilogue, there will be shown kind of reason for that... as for now... let's say it is all about Asuka being Asuka...

anyway... DISCLAIMER: still don't own "Neon Genesis Evangelion" or any of its characters...

Angels help
chapter 3: Two for one
part 2

When Shinji returned to Misato's flat, he was greeted by smell of something cooking... He was tired, both physically, from new training regime set to prepare pilots to face sixteenth angel, and mentally, from trying to solve Asuka's mysterious attitude change... But curiosity won and he looked into the kitchen... And froze... Thing he saw was nothing he could ever expect...

There was Asuka, cooking some sausages with stewed vegetables. Second Child was currently looking at range and hadn't noticed Shinji coming. Girl checked, if sausages were ready, after that she turned around and faced shocked Third Child standing in the kitchen's doorway.

"Ow, Shinji, want some?" No reaction from the boy. "Shinji!" Still no reaction... Asuka stepped towards Shinji and lightly tapped him on his shoulder. "Third!!!" Boy finally came out of his shock paralysis.

"A-Asuka... W-What?.."

"...Am i doing?" Girl smirked. "Isn't it obvious, Third? I'm cooking."

"B-But..."

"But what?!" Asuka made one step forward, Shinji almost unconsciously made one back. "If i'm not the one who does that, that doesn't mean i can't!"

"N-No."

"Good." Asuka sighed and took one step back. Shinji relaxed a bit. "So..." Boy tensed again. "Do you want some?" Second Child put her hands on her hips and leaned forward. Third Child, being intimidated, only dumbly nodded. "Good..." Asuka grabbed clean plate from sink and then went to range. "But you better like it... Shinji."

Today certainly was a day of surprises for Shinji. First, he was woken up by unusual way... After that Asuka seemed to walk closer to him on their way to school. Then Redhead was staring at him - he caught her on that several times... More than that, after his sync test Rei asked, what was going on between him and Asuka, something she never did before... And now what? Asuka cooking... And cooking pretty well...

With all of that on his mind, Shinji stayed up until around midnight, when Misato came home from her evening shift. Major noticed that lights in Shinji's room were on and went there to ask if something happened - boy never stayed up this late before...

Shinji was deep in his thoughts, when he heard knock on his door.

"Come in." Door opened, and boy saw his guardian with worried expression on her face. She walked in and closed door after that.

"Shinji-kun, are you OK? Something bothering you?"

"Yep... That's Asuka..."

"WHAT?!" Screamed Misato. But then it hit her, that it was night already and she had to keep her volume down. "She hit you? What she'd done to my little Shinji?"

"No... She did nothing, but being a bit nicer to me today... And that is exactly what makes me worried - she never was like that before."

"WHAT?!" Misato again forgot about what time it was... "What exactly happened today?"

"Mmm... First of all she tried to wake me up without yelling. Then she tried to be a bit closer to me, while we walked to school. During classes i caught her staring at me." Shinji took a breathe. "And in the evening she cooked dinner for us two."

"WHAT, ASUKA COOKING?! THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE!!!" Major yelled.

"Um... Misato-san, you shouldn't be so loud at night. People are sleeping in Tokio-3."

"Was i too loud?"

"Yeah, you were." said Shinji. "But no matter how impossible it looks, all of those i said happened today. Do you know, what is going on with Asuka?"

"I have an idea what it can be..." Misato suddenly paused for a second. "Why don't we ask her?"

"But she is sleeping."

"No." There was knock on the door. "She isn't sleeping."

"Misato! Can you be quiet?! I'm trying to sleep, by the way!" Yelled Redhead from that side of the door.

"Oh, it's you, Asuka-chan? I have a question to you."

"Then be quick i want to sleep!" Second Child was definetly not in the best mood now...

"Are you in love with Shinji-kun?"

"WHAT?!" Both Children screamed. Misato giggled. Redhead entered Shinji's room and stared at older woman as if she was insane.

"Are you drunk, Misato?" Asuka sounded furious. "Why in the hell would i fall in love with HIM?!"

'Why are you telling lies?' Second Child was asked by Arael.

'Angel-girl, i said i have a plan on this matter. It's too early to confess.' Angel hissed at her nickname by decided not to argue with Asuka.

'Then don't regret if lose him because of your plan.'

'I WILL NOT LOSE HIM TO ANYBODY!!! HE IS MY SHINJI!!!'

'OK, OK...'

"Then, i guess, i was right!" Misato giggled again. Both Shinji and Asuka looked at her with faces saying 'is she really sane?'.

"NEVER!!!" Second Child took deep breath to calm down... "Don't know about you two, but i'm goint to sleep, so BE QUIET!!!" With that Asuka left Shinji's room, not forgetting to slam the door.

"Misato-san, were you serious back there?"

"Hai. Look, Shinji-kun, it's obvious, that Asuka has feelings for you. It's just her pride that doesn't allow her to admit it."

"But still..."

"Want a bet? I was wrong, i'll do all housework for a month... But if i win, you'll pay for my beer one month. OK?"

"No!"

"Then just wait for Asuka to say those three sweet words." Misato went towards the door. "And i think, you have school tomorrow, so try to sleep." Major exited Shinji's room, leaving boy to think over even more questions about certain Redhead...

~~~***~~~

once again. i'm REALLY sorry about this "chapter" being so short... but i kinda out of inspiration... if it returns to me, i'll be back with BIG and GOOD "chapters"