Here we go, second chapter, second day. Plenty more days to go until this is done (and till the romance gets more interesting), but there is a possibility there wont be a chapter tomorrow as I'm gonna be in LA for a bit tomorrow. If that happens, expect a double post on Monday.

It was early that morning when Shinji and Asuka woke up at about the same time. Shinji made breakfast that morning as he usually did, and they left at about nine.

They had broached the subject when Misato had come home last night but had to stay up after midnight before they could talk to her. Even so, it seemed that much of what they told her went over her head. Shinji couldn't tell how she had taken the news, if she had even heard them, but hoped that she wouldn't be too crestfallen.

Locking up the apartment as they left, Shinji and Asuka walked down the winding staircase that led to the bottom of the apartment complex. Neither of them could drive yet, so they were forced to take the bus. The college itself was about twenty minutes away from Misato's apartment, so it wasn't as though they couldn't visit her on weekends.

"Any idea what kind of apartment you want?" asked Shinji as they waited for the bus.

"A one bedroom should be fine," said Asuka. "I don't think I would need anything other than that."

Asuka glanced sideways at Shinji as he said this, wondering if the thought of a two bedroom was still on his mind.

"Probably," said Shinji. "Its not like either of us own much stuff to begin with.

Shinji was a prime example of this, having been shuffled around by his father most of his life, but Asuka had slowly started getting rid of things she no longer needed as she got older.

The bus pulled up alongside them then and together they got on. The ride was uneventful for the most part, and hardly anybody was even on it, which was unusual for Tokyo-3. Shinji was rather glad for this, as he knew predators used buses as a mean to prey on woman. Asuka was usually oblivious to this however, and Shinji had once or twice gotten a bad feeling from certain guys. Thing is, he was sure that if they did try something to Asuka, they would have gotten the shit beat out of them, and not by Shinji. Asuka had taken combat training classes in Germany before she arrived in Tokyo-3, and she could easily take of herself.

Today, Asuka was sporting simple jeans and a faded blue t-shirt with her hair was tied behind her in a ponytail. She had stopped wearing her A10 nerve receptors at one point, but Shinji knew she still kept them somewhere in her room as a memento of her time spent as a pilot. Shinji himself hadn't wanted anything to remember about his time at Nerv, so he had asked Misato to get rid of his plug suit and all the accessories.

They sat next to each other, their arms bumping into each other. Shinji kept on stealing sideways glances at Asuka. Shinji had to admit, that Asuka was incredibly beautiful, and he was often ridiculed by the other guys in his class about not creating an opportunity at some point. Shinji had ignored these for the most part, knowing that Asuka had to deal with similar things, but the thought still existed, even if he tried to reject it. It disgusted him to a certain point, but he was in the midst of puberty, so some urges were expected. He wondered what Asuka truthfully thought about him sometimes, though knowing that her feelings were even more sealed off than his own.

Asuka never tried to look good, but she didn't have to put much effort into this in the first place. It was something that just came naturally for her. Her personality had improved, but she was still warrant to bite back and some of the more stubborn guys that tried dating her. Though she had said it before, Shinji was surprised when she had told him that she felt most relaxed around him. He wasn't sure if this was because she knew he would never do something to her, or if she just trusted him.

They stopped as they reached there destination, but they still had to walk several blocks until they could reach the apartment complex. The apartment wasn't far from the college, so it had been Shinji and Asuka's first choice in looking for a place to live.

By comparison, it was smaller than Misato's, but it was a nicer complex since it had been built after Third Impact.

Walking towards the main office, Shinji opened the door and followed Asuka through it. The realtor greeted them warmheartedly and asked them-

"You two looking for an apartment?"

"Yeah," said Shinji.

"College students?" she asked.

"Yes," nodded Asuka.

"Great," she said as she clapped her hands together. "We have a large spacious one bedroom that I can show you two if you're interested."

"Umm...we were thinking about separate apartments actually," started Asuka before Shinji had a chance to chime.

The realtor quickly corrected her mistake in assuming they were a college couple and wanted a single bedroom. After make up that mistake, the realtor directed them to two second floor apartments. She asked them if they wanted adjacent buildings, and Shinji and Asuka were able to agree on that.

They climbed the stairs and the realtor showed them both buildings, each the exact same as the previous. They would have to get furnishings for them, but that wouldn't be a problem for them. Asuka had a little more money than Shinji, but even Shinji should have enough to get a few things.

The realtor left them alone for a while as they sat in what could eventually be Shinji's apartment.

"What do you think of this place?" asked Asuka.

"It seems fine enough. The layout isn't much different than Misato's apartment, just the fact that it lacks two other bedrooms, and it is slightly more larger."

"Should we sign the contract then."

Though Asuka had meant separately, Shinji almost took it the opposite way, confused over her wording. Still though, it seemed a bit earlier to make a decision. There were several other complex's that they had decided to check out before making a decision.

"Maybe," said Shinji eventually. "But I think we should look at some of the others. The price is reasonable here, and it is undeniably cheaper than the dormitories that the college has to offer. Still, we may find something better."

"Okay," said Asuka as she stood up and stretched.

As she did so though, Shinji had a question for her.

"Asuka, how do you feel about living on your own now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you tried this before, and...things didn't go as you had intended."

Asuka frowned at him, but for once, she had to agree with Shinji.

"True, it wasn't like I had imagined, but I think that was because I was too young then. With college and all, it just seems assumed that I'd be moving out of Misato's apartment and starting my own life. I'm older now, and can make my own decision better than when I was young. I always strived to be as adult like as possible, but in truth, I was still very much a kid. I realized that when I tried to live on my own. Now though...well, I hope things will be different."

Shinji was surprised at how truthful Asuka was here, and it showed on his face.

"And besides," continued Asuka, "we'll likely be living directly next to each other, so its not as though things are changing entirely.

Shinji had thought about this, but wondered if Asuka had noticed as well. When the realtor asked if they wanted apartments next to each other, both him and Asuka had agreed with hardly any discussion. It was almost as though that had already been predetermined.

"True," said Shinji with a slight nod.

They left the complex, talking to the realtor as they left and telling her they would call if they decided on an apartment.

They spent the next few hours walking to the other apartments and looking at them. For the most part, they were much the same as the first, though some were more expensive. Neither of them had much of an opinion on these next few, so they called it quits for the day as evening was starting to settle.

Arriving back at there current apartment, Shinji was fishing the key out of his pocket as the door opened and Misato was surprisingly standing there.

"Uh...Misato? What are you doing back so early?"

"I got time off so I could talk to you about what you said last night."

"So you did hear us?"

"Yes, I did," stated Misato.

Shinji wasn't sure why, but by the tone of her voice, she didn't seem pleased, or maybe it was skeptical.

"And I want to talk to you about it," she finished.

Asuka and Shinji glanced at each other, but walked into the apartment wordlessly.

They all sat down at the kitchen table, and Misato started.

"Did you find yourself an apartment you two?"

"Not yet," said Shinji.

"And we aren't living together," mumbled Asuka.

She seemed to have diminished slightly under Misato's watchful gaze.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Misato, we're old enough now to make our own decisions," said Shinji firmly. "Not to mention I'm almost eighteen."

Misato frowned at them, but eventually sighed and said, "We'll if this is what you two want. Though I suppose I should help you move. How many complex's did you check out?"

"A few," said Asuka, "all of which were the same more or less."

"Hmmm...well, let me know when you make a decision. I'll manage to get time off to help with the moving. On another note though, Shinji?"

Misato turned towards him as she said this, and Shinji at first thought he was in trouble and she next asked-

"Do you want anything in particular for your birthday?"

Shinji wasn't sure how he was supposed to respond to this. No, there wasn't anything he could think of that he wanted really badly, or that he needed at all. But Misato's words made him think briefly. He looked sideways at Asuka, but her face had turned passive in the sudden change in conversation.

"Nothing really," said Shinji with a shrug.

"Shinji you're going to be eighteen in little more than a week. Eighteen is...unlike other birthdays I guess since you become an adult then. I think something should be done at the very least."

As Misato said this, she took a sidelong glance at Asuka, hoping that she was getting the hint that Misato was throwing at her. Asuka still seemed to be ignoring the conversation though.

"Really Misato, you don't have to make a big deal about it," said Shinji as he stood up.

"Shinji-"

"Its fine Misato."

Shinji left them sitting at the table and walked into his room. Really, they didn't have to make a big deal out of it.

Back in the kitchen, silence had engulfed Asuka and Misato. Since Shinji had left, neither of had spoken, however, Misato had something she had to ask Asuka.

"Asuka...you don't plan on giving Shinji the usual present like previous years."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Don't you care about him?" Misato asked her.

Asuka bit her lips in frustration. She did, but communicating it was an entirely different matter. Asuka had never been good with emotions, though neither had Shinji for that matter. Both of them were unsure how to express there feelings, and because of that, they were unable to communicate sometimes. Asuka knew this of course, but it didn't make it any easier. If she was truthful to herself, she did want to get Shinji something more meaningful this year, even without Misato and Hikari telling her to. Still, the problem was that she wasn't sure what to get him.

"I do," said Asuka after a few seconds. "But..."

"But what?" asked Misato. "I don't think Shinji would complain even if you picked something horrible for him. Just get him something that you think he would like, something that you yourself picked."

Asuka didn't think it would be that easy, but she didn't reply to Misato.

"Well, I only stopped by here to talk to you both about the apartments, so I have to head back to Nerv now."

"Okay," said Asuka, her voice small.

"And tell Shinji that Rei says high. She hasn't been able to get ahold of him recently because of her work, but she is still thinking about him. Oh, also, tell Shinji not to worry about saving dinner for me tonight. I'm going out with Kaji tonight."

This brought Asuka's smile slightly back, and she waved Misato off.

Moments later, Shinji looked out to find Asuka standing in the hallway, having just seen Misato depart.

"Did Misato leave?" he asked.

"Yeah. She said she had to go back to Nerv."

"Still busy," sighed Shinji.

"Not busy enough," said Asuka. "She's going with Kaji tonight she said, so you don't have to make dinner for her. Oh, and Rei says high as well."

"She did?" wondered Shinji. "I was wondering how she was doing..."

Shinji would have liked to talk with Rei, but he didn't even know if she had a cellphone.

"What do you want for dinner then if Misato isn't going to be home?"

"Stir fry maybe," said Asuka. "I'll help with the preparation as well."

"You will?" asked Shinji somewhat surprised.

"Sure," shrugged Asuka.

Shinji was grateful on the rare moments when Asuka helped prepare dinner with him. She usually helped him cut the vegetables and cook the rice. It made things go quicker, but there was something about being in the kitchen alongside Asuka that felt right.

Dinner went quicker with the two of them, and they were soon washing the dishes together.

"Hey Shinji?"

"Hmmm?" he replied to her question.

"What you said before...are you really okay with not celebrating your birthday at all this year?"

"Did Misato put you up to this?"

"She talked to me about it yeah...but I'm asking you myself. Are you okay with this?"

"Why do you suddenly care Asuka?" Shinji asked her instead.

Asuka was taken aback by this, and wasn't sure how to reply at first.

"Shinji...you are going to be eighteen so...do you want anything in particular?"

"You mean like something that you and Misato got together?"

"No, something that I got just for you."

"You don't have to do that Asuka," said Shinji after recovering from his temporary loss of speech. Asuka actually wanted to get him something? Something that was heartfelt? He wasn't sure why he had rejected that though. Maybe he didn't want Asuka to have to worry about getting him something. In truth, her just being there was fine.

"Again...its fine Asuka. You don't have to get anything for me. Honestly, just you being here is fine."

It had been a while since Asuka blushed, but she did now. A pink flush appeared on her cheeks and her lips seemed to darken as well. She seemed flustered, her expression changing rapidly. Shinji hadn't seen Asuka this embarrassed in a while, and he had to admit, it was rather alluring.

"Shinji...you..."

Shinji smirked slightly before walking away from the dishwasher, leaving Asuka still embarrassed behind him.

It was sometime later before she came out into the living, still angry and embarrassed about Shinji's remark.

"You can be a really ass sometimes Shinji."

"What? I only said what I thought."

"How about you try not speaking your mind sometimes then idiot."

"Why are you getting so angry?"

"I'm not angry, I just don't understand why you don't want me to get you something. I've never gotten you anything before that actually meant something...so this year I thought I would change that. Especially if we're going to be leaving Misato's."

"That mean a lot to me Asuka in its own right," replied Shinji.

Asuka frowned at him, wondering how Shinji could be so stubborn at times. She almost felt that something of her own stubbornness was rubbing off on him.

'Well, enough though he said he didn't want anything, doesn't mean I can't get something,' thought Asuka. It was best to keep it a surprise in the first place.

"Fine," said Asuka, "if you want to be stubborn, be that way."

Sitting down on the couch next to Shinji, she crossed her legs and remained silent, turning on the T.V. though Shinji could see her smiling slightly.

'She must be planning something,' thought Shinji. He wasn't that surprised that Asuka hadn't given up in all honesty.

They were silent for most of the time, and it was several hours later until Shinji decided to go to bed.

He was too tired to think about what Asuka had told him earlier, though in the room next to him, Asuka was wide awake. She was thinking about what to get Shinji, but nothing was coming to mind. She honestly thought about asking Misato, but even that seemed to be a bit unfair. She wanted this to be something she got by herself without any outside help.

'Its difficult though,' thought Asuka.

Her last thought before Asuka fell asleep was that of surprising Shinji on his birthday.