She hates the month of December.
December 4th.
But she hates her birthday more.
She remembers little of the ones she spent with mama; all graceful smiles coming from guest to guest; here and there. The smell of freshly baked goodies; the deep rumbling laughter of papa.
"Asuka…are you still asleep?"
The soft feeling of mama's cheek, as she nuzzled her to sleep, quieting down her tears after all the commotion.
The calm tranquility she felt when mama would tuck her in, the wonderful feeling of warmth encasing her whole.
"I don't wanna wake up."
The ones after are not even worth mentioning. The careless congratulations of papa and her; the way the Kommandant would congratulate her by reviewing last years proficient report and comparing it against the current.
The only time she would smile was when Kaji would smuggle chocolates and toys fro her, and When Misato would surprise her with a small candle on a cupcake.
"This better be good, Baka!"
So of course he would go to great lengths. In front of her is a typical German breakfast, spread all thru the table. Breakfast in Germany is a major event, the morning meals here are just too good to miss. In front of here is a full array of bacon, sausage and eggs; cereals, cheeses, and fruits, with German seeded rolls and paper-thin slices of smoked salmon.
And in front of it, a simple chocolate cupcake, with a red candle on top.
"Das Essen war sehr gut…" she smiles as she plants a kiss in his forehead, enjoying his blushing face. "Danke."
But maybe this year it will be different now.
----- -----
She loves skating.
"Cmon Shinji, you can do it; keep it up."
She loves the way it feels, like she's running and flying at the same time.
She loves how she can be zipping past him three times in a row, making him run faster, trying to keep up.
"C'mon slowpoke, you won't be able to make the team if you keep slacking off!"
He will try to catch up with her, and she will stick her tongue at him, skating further down the road, telling him to keep running. she will then dart again around him, making him laugh thru the pain of the excercise, drinking in the look of determination in his face.
"Shinji, you're almost catching up on me...I gotta skate faster."
She will then stop once she sees he has reached his peak (Really, the Baka will one day over exert himself. what would he do without her?) and she will walk next to him, complaining that she is too tired to make it to the bench. He will grumble but smile, and grab her by the hand, pulling her behind him to seat, a bottle of water ready and at hand to give it to her.
"Shinji, I'm tired..."
"You really shouldn't over excercise Asuka."
"Carry me?"
She loves skating because, at the end of the day, when she is tired and can't go on, he will carry her without complain.