She hates talking.

In case someone had been in a coma, or hasn't been paying attention, she is more prone to activity.

She needs to be in constant movement; she needs to feel her time is wisely spent and used. Not doing anything is the same for her as sitting in abed, or lying in a half filled tub, she dislikes the feeling of inactivity, can't stand to be in her bed for long; and even when she sleeps, she is an active sleeper (She'll sleepwalk and wake up moments, or minutes, or hours later in a different room, more often than not his) she kicks and turns all night.

A loud BAM! Can be heard, and suddenly the whole apartment is plunged into darkness. Great. She thinks. No Tv, no music, not even the A/C; so when the room begins to get stuffier, she opens the window and walks out.

Minutes later Shinji comes too, holding 2 soft drinks, giving her one (her favorite, she notices, while he simply grabs what's around) and begins to ask her how her day had been, to pass the time since the last thunder might have fried the electrical circuit in the apartment, she can't help but grunt an answer out.

As she continues talking with him, she becomes aware that, she is beginning to enjoy this. Slowly, surely; she enjoys the passing minutes, the jives and cracks (he might be quiet, but he sometimes giver he one or two zings back)

Sometimes, she thinks as she gives him a good night kiss on the cheek surprising both him and her with that small, but intimate action, talking is good.

So, when tomorrow comes, and she sees him go by himself towards the roof for lunch (Meathead is off with Hikari, and dorky is probably harassing the girls swim team) she goes too, opens her bento, and picks the conversation from where she left it.

Sometimes talking is all it takes.

----- -----

She loves the hot springs.

She remembers the first time she had been in one ("Shinji" she whispered breathlessly, the tiredness of the battle finally catching up to her "You show off") and has to agree that it was quite enjoyable, if not a bit embarrassing. (She also knows that for all her hopes and dreams, she is still far away from even coming close to Misato's physique)

But right now, she thinks this was the best idea ever; she combination of the hot water and the sake is intoxicating, and she can feel her inhibitions slowly drifting away, going into the water with all her worries and leaving her simply mellow and relaxed. She sees Misato and Ritsuko enjoying themselves, reminiscing about the good ol' days with a smiling Maya and the other 3 female techs. She turns to hear a contended sigh escape from Rei's lips, the top of a mop of blue hair and red eyes the only thing visible, as she seems to melt into the water, with the water, closing her eyes and actually smiling.

And she squeals when a clearly inebriated Misato starts to molest her (even if she does compliments her breast) while Hikari, Mana and Mayumi giggle at that. She turns and shouts at her, but can't help the anger slowly melt away (definitely must be the water) at the sight of all them smiling, and she feels her own smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

And the fact that, as she walks away feeling light headed from the women bath, she crashes into Shinji, and she is looking straight into his deep blue eyes, her breath stopping on her throat, licking unconsciously her lips while she feels them part slightly make it the more obvious.

Perhaps it's the sake, or maybe the hot water, but her skin feels flushed and she can't help but grab Shinji by surprise, silencing his question of "What do you think you are doing" by firmly planting her lips on top of his.

And as she feels him slowly kiss her back, she can't help but reach the conclusion.

She loves the hot springs.