Author's Notes: Again, thanks to everyone who provided reviews, encouragement, and concerns. Before we get started, remember the disclaimers and story warnings in the Prologue.

I'm having a huge amount of fun with this. I just hope you're having fun too! I've gotten some song requests for inclusion into the story – both publicly and in private. I've already set the song list for this particular dance, but since I've decided to keep the story going for as long as possible beyond this particular gig, I'll try and fulfill some of the requests – even if it's just to pander to my reviewers. So, some of the things that may show up are Coldplay, Nirvana, No Doubt, Police, U2, Metallica, Garbage, and some random 80's songs. My major criterion is that I have to have the song in my music library. If I don't, it's hard to integrate into the story. I have a pretty varied library as I mentioned in my profile, but no promises :-)

I also had some questions about how Shinji learned how to be this good, this quick with the guitar. I'll imply with a sledge hammer most of it based on my interpretation of the time between them showing up on the beach and the return of everyone else. I'm not sure how long it will take me to completely reveal that (if ever), but you're going to get a pretty big shot of it in this chapter and can probably guess everything, anyways. If you want to know earlier, just drop me an email at machwave(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll pass along the story notes/ideas I have jotted down.

"We're The Band"

Chapter 3: Upside Down Moondance

Tokyo-3 Junior High School Dance Club

Tres Clowns were more than halfway through their half-hour set. Their infectious energy and sound had pulled in everyone. Toji was dripping in sweat from the amount of energy he had to put into the fast-paced rock songs, and, while wiping his face between tunes, got Shinji and Kensuke's attention causing the two of them to move the front of the drum riser.

"Guys, I need us to do something slower this tune or I'm not going to make it to the end," announced Toji after making sure his microphone was off.

"What! We've always practiced longer than this. How can you be giving out now?" exclaimed Kensuke.

"I don't know. It's just the emotion and energy of the event," retorted an exasperated Toji.

"All right. We're almost out of time anyways. Let's go with our last four songs and start with the one for Rei. It's more acoustic and vocal. That should let you catch your second wind and be ready for your tune for Hikari," interrupted Shinji with a quick wink to Toji at the end.

"Ok," responded both Kensuke and Toji as they resumed their positions on the stage.

At the front of the stage, Hikari, Asuka, and Rei were having their own conference.

"What are they talking about?" wondered Asuka. She was starting to get suspicious. The stooges were up to something. She could tell just from their body language.

"I don't know. Toji looks a bit winded. Maybe they're talking about how to end the set?" responded Hikari. She'd always been a pretty keen observer of Toji's behavior and could read him pretty closely.

"They only have three songs to go. They can easily complete it in the allotted time," contributed Rei.

They watched as Shinji put his electric guitar on a stand and picked up his acoustic and plugged it into the amplifier. Rei's face formed a tiny frown. The only remaining songs on the set list didn't call for an acoustic. In fact, she couldn't remember Shinji practicing an acoustic piece. This quick introspection caused her to miss the knowing winks between Hikari and Asuka.

NERV Command Center

Misato had been enjoying herself. She had more than enough teasing material to regress Shinji to the emotional state of a two year old AND keep Asuka at bay. They'd broken the monotony of yet another marathon duty shift, and she'd broken out her emergency beer stash initiating quite a little party among the bridge crew.

"Hey! Looks like they're starting up again. Turn it up!"

Stage

"Ok everyone. We're nearing the end of our time," announced Shinji earning himself a round of good natured 'boos'. Laughing and holding his hands up in mock surrender, "Hey, hey, not my call. So, with the four songs left, we'd like to dedicate them to some special people."

Rei, Asuka, and Hikari all shared the same thought, Four? They glanced at each other with a bit of apprehension.

"The next song goes out to my sister, Rei. It's 'Upside Down' by Jack Johnson."

With that, Shinji went and sat down on the edge of the stage in front of a shocked Rei. She was struggling with how to respond. A bright blush colored her cheeks, and she quickly glanced at Asuka and Hikari for support and guidance. Seeing nothing but happiness and encouragement, Rei allowed herself to be guided right in front of Shinji who had finished arranging his guitar on his lap. With a last adjustment of the headset microphone, Shinji nodded to Toji and Kensuke who started the intro.

Looking into Rei's eyes, he began to sing.

Who's to say
What's impossible
Well they forgot
This world keeps spinning
And with each new day
I can feel a change in everything
And as the surface breaks reflections fade
But in some ways they remain the same
And as my mind begins to spread its wings
There's no stopping curiosity

Hikari and Asuka had moved to either side of Rei to give Rei a little bit of space with Shinji as every girl within twenty feet shot looks of intense hatred and jealousy at Rei for getting a personal concert from the newest rock idol of Tokyo-3 Junior High School. A sharp glance from Asuka quelled the impending crush forward, but the undercurrent of seething envy didn't start to ebb until Shinji picked up the next verse and put them all back under the spell of his voice.

I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I'll find the things they say just can't be found
I'll share this love I find with everyone
We'll sing and dance to Mother Nature's songs
I don't want this feeling to go away

In the command center, Aoba and Maya were dancing a little bit of Lindy Hop to the strumming of Shinji's guitar and the background of the tambourine and maracas. Hyuga had even convinced Misato to stop scheming and dance a little. At least that's what he told himself conveniently ignoring the beer can carnage around the chair his boss had been occupying.


Who's to say
I can't do everything
Well I can try
And as I roll along I begin to find
Things aren't always just what they seem

I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I'll find the things they say just can't be found
I'll share this love I find with everyone
We'll sing and dance to Mother Nature's songs
This world keeps spinning and there's no time to waste
Well it all keeps spinning spinning round and round and

Upside down
Who's to say what's impossible and can't be found
I don't want this feeling to go away

Asuka watched Shinji's effect on his sister. Rei's eyes had gone wide with excitement and actually had a little bit of tear in them. She was clutching her hands to her chest and seemed to be in a little world alone with Shinji – oblivious to the jealousy around her. The guitar chords triggered a memory for Asuka - a time before everyone came back and it was just the two of them on a beach . . .

Flashback

They had been on the beach for a couple of subjective weeks. Shinji and Asuka had just had one of those fights that only people on the verge of being a couple can have where they said all of the things that hurt the other the most – screamed them actually – and they had ended it with the emotional N2 mine for both of them, comments and accusations about their mothers. Shinji had picked up the guitar he had found a while back and began to idly strum chords, a sad, distant look on his face. Asuka sat facing him, hugging her knees to her chest, watching him through tear-filled eyes - the sounds of her sniffles mixing with the music. They were both emotionally and physically exhausted from the argument.

Many words have been used to describe Asuka – volatile, arrogant, aggressive, domineering, fragile – but not stupid. Her mind was racing with many thoughts ranging from why in the weeks they had been there did they not feel hungry or see the stars move in the sky to what was Shinji trying to play to what were her true feelings for Shinji. It was into this chaotic mix within her that a single, clear thought that Shinji was still here triggered an epiphany – Shinji wasn't using the music to hide or run from her, but was trying to calm himself down with the one thing that he thought he understood and thought he was good at in order to get himself to a point where he could deal with the conflict. This caused her to think about the times he had engrossed himself in his SDAT, struggling to control the emotions so he could face the world.

As Asuka listened to the idle chords, the tension began to ebb out of her and she also noticed Shinji's shoulders begin to relax. It was almost like the calm that Shinji was achieving was reaching out to her as well. It was into this calm that some other things were finally becoming clear for her and she decided to ask her question – not the big question in her mind but the first step, her voice breaking with the remaining sniffles from her sobbing, "Shinji . . . sniff . . . w-w-hy d-did you say such . . . h-h-horrible things to me?"

Shinji's face rose, a thoughtful look on it. After a moment's reflection, he had formulated a coherent response. "I guess . . . it's that I've always . . . loved you . . . and when we were arguing . . . I just wanted you to feel the same pain I was feeling because it hurt to hear you say those things to me. I'm really not very proud of myself for having done it and want to tell you I'm sorry, but don't really want to trigger off another argument about you not liking it when I apologize all the time." He released another heavy sigh and put the guitar down. "But, I am sorry, more so because I love you and I hurt you and had done it on purpose."

Asuka came over to Shinji and pulled him into a fierce hug, burying her face into his neck to smother her latest round of tears and sniffles. A bit shocked, Shinji was a little slow in returning the hug but returned it with an almost frightening intensity.

"Shinji . . . I . . . love you too."

End Flashback

Asuka gave her head a tiny shake. It was strange and a bit frightening how Shinji's music could trigger such vivid memories. She looked over at her boyfriend and fell in love with him all over again – for the twentieth time today.


Please don't go away
Please don't go away
Please don't go away
Is this how it's supposed to be
Is this how it's supposed to be

The song had wound Rei up like a spring to the point where she was trembling with the built up emotional energy. She had the look on her face that a younger sister gets when she receives the present she had always longed for but never asked for from her older brother just because he knew it was what she wanted – unbridled joy. As the last word began to fade from Shinji, she couldn't take it any longer. She flung herself at Shinji and wrapped him in a fierce hug. Over the shouted protests of all of the girls, Shinji clearly heard her say:

"Thankyouthankyouthankyou,shinji,thankyoubigbrotheriloveyousomuch!"

A bit startled by the hug and unable to breathe Shinji was able to squeak out, "I love you too, Rei, but I . . . need . . . air."

Rei reluctantly released her brother who stood to rejoin the rest of the band. Needing to release the remaining energy, Rei surprised both Asuka and Hikari by pulling them into a hug too. The three of them just started giggling and enjoyed the moment.

NERV Command Center

This entire exchange was lost on the command staff as they had broken out another round of beers to toast another fine song and commiserate only three more songs to go.

Stage

Toji and Kensuke both greeted Shinji with big, toothy grins as he retook the stage after the assault by his sister. To their great surprise, Shinji just shot them a return big, toothy grin. Making sure his microphone was off, Shinji turned to Toji, "So, you ready for the number for Hikari, big guy?"

Toji swallowed but hard took on a resolved look. "Yeah, but take pity on me. I'm just not good with this emotional stuff, ya know?"

"Don't worry. You just need to be able to handle the after concert stuff," retorted Kensuke.

"We better get on with this," was all Shinji had to say before turning his mic back on and turning to the waiting crowd. Shading his eyes with his hands, "Well, it looks like we got a couple of guys on the floor. Maybe someone could get them out of the way to keep them from being stepped on."

As the boys who had dropped unconscious from the vice-like hug Shinji had gotten from his sister were moved to a spot by the drinks tables by their friends, Shinji dropped his hands and looked back over the crowd. "I'm glad you guys like that one. Now, our next song goes out to the person who got us the gig, our very own class rep - Hikari Horiki."

A stunned Hikari whipped her head around to face the stage from the group hug she had been sharing with Asuka and Rei. Knowing smiles crossed the faces of Rei and Asuka, followed by a small frown from Asuka. She had suddenly realized that there would be one for her too sometime in this goofiness if the stooges understood how to count to four. A part of her was just eager with anticipation, but a part of her faced the prospect with dread, hating the unknown.

These thoughts were interrupted as Hikari dragged both Rei and Asuka back to their accustomed positions in the front of the stage.

Shinji had put his guitar and headset down and added, "And, as a special treat, Toji is going to sing solo." As the catcalls commenced, Toji came out from behind the drum kit to take Shinji's place at the microphone and Shinji faded into the darkness off stage. Seeing that Toji was set, Kensuke triggered the next track – "Moondance" by Michael Buble and moved off stage with Shinji.

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies

Kensuke glanced at a grinning Shinji, "Tell me again how this song made it onto the dedication part of the set list."

Giving one of his patented sighs, Shinji explained, "Well, you remember Toji and Hikari's first solo date together?"

"Um, yeah, it was a disaster right? Toji was in the doghouse for a while. Was it because you and Asuka weren't there to smooth things over like on the previous double dates?"

"It wasn't a total disaster. It actually started off pretty well . . . "


And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
And I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and low
And all the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush

Can I just have one a' more moondance with you, my love
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love

"They had gone out to dinner at that Italian food place that Hikari had been hinting at for over a week. Toji even managed to keep the sauces off the front of his shirt. From what I understand, they even talked to each other without Toji getting all defensive because it was too close to those strong emotions he hides."

"Yeah, I got that much from Toji, but when did the wheels come off?"

Well I wanna make love to you tonight
I can't wait till the morning has come
And I know now the time is just right
And straight into my arms you will run
And when you come my heart will be waiting
To make sure you're never alone
There and then all my dreams will come true, dear
There and then I will make you my own
And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside
And I know how much you want me that you can't hide


"Hikari and Toji went to karaoke afterward."

"Toji at karaoke?"

"He asked me for suggestions, and after ruling out the arcade and a bunch of typical guy stuff, this was the one good compromise. Anyways, karaoke actually went ok with them having a good time until Hikari spotted her current favorite song in the book."

"Let me guess, 'Moondance' by Michael Buble."

"Uh huh. Hikari asked him if he would sing it to her. Well, Toji missed all the signs. He actually started to go off on it. Hikari ended up running from the room in tears."

"I understand now why Toji was pretty tightlipped on what went wrong."

"Yeah. The worst part was that Hikari called Asuka on the way home. She was still crying and ended up putting Asuka in orbit. Asuka found me watching TV on the couch and proceeded to read me the riot act about idiot, stooge friends and that she didn't want me sinking into the depths of idiot hell with Toji. Then, she asked me what I was going to do about it."

"Hahahaha, that's YOUR demon girlfriend!"

"heh, it's actually all worth it. Back to the story, so after I got her calmed down enough to tell me what had happened, I told her that I would talk to Toji and figure out a way to make it up to Hikari."

"Hence, this song on the set list and you and Asuka spending the last couple of weeks with Toji helping him with vocals."

"Yup."

"Seems to be working," at which point, both boys turned their gaze to the class rep at stage center.


Can I just have one a' more moondance with you, my love
Can I just make some more romance with a-you, my love

Well, it's a marvelous night for a moondance
With the stars up above in your eyes
A fantabulous night to make romance
'Neath the cover of October skies
And all the leaves on the trees are falling
To the sound of the breezes that blow
And I'm trying to please to the calling
Of your heart-strings that play soft and low
And all the night's magic seems to whisper and hush
And all the soft moonlight seems to shine in your blush

Indeed, it was working. Hikari had immediately recognized the track and her initial flash of anger melted away as Toji had begun to sing. To Hikari, his voice was perfect for the song and best of all, she knew he was singing it for her - in the same way that Asuka had known that Shinji sang for her. Hikari gave Toji that love struck puppy look and found that he had spent the whole song looking only at her.


One more moondance with you in the moonlight
Can't I just have one more dance with you my love

As the notes died away, Hikari mouthed "I forgive you" to Toji who, uncharacteristically, blushed a deep shade of crimson. Shinji and Kensuke quickly moved back on stage to rescue their friend. Kensuke lead Toji back to his drum kit. While Shinji recovered the microphone, he shared a knowing "mission accomplished" smile with Asuka who gave him a big thumbs up from behind a gushing Hikari.

"A big round of applause for Toji! That was great! For this next song, I'd like Rei and Asuka to come up," announced Shinji to a surprised audience.

Author's Parting Shots: I distinctly remember warning everyone about uncontrolled WAFFiness . . . at least I thought I did.

Anyways, let me resound the WAFF warning for the next couple of chapters. I'm sure you know who the next songs are going to. I plan to close out the dance performance in one more chapter, but the story will continue beyond that.

Sorry about not being very subtle on the Asuka/Shinji declaration of love. I struggled with a couple of different ways, but this seemed like the only one that works in my personal universe :P