Author's Notes: Again, thanks to everyone who provided reviews, encouragement, and concerns. As I mentioned in the first chapter, I'm trying to respond with a quick note to everyone who submits a review – the least I can do for someone who takes the time to provide feedback. Well, let me just say that I've received more reviews than I ever expected and the quality of the reviews has been outstanding. I'm looking into the music requests that have hit my inbox for inclusion in the later chapters. Before we get started, remember the disclaimers and story warnings in the Prologue.

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WAFF WARNING! BEWARE!

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I included the above WAFF warning banner on Tezza's "suggestion" :-)

"We're The Band"

Chapter 4: The Reasons for Lonely No More

Tokyo-3 Junior High School Dance Club

Shinji's request that Asuka and Rei join him on stage got everyone's attention, including the slightly inebriated NERV Command Center. In fact, the buzz associated with the associated crowd noise sounded like a hive of Africanized honey bees that had been kicked over. Some of it actually coalesced into intelligible words:

" . . . why would they . . . Rei's really different now . . . something about Shinji and Asuka . . . did you see them in the hallway . . . why won't my nose stop bleeding . . . I have a dress just like that . . . my ears hurt . . . "

Hikari had moved to backstage to get out of the tide of students washing against the stage. Without the protective bubble of Asuka's presence, it all just felt very claustrophobic. In any event, it allow her to share a private glance with Toji as the band geared up for their final two songs.

Rei, Shinji, and Asuka gathered around the microphone stand. Shinji tapped the microphone both to check that it was on and to get everyone's attention with the brief feedback shot.

"So, this next tune needs a little explanation. We made some minor lyric changes – apologies to the lyricist where ever he is – for our message. This song goes to out to someone who has been there for us pretty much since our arrival in Tokyo-3. All three of us have received a lot of guidance from this person on many subjects and on many levels. Recently, she's opened up not only her home but her heart to my sister." Shinji gave Rei's hand a little squeeze. It was at this moment that the Three Children did something that Section 2 absolutely hated – they looked straight into the camera and talked to it like they knew it was there.

"Misato, this one is for you – 'Lonely No More' by Rob Thomas," and all Three Children gave big smiles and victory signs to the camera.

NERV Command Center

The words "Rei", "Asuka" and "come up" all penetrated the beer buzz. Everyone had dropped like stones into their chairs to stare intently at the screen. The feedback bullet Shinji used to get everyone's attention brought a bunch of people forward in their chairs – the most significant exception was a certain purple haired guardian who was enjoying both a nice beer buzz and the euphoria of being able to tease all of her charges mercilessly for months just on this one dance.

The sight of the Three Children looking directly into the camera and hearing her name was the ultimate buzz kill for Misato. Her eyes narrowed and she studiously ignored the little glances from the bridge crew wondering what was about to happen.

Stage

Right on cue, Toji counted them off and the Three Children leaned into the microphone

Now it seems to us
That you know just what to say
But words are only words
Can you show us something else
Can you swear to us that you'll always be this way
Show us how you feel
More than ever baby

The song was vaguely familiar to Misato, but the significance was still lost on her. She'd heard it on a plane between NERV Germany and NERV Japan at some point. Misato remembered that she had been reading reports and evaluations on the Three Children (cleverly disguised as a romance novel to avoid arousing suspicion). She liked it then and had bought it sometime after returning and probably had let Shinji hear it at some point but had never really listened to the words before though . . .


We don't wanna be lonely no more
We don't wanna have to pay for this
We don't want to know the mother at our door
Is just another heartache on our list

We don't wanna be angry no more
You know we could never stand for this
So when you tell us that you love us know for sure
We don't want to be lonely anymore

The meaning and implications behind the lyric changes began to make an impact on Misato causing her to slowly stand and stare, unblinking at the live concert footage. It was at this sight of Misato, completely oblivious to the rest of the NERV Command Center and eyes riveted to the large screen at the front, that stilled many a teasing remark from her compatriots – because it's not really fun to tease someone that will not react and who goes around armed.


Now its hard for us with our hearts still on the mend
Open up to us, like you do your girlfriends
And you sing to us and it's harmony
Girl, what you do to us is everything
Make us say anything; just to get you back again
Why can't we just try

We don't wanna be lonely no more
We don't wanna have to pay for this
We don't want to know the mother at our door
Is just another heartache on our list

Mother? Lonely no more? The words continued to hit her like waves breaking over the beach. Her eyes searched the electronic eyes of the Three Children for some hint of sarcasm or other falsehood, desperately seeking that emotional scapegoat, but not really wanting to find it and dreading the possible discovery.


We don't wanna be angry no more
You know we could never stand for this
So when you tell us that you love us know for sure
We don't want to be lonely anymore

What if we were good to you, what if you were good to us
What if we could hold you till I feel you move inside of us
What if it was paradise, what if we were symphonies
What if we gave all our lives to find some way to stand beside you

Misato had really come to view her charges as her own children despite her own maturity and parental responsibility issues. At this thought, her hands had unconsciously moved to clutch at the cross her father had given her, the same cross that she had passed to Shinji in a similar act of sacrifice to save a child.


We don't wanna be lonely no more
We don't wanna have to pay for this
We don't want to know the mother at our door
Is just another heartache on our list

We don't wanna be angry no more
You know we could never stand for this
So when you tell us that you love us know for sure
We don't want to be lonely anymore
We don't wanna be lonely anymore
We don't wanna be lonely anymore
We don't wanna be lonely anymore

As the sound of Shinji, Asuka, and Rei died away, Misato slowly sank back into her chair, head bowed, and quietly crying tears of love of a family found and of a father's love lost. Her co-workers watched in both sympathy and empathy for many of them remembered the story of her journey to joining NERV (Ritsuko never really able to keep good gossip a secret).

"We love you Misato!" came the children's voices, clearly knowing that the entire concert had been transmitted in real time to the Command Center by Section 2. Looking up, Misato saw their smiling faces and the cheerful waves and in a soft voice, "I love you, too."

Tres Clowns Concert Hall

Rei had gone to stand by Hikari, and as Asuka moved to follow found her hand caught in Shinji's. She turned, startled, to look back at her secret boyfriend. The crowd practically leaned forward in anticipation of the beating that would ensue at Shinji having been so bold as to actually grab the Red Devil.

Asuka had suspected this and one look at the grinning Shinji confirmed what the bond their synch training was telling her – they were going to announce their relationship, and she should just trust Shinji and follow his lead. With a heavy sigh, she relaxed and said, "Baka-kun, you better know what you're doing or I'll knock you into next week."

"Trust me."

NERV Command Center

"What's going on?" shouted Maya. "What are Shinji and Asuka up to? Why isn't she beating him senseless?"

Yes, the collective tactical and strategic genius that had defended humanity during the Angel Wars was at a complete loss as to what was occurring on the screen in front of them.

Tres Clowns

Turning back to the microphone but continuing to hold Asuka's hand, much to collective consternation of everyone on the gym floor – jealous and incredulous looks from girls, jealous and hateful looks from the boys, and complete confusion from the staff – Shinji announced, "We have one final tune for the night before turning you over to the DJ for the rest of the dance. For our last song, this one is not from the band but from me to Asuka."

The band moved to play "The Reason" by Hoobastank. As the intro music started, Shinji looked up into Asuka's eyes, blissfully unaware of the knowing looks on the faces of Rei and Hikari.

I'm not a perfect person

There's many things I wish I didn't do

But I continue learning

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is you

Asuka began to blush both at the fact that Shinji was singing to her in public and at the deeper, shared meanings of these lyrics for the two of them. She had unconsciously begun to sway in time to his voice, a voice she knew so well. The voice whose every nuance she had learned to understand during those long weeks together. Away from everyone, learning to deal with the emotional pain, learning to soothe the pain in each other.

I'm sorry that I hurt you

It's something I must live with everyday

And all the pain I put you through

I wish that I could take it all away

And be the one who catches all your tears

That's why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is You

and the reason is You

and the reason is You

and the reason is You

Flashback

They were still cuddled together after having said "I Love You" to each other for the first time. Shinji idly ran his fingers through Asuka's hair enjoying her warmth. He felt her stir against him and her arms moved from around his neck to snuggle against his chest. Asuka looked up from her spot cradled in his lap with the need to ask questions written all over her face.

"Asuka, you should go ahead and ask because nothing you could ask would change the way I feel," whispered Shinji again surprising Asuka with an inner strength she never wanted to admit existed.

"I guess that's my question. Why, even after all those terrible things I said and did and may still say and do, do you love me?"

"That's a long, complicated answer that I don't even know the complete story on myself."

"We appear to have plenty of time, and . . . I'm willing to listen."

"Hmmm . . .," started Shinji, his eyes unfocusing. "I think I've always admired your ability to take risks and act in the face of fear that used to paralyze me. After the last couple of weeks, I think I understand more about that part of you, but that really isn't what you asked . . . you were always the most beautiful to me, but that's not the reason I love you . . . umph" was his reaction to the gentle squeeze from Asuka at being called beautiful. "I guess the only way to say it is the cheesy way . . . I guess . . . deep down, I always knew that if I could learn to take the abuse and ultimately stand up to you, I could convince you to love me, so I endured and tried to change . . . you gave me a purpose, a reason to get up in the morning to hope for something better in the middle of that awful period of my life when there really wasn't much to hope for other than to be abandoned again by my father because I had out-lived my usefulness to him. Is this making sense to you?" asked Shinji, eyes re-focusing on Asuka.

"More than you could imagine . . . " smiled Asuka with that knowing smile about how his words mirrored her own thoughts and feelings. He had indeed grown on her and provided something for her to hope for. "Shinji?"

"Hmm?"

"Promise me you'll stay with me always?"

"Asuka, I jumped into a volcano for you because it was better to die trying to save you than live without you. Of course, I'll always be with you," responded Shinji as he lifted her up. The two shared a kiss and embrace filled with love and the deep, heartfelt commitment that each had been yearning for in the depths of their souls.

End Flashback

I'm not a perfect person

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show

A side of me you didn't know

A reason for all that I do

And the reason is you

Shinji never got to finish the last verse. He had slid his guitar behind him as Asuka brought him into a tight embrace that transitioned into a loving kiss. A kiss that created some interesting ripples in the people around them . . .

Disappointment, envy, and the beginnings of schemes in a majority of the girls in front of the stage . . .

Headaches, nose bleeds, and fainting spells amongst the male student body as they tried to cope with the non-sequiturs of "Shinji", "Asuka", and "kiss" all at the same time . . .

Frowns from some of the staff that now they would actually have to chaperone the dance . . .

Whoops, catcalls, and, in some cases, stunned silence from the command crew . . .

Dread from one purple-haired guardian who now has to give The Talk to her young charges.

Prepared for this and deciding to take pity on their teachers and classmates, Hikari and Rei closed the stage curtains on this tender scene.

Minutes Later

"Wow," was all Shinji could whisper when he and Asuka finally broke their kiss. A contented smile came to Asuka's face as she leaned her forehead on Shinji's.

"I'm glad I still have that effect on you," whispered Asuka with an intense gaze into Shinji's eyes refusing to move her arms from around his neck, her fingers now playing with his hair. She didn't quite realize that the residuals of the synch training let Shinji know that he had exactly the same effect on her. In fact, Asuka's brain was fixated on replaying and reliving the warm sensation of his lips on hers just as Shinji's was focused on how soft her lips were and that the strawberry lip gloss she had on really did taste like strawberries.

"I guess that was the best way to let everyone know that we're together," quipped Shinji having recovered to some semblance of normality.

"It will save me the trouble of having to intimidate every girl in school. They now know that you are MY baka, and they already know that I'm very possessive," replied Asuka with a little more intensity than she intended.

"umm," gulped Shinji, his new found spine beginning to buckle under the pressure and a the realization that he hadn't thought of one very important response to their little display. "How do you think Misato is going to react to this?"

"Liebchen, don't worry. Whatever happens, we'll get through it, together," responded Asuka having moved her hands to cup Shinji's now worried face.

"You're right. Together"

"Of course, I'm right. Never doubt me again, baka-kun," teased Asuka.

"Hey, you two! Let's clean up! There's still the rest of the dance to go!" ordered Hikari having dropped back into Class Rep-mode.

"Alright, alright," replied Shinji releasing Asuka. He then unplugged his guitar, and he and Asuka started the tedious process of rolling up the cords and putting away the pedals so the equipment could be put back into the music room.

As Rei came by rolling up one of the longer cords, she looked at both Asuka and Shinji noticed that she was still humming "Upside Down". They shared a knowing glance and went back to work.

With the six of them working, it only took ten minutes to pack everything away and the group made their way onto the dance floor. A certain couple, relatively unconcerned as to what their classmates thought of their relationship, made their way to a quiet spot to share a couple of drinks and a snack before taking to the dance floor.

Author's Notes: Ok, so the concert has ended and the DJ's starting up for the rest of the dance. I think I've got a way to get them more gigs – probably another dance or two, maybe one at the high school, and we'll see about some others. I also think I'm going to take the suggestion to bring a bass player in and maybe some others. We'll see. It may be about a week until I post the next chapter since the scene hasn't quite played out in my head, yet.