We're the Band Chapter 19: Mysterious Ways of Tenderness, an evangelion fanfic

"We're The Band"

Chapter 18: Mysterious Ways of Tenderness

Weeks Later on a Friday Afternoon – Tokyo Philharmonic Rehearsal

Asuka sat in the car daydreaming and listening to Shinji's music player. An old tune ("Mysterious Ways" by U2) that she had loaded for Shinji had come up on the random shuffle of songs. It was a song she had always liked and seemed like a happy coincidence since she had pressured Section 2 to bring her along and to leave a little early to pick up Shinji from rehearsal with the Philharmonic.

Johnny take a walk with your sister the moon
Let her pale light in to fill up your room
You've been living underground
Eating from a can
You've been running away
From what you don't understand...

Love
She's slippy
You're sliding down
She'll be there when you hit the ground

Asuka quietly slipped into the rehearsal auditorium to find that rehearsal was winding down. She scanned the orchestra to find Shinji in his seat somewhere in the middle of the cellos. He'd done well enough to earn a spot but his skills weren't polished enough to earn a top chair. True to his nature, though, Shinji was just glad to be a part of the group and didn't feel there was anything to be ashamed of with his current chair ranking. She noticed that Shinji was working hard to keep up and felt a little surge of pride that he was stepping up to the challenge and appeared to be succeeding.

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways

As rehearsal started to break up, Asuka watched as a bunch of the younger girls started to gather around Shinji. From what she could piece together from the parts of the conversations she could hear, they were all trying to flirt with Shinji having been drawn in by the fact that he was new, a former EVA pilot, and cute. The little flame of jealousy that had been sparked was extinguished when she took a closer look at Shinji's reactions. True, he was smiling and sort of participating, but Asuka could tell that it was Shinji's "polite" smile – the one he used to be polite and interested, but when his heart really wasn't into it. As he was packing up, he kept the polite smile and was gently letting each of the girls' feelings down to soft landings. Asuka stood from her chair in the back of the hall as Shinji made his way down the stairs from the stage towards the exit doors a few of the girls trailing behind enjoying their little flirting game and trying to get Shinji to blush again.

Johnny take a dive with your sister in the rain
Let her talk about the things you can't explain
To touch is to heal
To hurt is to steal
If you want to kiss the sky
Better learn how to kneel
(on your knees boy)

To the girls around Shinji, it became readily apparent why their flirting wasn't going anywhere. Shinji's little polite smile bloomed into a real, heartfelt smile as he caught sight of Asuka coming up the aisle to meet him. In that moment, they had all been forgotten and then left behind as his pace quickened. Unlike most of the guys on stage who had automatically assumed that it was because Shinji thought Asuka was prettier than the girls in the orchestra, the girls, being right there with Shinji, saw the look in his eyes and felt the connection between the two.

She's the wave
She turns the tide
She sees the man inside the child
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
Lift my days, light up my nights

Shinji put his cello's traveling case down just in time to grab Asuka into a hug as she jumped a little to wrap her arms around his neck. They both had a quiet laugh as he swung her around, and as her feet touched back down, she pulled back a little to plant a small kiss on Shinji and to tell him, "Shinji-kun, you're taking me to dinner."

One day you will look...back
And you'll see...where
You were held...how
By this love...while

You could stand...there
You could move on this moment
Follow this feeling

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright
She moves in mysterious ways
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright

"I'm taking you to dinner am I? What's the occasion?"

"You, baka, have been ignoring me for the last week for these little side gigs like martial arts practice, band practice, school, paper work at NERV, and this orchestra. So, you are going to dote on your beautiful girlfriend and beg her forgiveness for being so inconsiderate as you shower her with affection and announce your undying love for her," declared Asuka as she gave him a big smile plastered over a chibi face.

We move through miracle days
Spirit moves in mysterious ways
She moves with it
She moves with it
Lift my days, light up my nights

Shinji just laughed and pulled her into another hug to swing her around again. For her part, Asuka just held on and laughed as his fingers tickled. Upon setting her down, Shinji reached for his cello and said, "How could I have been so thoughtless? McDonald's does sound good, though."

Entwining her fingers with his free hand, she gave him a playful pinch. "That's sooo going to cost you, Baka-kun."

"Cost me?" replied Shinji as they made their way to the door. "I'm just a poor musician. You're going to have to take pity on me."

"Pity? Pity is for the weak. Your friends don't call me the Demon for nothing. Hmm. Maybe I should find myself another boyfriend," teased Asuka.

Playing his role in this, now, very familiar play, Shinji got a suitably stricken look on his face and said, "Asuka, please don't leave me. I'll do whatever you say."

Patting his cheek with her free hand and giving him a devilish look, "Of course you will. It's never been optional."

Asuka couldn't hold back any longer. The look on Shinji's face was just too much and she just started to laugh, which caused Shinji to break out laughing as well. The pair mostly got themselves under control as they pushed through the doors and began loading Shinji's cello into the trunk of the car.

As they sat in traffic on the way to the restaurant that Asuka had conveniently suggested to the driver, the conversation revolved around some recent announcements from the educational system.

"Hikari confirmed the rumor. The schools are going to cut the vacation short and start us in high school a little early so we'd end our first year with everyone else in the nation."

"That's typical."

"Misato did say that we're all due for a vacation, though. Wasn't our last vacation that trip to the hot springs?"

"The onsen? Um, yeah, that was our last vacation now that I think about it."

"Do you want to share a hot springs dip with me?"

"Asuka!"

"What? Are you ashamed to be seen with me?" she pouted.

"No, that's not it at all. It's just . . . just that . . . well . . . we'd be . . ."

Taking pity on her blushing and struggling boyfriend, Asuka tightened her grip on his hand. "Shinji-kun, I'm just teasing. Besides, it's not anything that you haven't already seen."

Relieved, Shinji returned the warm pressure in his hand. "I know. I just don't really feel comfortable sharing the more . . . intimate moments in public."

"Hehehe, that's what makes it so easy to tease you," laughed Asuka.

Lunch Time Saturday – Park

The gang had gathered at the park to listen to a recording of their last practice. Kensuke had borrowed a mixing station and had run the various microphones into it to produce an electronic audio file. The group was now listening to their cover of General Public's "Tenderness" on the speakers that Kensuke had hooked to Shinji's player.

I don't know when to start or when to stop
My luck's like a button
I can't stop pushing it
My head feels light
But I'm still in the dark
Seems like without tenderness there's something missing

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Where is it?

Shinji only half listened to the recording the others were critiquing. He was lying on the blanket with his head in Asuka's lap, eyes closed, and thinking about how hard the group had worked to try and repair the recent relationship damage. Kensuke and Shinji had coached Toji on his apology using the inside information from Yuki and Asuka. It hadn't been easy or pleasant, but Toji had finally been able to get Hikari to listen to him long enough to allow him to apologize.

I don't know where I am but I know I don't like it
I open my mouth and out pops something spiteful
Words are so cheap, but they can turn out expensive
Words like conviction can turn into a sentence

As expected, the first apology attempt was rejected. Shinji and Kensuke had needed to push Toji to keep trying even in the face of the all of the gossiping that was occurring. The entire drama was being "broadcast" by the network of informants and bystanders which in turn created lots of "advice" for Toji and, to a lesser extent, Hikari, and Shinji and Kensuke had to keep Toji from drifting away from the agreed upon plan. Even though he had expected it, receiving the first rejection was almost totally devastating to Toji and he had to lean on his friends more than he had to rely on anyone before.

I held your hands
Rings but none on that finger
We danced and danced
But I was scared to go much further with it
Just half a chance
Make sure that one night you're here,
But next night you're not
It always leaves me searching for a little

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?

Ultimately, his persistence had paid off and Hikari had accepted his apology, but it was painfully obvious to everyone including Toji that his penance was far from over and that lots of bridge building was still needed. Shinji saw it just in the way that Hikari had picked up some of Asuka's mannerisms, probably unconsciously, and was much more assertive in what her expectations were.

Whistling in the graveyard
Calling up your girlfriend
Just trying to make her understand
You're squeezing the telephone like it was her hand
No question (so many questions)

She's going to catch you out boy
It all seems so underhand
Now she's the only thing that ever made you feel like a man, man
Madman, madman

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness
Tenderness
Tenderness
Where is it?

Shinji had paid a great deal of attention to the interaction between Hikari and Toji over the last couple of days and had asked Asuka to watch them during this session. As Shinji started down that little mental alley way, he was interrupted by Kensuke.

"Shinji, what do you think about that last verse?"

"I was a little flat on the pitch. You were rushing a little. Rei and Toji were pretty steady on beat. Asuka's chord sounded off compared to your piano."

"You heard all of that?"

"Well, I cheated and listed to the recording a couple of times already."

Kensuke just shook his head at his friend and sighed in exasperation. "No wonder you're not really paying attention."

Shinji opened his eyes in time to see Hikari give Toji "The Look". In the past couple of weeks, Hikari's arsenal of weapons had expanded at a prodigious rate under Asuka's tutelage and the first thing she had refined was the piercing gaze that froze Toji like a frightened rabbit under the eyes of a hawk. Unsure of what Toji had done, if anything, Shinji merely sighed inwardly. While Toji and Hikari had gotten back together on some sort of probationary thing, Shinji had been meaning to ask Asuka if she thought that it would survive.

Tenderness
Where is the
Tenderness?

"So, Shinji, what do you think we should be focusing on in rehearsals?" prompted Hikari surprising Shinji. She was starting to take her role of manager much more seriously and had begun to exert some much needed leadership and structure on the band.

"Well, our big problem right now is tempo. We don't take good cues from Rei and Toji. We, sort of, end up all over the place. From a pitch perspective, we do pretty well and most of our problems are just setup – tuning strings and the like."

Hikari made some notes in a little organizer she had begun to carry around. "Ok, I wrote it down and will remind us when we have our next rehearsal."

When you're sick to death of second best, pet
Why should the morning always find you unimpressed?
Is your love like a button?
You can't stop pushing it?
Oh this all night longing can be such a long time

The conversation had continued for a while longer but, eventually, Yuki and Kensuke then Toji and Hikari had left to do other things on their Saturday afternoon. Rei soon left to call her potential boyfriend and to arrange for family dinner. Misato had called and the plan was for family night out with dinner and a movie.

This left Shinji still in the same position but with Asuka's hand on his chest as she stared out over the lake and her other hand absently playing with his hair. Shinji brought his hand up to cover Asuka's and warm her fingers.

"Asuka?"

"Hmm?"

Shinji opened his eyes to look up at Asuka's face and screwed up his courage, "I don't think Hikari and Toji are going to be able to stay together."

He saw the sadness in her face. "You might be right. As much as he made Hikari happy, it's just not going beyond strained. But, he's starting to grow up, and it might get better."

"Toji was scared at first but I think the constant riding is pushing him away. He asked me for advice on how I deal with it."

"Typical. He doesn't understand either. Shinji, I know we should be talking about them, but I don't do that too you anymore do I?"

"You used to do it all the time. We had talked about that. But, now, it's more like you have suggestions and want me to grow with you. It's just that Toji doesn't understand the change. I think it's because you guys didn't start off on the best of terms and he's not paying attention to the differences."

Shinji received a smile for his words. They continued to talk about the future of Toji and Hikari. It didn't seem very clear cut and both of them would have to give something to the compromise at some point. Asuka's phone began to ring interrupting the conversation. Shinji was about to answer it as Asuka's personal assistant when she snatched it from his hand giving him a stern look that immediately turned playful.

Shinji closed his eyes and tuned out the conversation. He was just enjoying a late afternoon date in the park with his girlfriend. Neither of them had many pleasant memories like this from their past and they had begun to take every chance to build a wealth of memories together.

"Shinji, that was Rei. She said for us to meet them at the restaurant in about forty-five minutes, so we're going to have to leave soon."

"Okay."

Asuka began to run her fingers through Shinji's hair as they talked more about Toji and Hikari. Strangely, Asuka was not as pessimistic about their relationship. "Shinji, Toji just needs to grow up a little and learn how to talk to other people. He'll figure it out, and it'll get better."

"How can you be so sure?"

"You figured it out, Baka-kun."

"But, I needed some pretty big things to happen."

"Well, as much as he's a stooge, I don't think Toji is that far off. Plus, I think Hikari ignoring him for a couple of weeks was a pretty big deal to him."

"I guess. But, Hikari probably has some growing, too. They were in their little world without any real problems, then this happened."

"You're probably right. They both have to do some growing. Hopefully, they don't kill each other in the process."

"We didn't," replied Shinji as he slid his hands around her.

"Hey! Watch those hands! You're starting to get bold, now," declared Asuka as one hand pinched Shinji's cheek and the other removed his hand from her hip.

"I can't help myself. You're just so pretty."

"Flatterer . . . it's time to go, hentai. We don't want to be late for dinner."

Author's Parting Shots: Well, we have a short snapshot this time around and sorry to keep you waiting for a short installment. Real life intrusions and all of those kinds of excuses :)