As you can tell this is a much longer chapter than I've ever done before. Large reason for this is because I'm going back to college in three days so I won't have as much time to work on this as I'd like. So hopefully this will make due for now. I had thought about splitting it up also, but in the end decided to go with what you see here.

"Fa-Father?"

Shinji felt Asuka shiver uncontrollably at her own words, as though she had just gotten out of a walk in freezer. With his gaze still fixed on Asuka he watched silently as the tears continued to fall off her chin while a boiling hatred was erupting inside of him. If he were to take one step forward he knew he wouldn't be able to stop himself and probably end of killing the man. He would have deserved it too. Instead though-

"Asuka...is it really you? You look just like your mother," whispered her father.

Shinji's eyes flew towards him. How dare that bastard even acknowledge that he recognized her this many years later! How dare that asshole mention the similarities between her and her mother! How dare that whore mongering piece of shit even be breathing the same air as Asuka!

Asuka's father seemed to notice that he was giving him a death glare that could melt the armor right off of Eva and seemed to hesitate before stammering.

"A-A-Asuka...is that you? It is isn't it? Please...I-I wanted to see you. I wanted to see my only daughter."

It was at that moment that Shinji exploded, letting forth the pent up anger. He wanted to talk with the daughter that he had tossed aside? He wanted to act like everything had never happened and they could start over entirely from scratch? Shinji couldn't let that happen even if he was reborn as a dog. He'd tear this fucker's leg off before letting him get close to Asuka.

Just as her father took a hesitant step forward, Shinji took an assertive step forward and placed himself directly in front of Asuka, blocking his view. He wanted to make his action extremely clear and without a doubt in the man's mind standing in front of him.

"Asuka does not want to talk to you," he said in as calm a voice he could muster. In truth he felt like ripping the guys throat out.

The air was so tense that you would have had to cut it with a chainsaw. While stammering over his words, Asuka's father said, "But...I-I I thought you just said...that it'd...b-be okay if we...ta-talked?"

"That was before I found out who you were," Shinji whispered in that same calm voice that radiated pure loathing.

Asuka's father was obviously not used to talking with a teenager like this and tried to retort angrily, "This doesn't concern you. So if you could please move out of the way I'd like to speak with my daug-"

Shinji cut across him and with each word his voice grew louder, "What right do you have to speak to a daughter that you threw away! What right do you have to call her out when she's finally found some place that cares for her! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO TALK TO HER YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

At Shinji's hate filled words, her father took a few hasty steps back as though giving himself a decent head start if Shinji decided to kill him.

"Please," he started pleading. "I know I screwed up, and I know that I don't deserve to be forgiven. But please...she's my only daughter, and I still love her."

"LOVE HER! WHEN THE FUCK DID YOU EVER SHOW THE SLIGHTEST SIGN OF LOVING HER!"

"I'll get down on my hands and knees and beg for mercy if I have to. Just please..."

Shinji glared hatefully at the man bowing in front of him. His entirely body twitched and it was taking an enormous amount of willpower to not break the guys skull open.

Grimacing back at him he took several slow steps towards the door before looking down at the pitiful human in front of him.

"You lost the right to talk to her long ago. Don't come crawling back to her five years later as though you can make amends for everything that happened."

Before her father was able to start begging again Shinji shut the door with a loud snap and locked the door knob along with the dead bolt. Misato be damned right now. If she forgot to bring her key to unlock the dead bolt then that was her problem.

Shinji stood in front of the door for a few seconds. If he rang the door bell again then Shinji would have thrown open the door and really broken his skull. Though he was saved the opportunity to be arrested as he heard shuffling footsteps walking away from the door.

All the tension seemed to evaporate out of him. Even though he had put up a brave front he was honestly scared. Asuka's depiction of her father made him out to be a heartless man that wouldn't hesitate to violence. Before, he didn't know what to expect if he ever met the man. The contrast from his mind to reality was a long ways off. He seemed like a complete push over. Maybe it was the alcohol that made him particularly violent.

Finally turning around he felt his face sag as he saw that Asuka hadn't moved from where he had left her and that tears were still pouring from her eyes. It seemed that they were built up over the course of many years.

Without hesitating he walked slowly towards, and, moments later, stood in front of Asuka. Words weren't needed to express each other, though Shinji couldn't possibly grasp what torment Asuka was currently going through. He wanted to let her know that he was there for her and opened his mouth to mention that.

Before his mouth got half open though she leaned forward and almost made him topple backwards as her entire body weight came crashing onto him. Instinctively, Shinji braced himself and brought his arms around her back so that she wouldn't slide off to the side. So, she was snugly being held against his chest. Shinji could feel the gallons of water slowly be soaked into his already sweating dripping shirt.

Asuka's legs finally gave in and the need to be standing became pointless. As her legs collapsed, so did Shinji's along with her as he matched his fall with hers. So, kneeling in the middle of the hallway, Shinji let Asuka shed her worries onto his chest. At first it had been solely him that had his arms around her waist. Though after a particularly loud wail, Shinji felt himself being pushing backwards onto the hard wooden floor while her arms wrapped around his waist.

'Huh?'

Shinji didn't fully comprehend until long after his back had hit the floor; and Asuka's face was nestled against Shinji's collarbone, what was going on. It certainly was the closest they had come with an intimate moment. Asuka's body was perfectly aligned with Shinji's body to the point where he couldn't tell the difference between their two heartbeats. After a while, Shinji felt that a small pool was starting to build up in the crook of his collarbone and knew that this wasn't the time to be sharing something like this.

Relinquishing his grip around Asuka's waist he brought his hands to her shoulder and tried to convince her to stand up, though she didn't seem to want to comply. While Shinji wasn't really disgusted by their position, he didn't want things to get carried away. If he took advantage of her, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself. If they were to develop a more romantic relationship he didn't want it built upon something so heart wrenching as this. So with a little more coaxing he managed to get Asuka to sit up, though in some aspects it was worse as she was now sitting in his lap. He was surprised at how small she seemed then.

"Asuka...you okay?" Of course she wasn't, but he found he had to start somewhere.

Asuka however didn't seem like she was in the mood for talking quite yet and continued sitting in Shinji's lap with a dejected look on her face.

After another minute of silence between the two, Shinji let out a weary sigh. It wasn't that he was annoyed with her switch to a helpless girl who couldn't do anything. He just didn't think that the helplessness suited her. She should be pacing around the room insulting her father and calming him as many names as she could muster. He would have gladly joined in.

After the audible sigh Shinji decided to take things into his own hands. Sliding out carefully from under her, he held onto her arms so that she wouldn't topple backwards. After pulling the last of his left leg out from her, he propped his hands behind his back and glanced at her face. She had now pulled her knees up as close as they would go to her body and had buried her head between them.

After another pause she finally spoke. "Shin-ji...?"

"...Hrm?"

"Ari-gato..."

"...Don't worry about it."

Shinji watched as Asuka finally looked up at him. Her tears appeared to have stopped but her eyes were extremely blood shot.

"Think you can stand?"

Rubbing her eyes with the backs of her hands she mumbled, "Yeah...I think so."

Placing both hands on the ground she slowly pushed herself up and on to wobbly feet.

"See I'm fine," she said in an attempt to pass off everything that had happened. Though next second Shinji had to rush forward as she took a hasty step forward and ended up losing her balance.

With her head resting on Shinji's chest again she opened her mouth and mumbled something that Shinji had never expected.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for this. It's because I'm so wea-"

"Don't say it!"

Shinji fiercely wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her in closer.

"...Don't say that...never. You're the strongest person I know."

Asuka let out a small hiccup which seemed to be concealing a laugh. "Baka," though it was much softer. "Thats not something a girl would want to hear."

Shinji could have laughed. "Anyway, if you couldn't stand you should have said."

"...I didn't want to be a bother."

"I'd worry about it nonetheless. Now come on, I'll take you over to the couch."

"...Wait, Shinji. What are you...WHAAAAA?"

Asuka's protests were silenced as Shinji brought his left arm up and snaked it around Asuka's shoulders, while his right arm took her off her feet and ended up resting just under her thighs. So, in one fluid motion, Shinji ended of sweeping her off her feet. Which Asuka wasn't terribly thrilled at, as his right arm was dangerously close to her butt.

"Shinji...what are you doing...?"

Shinji could hear the obvious threat in her voice but didn't care, at least she was feeling better if she was able to talk like that. Though as he glanced down at her face which was frowning up at him he had to turn his eyes away quickly. She was blushing. Was she embarrassed? It seemed nothing would surprise him after the events of today.

Answering in a way that sounded like he didn't care, he replied, "This is the easiest way to move you, and its not like you're heavy or anything." 'More like you're too light," he mumbled in his mind. He felt now that she had been pushing herself to hard through the training and remembered that they had skipped meals occasionally. He rebuked himself for those times.

Setting her down on the couch he propped a pillow behind her head and drew a blanket across her chest.

"...Hang on I'll get you some tea."

"Hrm," mumbled Asuka as she curled up in the blanket.

Walking out of the living room Shinji entered the kitchen and quickly busied himself with making tea, and rather strong at that. He had found Misato's stash of hard liquor while cleaning one day and figured that Asuka could use some of it.

Pouring something that had an alcohol content of forty-seven percent in the cup of tea, he carried it to the couch where Asuka had sat up to accept it.

"Thanks," she mumbled.

Taking a long gulp of it, her face turned sour for a moment as she thought about spiting it out.

"What the hell did you put in this?"

"...Something to make it a little bit stronger."

"Tastes like shit."

"Its the thought that counts."

"I suppose...well, it certainly warmed me up."

A moment of silence passed between the two as Asuka held the half empty cup in her hands. Even without drinking any, the warmth that it still radiated was enough to warm her up significantly. That, and the fact that Shinji had made it.

"I knew this would happen. Even so though, I had wished that it wouldn't."

Shinji sat down on the floor in front of her and frowned up at her.

"You mean you knew that your father would reappear? What made you think that?"

"I don't know. Well...no, thats not true. My father can be very possessive at times. I figured he'd come looking for me when I had aged a little, since I look almost exactly like my mother. Even though he said all those things about my mother whenever he was drunk, he still cared for her. I think that he sees herself living through me."

"Thats a twisted way of thinking. So what? He says he wants to see you again because you look like your mother?"

"Yeah, something like that, I think."

"Bastard needs to stop living in the past. You are yourself, not some ghost of your dead mother."

"As I said he's too possessive. He just wants to see the image of his wife in me."

Shinji snarled angrily at that point and stood up.

"I won't...no I can't. Something...just like that. Its just...disgusting. I swear that if he tries something like this again I'll step on him with Eva."

"Heh, heh, heh," after a short pause Asuka said, "thanks...Shinji. If you weren't there...I don't know how I would have dealt with it."

"You won't have to worry about it again!"

Asuka at that time wearily shook her head and looked at the carpet with downcast eyes, "Thats not entirely true. He'll catch me off guard one day. I don't know what his job consists of right now, but I think he's a CEO in some company. He'll hire someone and eventually meet me through that guy."

Shinji was shocked at how well Asuka had thought out these multiple scenarios. It showed how much she had prepared for this day.

"No...its better if I do this how I planned it..."

Shinji flinched at her words. "What do you mean?"

"This is my problem okay!" Said Asuka flaring up for a moment. "This is something that is my problem! I want to resolve this my way! I don't want to rely on anybody else to resolve this!"

A stunned silence passed between the two of them after her outburst. Shinji opened his mouth angrily to tell her that he didn't care. That he would help out anyway, when she cut him off.

"No means no! Now stop asking!"

Shinji closed his mouth in a dejected way. Every fiber in his body was screaming out against her demand.

Her mood seemed to turn cool then as she looked around the state of the living room. "Even though last night was the last night to sleep in here we never did got around to moving back to our rooms."

"...Yeah I suppose so..."

"No reason in going back now I suppose. Well, since it doesn't matter, I'm calling the couch."

'I'd give it to you even if didn't say that,' Shinji thought.

"Oh...and, uh, Shinji/"

"Hmmm?"

Shinji turned towards Asuka to see her sitting up with her hands in her lap. Shifting her lower body left and right it seemed like she was building up for something.

"What?" Shinji asked again.

"I was hoping that you could sleep next to me tonight..."

"...ehh? ...WHAT?"

"BAKA! I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT! PERVERT!"

"Then how the hell did you mean it!"

"Well...that is...I mean. I wanted you to sleep on the ground next to the couch." Asuka said this last part very fast, while a light tinge of pink started to appear on her cheeks.

"...I suppose... But why? If you don't mind."

"...I think I'd feel better if I knew you were close..."

Shinji stuttered over his next words, "Ye-Yeah...sur-sure. No-no problem."

Asuka frowned at him and tutted slightly while thinking, 'Jeez, he doesn't have to get worked up so much.'

Dragging his futon over towards the couch he laid it out next to it. Turning off the lights hastily he turned back to his futon and laid down on it. He could just make out the shape of Asuka's arm as it was laying next to the edge of the couch. Turning over on his side he closed his eyes and prepared to drop off to sleep when he felt her nudging his side.

"Hey Shinji."

Flipping over onto his other side he practically hissed, "What."

Asuka was on her other side now, looking down at him with her hand extended and her index finger recoiled slightly as though preparing to flick him in the head. Shinji flinched at the gesture and closed his eyes, expecting to feel a sharp pain through his nose. What happened was much different.

Shinji had to open his eyes to confirm what had just transpired as he thought his brain must have temporarily turned off. Starting at the outline of Asuka's slightly smirking face, his eyes traveled down her arm and towards her hands. In the end he went cross eyed trying to see if what she was doing was true.

Asuka had her index finger pressed softly against Shinji's lips. Shinji felt his heart speed up and slow down maniacally in the span of three-seconds and thought that he might be having a heart attack. Her finger was unusually warm.

Looking back up at her smirking face Shinji saw thought he saw a glint in Asuka's eyes before she whispered, "Oyasumi."

Pulling her index finger off his lips she flipped back over to her other side, let out a small yawn, and drifted towards sleep.

Shinji lay there for what felt like a decade before he came to his senses. Taking his own index up towards his lips he pressed them there for a minute before letting his arm flop useless at his side. He really didn't understand, but was happy as it was.

"Oyasumi," he mumbled before closing his eyes.

Shinji didn't dream that night, which was certainly a blessing. Though he felt that sleep left him too soon as something was pushing him roughly on the back.

"Shinji...OI, SHINJI!"

Snapping his eyes open, he turned towards to the sound of the complaining. Asuka was sitting up on the couch while her legs were resting on Shinji's back. Glancing at the alarm clock on the other side of the room he saw that it read eight o'clock.

"Uhh, to early," he mumbled while pushing Asuka's legs off him.

"No its not, and I'm hungry."

"Its a weekend, lets sleep longer."

"That should be my complaint. C'mon...make me breakfast."

Pushing against his back, Asuka ended up rolling Shinji over onto his stomach and then back onto his side.

Turning towards her Shinji glared at her briefly, though it soon evaporated to that of a smirk. Her face looked like that of a child's on Christmas Eve.

"Oh fine..I'm getting up."

Shinji yawned widely and crawled out from under his blankets. Walking on tired legs, he slowly made it to the kitchen with the assistance from the wall as a support. Asuka walked behind him smiling widely the entire time.

"Ok Asuka what do yo- ...Misato?"

Shinji was looking at his guardian who was seated at the kitchen table with a spoon half way to her mouth.

"...Oh, Shinji. Asuka. Morning."

"...When did you get back?"

"Hmmm...a few hours ago I suppose. I can't remember last night very well."

"Yeah I can smell-I mean tell."

"Hmph."

Misato turned back to her measly breakfast as a small sigh escaped her lips. "So how come the dead-bolt was locked-"

Shinji who was in the middle of opening the fridge froze as Asuka did the same thing as she sat down.

"-because I seriously doubt that any burglar would bother trying to steal anything from this apartment."

Shinji glanced over at Asuka quickly as he straightened up, though she didn't want to meet his gaze. She had become extremely interested in a pattern on the wooden table. Trying to pass it off, Shinji said, "Oh that? It was supposed to be a way to get back at you, for the training. In case you didn't have your key, you would have been locked out."

"Hmph, not very thought out, and not a very good lie."

"Lie?" Asked Shinji as he put a glass of orange juice in front of Asuka.

"Yes, lie."

Shinji and Asuka both flinched in silence waiting for the hammer to drop.

Sighing again, Misato leaned back in her chair and mumbled, "When I came home earlier this morning there was a man sitting on the stairs at the bottom of this apartment complex. He seemed to be mumbling Asuka's name over and over."

At her words Asuka accidently knocked the fresh glass of orange juice off the table where it met the hard ground with a shattering sound.

Shinji stood there helplessly as Misato uttered a few words.

"Asuka...is he your father?"

The walls came crashing down again as Asuka shuttered uncontrollably, and Shinji wasn't next to her. What separated the two of them was a wooden countertop that Shinji suddenly wanted to dive over to comfort her.

"...Asuka," he mumbled, not knowing what to say.

Misato turned her eyes towards him and he caught her meaning only to clearly, though he didn't like it. 'This is something she has to overcome. Stay out of it for now.'

Turning back to Asuka, Misato saw that she had raised her face and muttered, "Yeah...that bastard is my father."

Shinji was shocked at how strong her voice was. It was like all doubt had been removed from her mind.

"...So he is..."

"Yeah."

"And? Are you going to talk to him?"

It took all of Shinji's willpower to not blow up then. How could she even ask something like that? Though it was Asuka's reply that really threw him for a loop.

"I think that I might...in the end."

Shinji stood there dumbstruck at her words.

"...wha?"

Turning towards him Asuka said, "I thought I told you last night Shinji, that I wanted to do this my way. So would you stop worrying about me!"

"...I..."

"Shinji," murmured Misato, "let Asuka decided. It is her life after all."

Shinji couldn't take any more.

"How the hell can you even be suggesting that she talks to her father! Do you know what the bastard has done...tried to do!"

"Of course I know all about her past. I'm her guardian. I was given papers by the German branch of Nerv explaining everything about her."

"Then how the hell can you go along with this!"

"Because its not my decision! Its hers!"

Shinji seemed to deflate, all the anger seeping out him.

"Fine, whatever."

"...Shinji," mumbled Asuka.

"Go! If you want to talk to him so bad go!"

"Fine...I will."

Standing up quickly Asuka trotted to her room, dressed quickly and took off out the door.

Shinji meanwhile had turned the other way and was forcing himself to not take off after her. How could she be so stupid? Did she honestly want to talk to her useless father? Of course not!

"Shinji?"

"...What?"

Turning back around, Shinji saw that Misato had her elbows resting on the table and had abandoned her breakfast. "Do think you know what's best for Asuka?"

"Of course not. But I have enough sense to know that this is not!"

"Do you think this is what she wants?"

He had to use every ounce of willpower to not shout.

"No, of course not."

Leaning back in her chair Misato muttered, "You don't really realize what's going through Asuka's head. Do you?"

"I don't rea...what is that supposed to mean!"

Standing up quickly, Misato let her chair fall backwards and said quite passively, "Asuka wants to reconcile with her dad!"

"..."

"...What? That...can't be. How can she trust him...after... NO! THATS WRONG!"

"Shinji listen to me."

"NO! I CAN'T LET THAT HAPPEN!"

"SHINJI!"

"WHAT!"

"SIT DAMN IT AND LISTEN TO ME!"

Something about Misato's words seemed to draw him. Misato rarely had an outburst and this was the first that he could remember. Looking towards the door that he was half way to already, he looked back at the seat that she was pointing at.

"Shinji..."

"Fine..."

Turning around he walked back to the chair, crossed his arms and sat down.

Misato sighed, picked up the chair that she had kicked aside, and sat down in it. Crossing her own arms and even her legs she frowned at the stubborn teenager that was sitting across from her.

"Shinji, don't you think your being a bit prejudice because of your own father."

"My own...what?"

"Look, to put it simply...you've never had a family. You were to young when your mother died and can't remember her. Your father...well, yes he left you, and so you've never known what family is like. So you can't understand how Asuka felt before her mother died."

"But what does that-"

"It means, that deep down Asuka wishes for the days when she still had a family. Even if she doesn't want to admit it she still misses her father. Her father is the only relative that she still has. Well, I know that she has a grandmother on her mothers side but I don't think she's ever talked to her."

"But what if-"

"You need to stop living in the past. Stop shoving your own hatred of your father onto Asuka. Don't you want her to be happy about this."

"Well yes, but-"

"Shinji...are you worried that Asuka will leave?"

An erie silence filled the house at her words. Shinji hadn't had time to think about something like this. Though now it certainly felt like a possibility. If Asuka and her father made up then she might move away. Of course she'd still be needed for Eva, but her father might move down here to be with her.

"I haven't thought of that."

"But its still possible."

"...Yes, I suppose it is."

"If Asuka does leave she will still be needed at Nerv. She's to deeply involved to simply be released now."

"So at best I'll see her at Nerv and maybe at school."

"Hmmm. She could change schools of course."

"This is all assuming that she will reconcile with her father."

"You still doubt her?"

"No...I doubt her father."

"Well I can't deny that he was a bastard for what he did. But if it makes you feel a little better I did some research on him when Asuka first came to the Tokyo-3 branch. Apparently he became sober shortly after Asuka left. He seemed to realize that he had chased his daughter away. Shortly after he help a friend out with some business transactions, and was offered a position at a large investments firm. Earlier this year he was promoted to a CEO."

"Sound like he got his shit together."

"Well, thats one way of putting it."

The two lapsed into silence and shifted there eyes to the door at the end of the hallway. Would Asuka really decide to leave? Did she want to make up with her father like Misato said? Shinji was unsure about the things rushing through his head but knew that he'd be by Asuka's side if she needed him. He could promise her that much.

Letting out a low sigh Misato stood up and said, "Well, no use in worrying about something thats already transpired."

"...Yeah I guess."

"Well I'm going to sleep."

"Huh?"

"I haven't slept since two nights ago. I'm beat. Uh I think I might have had too much alcohol also."

Shinji blinked and replied, "I didn't think the words 'alcohol and too much' would ever come out of your mouth."

"What? I'm still human after all."

"Hmm, yeah."

Shinji stood up along with her and was just thinking of laying back down when the apartment door opened and in walked Asuka. Shinji could see her father standing a ways away and had to suppress the urge to glare at him as she closed the door.

"Asuka?"

"Hmm?"

"Err...is everything okay?"

"Ah, yeah its fine. ...I'm going out for a while-

Shinji frowned. It really did seem like she wanted to talk with her father. The corners of her mouth were pulled up slightly. Though it seemed she was trying to suppress the swelling feeling in her stomach.

-so I thought I'd just let you know."

"Ah...okay..."

"Shinji?"

"Its fine," he mumbled while turning around. "If this is what you want then I shouldn't stop you."

"...Thanks for understanding. ...Cya later then."

Asuka turned around and had just put a hand on the door nob when she felt something grab her other hand. Turning her head she saw that Shinji was looking keenly at her, as though his eyes could pierce the hesitancy in her heart.

"Be sure to call if anything happens..."

"...I will..."

Relinquishing the firm grasp on her hand, Shinji watched as she hurriedly opened the door. Looking back at him, she gave him a reassuring smile before turning to her father with an equally wide smile on her face. As the door swung closed Shinji had difficulty suppressing the emotion that were welling up inside of him. He didn't know when he'd see her again.

Shinji ended up going back to sleep, even though he felt wide awake before. He just didn't know what he was supposed to do in a situation like this. Running away from the present was all he felt like doing, and thats why he decide to sleep for the remainder of the day. Though it was still difficult. He floated in and out of his dreams and everything seemed to co-mingle, and lead to a depressing future. One that didn't involve Asuka.

It felt weird when he sat up suddenly, all sleepiness apparently gone, though he wasn't particularly sleepy in the first place. At first he thought that somebody had woken him up but realized that there was no one else in the room besides.

'Thats right, Asuka's off for a bit.' He said just a bit but in reality he was nervous about never seeing her again. What if something happened between her and her father and he got violent again. Would she be able to escape and return? Or would he find her and-

"Fuck no!" He yelled while standing up. "Thats not gonna happen!"

"Eh, what's not gonna happen?"

Shinji had to blink several times to get his eyes back into focus. The slow form of Misato started to appear in front of his eyes. 'So this is what being drunk is like,' he thought.

"Misato?"

"Yeah?"

"Is Asuka back yet?"

"Nope, its only been a few hours. Its only around noon."

"Ah...I see."

"Anyway could you do me a favor?"

"...Like what?"

"Ah...well, I'd do it myself but I've got a splitting head ache. So could I ask you to run over to Rei's apartment and give this to her."

"Give? ...Wait huh? Ayanami?"

"Yes, this." Holding out a small laminated card Shinji saw that it was a security card with Rei's face and profile on it.

"Is this a security card?"

"Precisely. Hers expired so I need to give it to her. Could you to give it to her"

"Erm...well I suppose so."

"Ah thanks. I wasn't sure how I was suppose to give it to her. Anyway here's her address. Do you know where it is?"

Shinji glanced down at the street and number. He had passed it many times when he used to take his evening strolls.

"Yeah, I'm familiar with the area."

"Ah, good. Well off you go then."

"Ah...okay. ...Wait. Has anybody called?"

Misato seemed to see through his casual comment and said, "Don't worry I'm sure that Asuka is fine."

"...Yeah. Well cya."

"Yeah."

Shinji tossed a pair of socks and socks on with a sweater that he grabbed out of his room. It looked like it would rain soon.

Sure enough, as he made his way down the steps of the apartment complex, he felt the first droplets of rain. Looking up at the sky he saw dark grey clouds hovering overhead. It seemed that it would get nasty soon and a thundershower looked possible. He was inadvertently reminded about his first encounter with Asuka and the subsequent task of hauling her back in the freezing could rain. He hoped that something similar wouldn't happen.

"I suppose this is the place," Shinji mumbled as he stood outside of a door in the freezing cold. The walk was longer than he remembered and he had gotten soaked on the way. Now though, he was standing with a soaking sweatshirt and equally soaking pants, standing outside of a door that read Ayanami Rei on the door.

Not noticing a door bell anywhere he knocked on the door twice and muttered.

"Ah, Ayanami...its me...Shinji. Umm...I've got something that Misato wanted me to give you. So if you could...open the door...or something."

Shinji realized then that this was probably the most he had ever said to Rei.

After waiting there for several minutes he started to get annoyed. Without thinking about the consequences he muttered, "I'm coming in," and turned the door nob. In reality he hadn't been expecting it to be unlocked and now had no choice but to enter the small apartment.

He was first impression wasn't one of glamour, thats for sure. The apartment was one giant room it seemed except for a closet and the bathroom. The kitchen was off to the side which hardly looked as if it had been used and at the far end of the long room was a bed that seemed dark and depressing.

Taking his shoes off he walked through the small apartment and ended up looking down at the bed where Rei must sleep each night. It really seemed like it had not been used in ages. The small table next to it seemed similar as dust had settled on it. Did someone even live here?

Without knowing what else to do he ended up leaning against the wall opposite the table. Pulling out the security card that Misato had give him he glanced at it. Rei really was an unusual person. Even though all the info about her person was on the card, he still felt that something was lacking. He couldn't quite place it though.

As he was about to place it back in his pocket he heard the opening and closing of a door, which made him jump and drop the card that he was holding. Bounding off against the wall he swiped the card off the ground and skidded into view of Ayanami Rei who had just opened the door to her apartment.

Under normal circumstances, and a normal girl, Shinji would have found himself getting a face full of pepper spray and a kick to the crotch. Instead though Rei seemed to completely ignore his existence, place the bag she was carrying on the kitchen and stroll past him.

Shinji hesitated before he turned his head to see what she was doing, and almost face palmed. She was changing. If he hadn't been living with Asuka and Misato for over a month this might have made him die of a nose bleed. Instead he turned his head back around and waited until she was done. Though really nothing had changed, as she was wearing the same school uniform that she always wore. What, did she have twenty pairs of the same outfit? Asuka would have a fit at her wardrobe.

Turning around, he had to take a step back as he found that she had closed the distance between them. He was looking back into her crimson eyes.

"Why are you here?" She asked, though without anger.

"Oh...that, right."

Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the security card that Misato had given him.

"Misato wanted me to give this to you."

Blinking as though she didn't understand she held out her hand and Shinji let it slide into her outstretched palm.

With saying anything else she deposited the card on the table and walked towards the kitchen to put away the things she got.

Not sure what to say in her presence, Shinji gestured around the apartment and said, "Nice place."

'Couldn't I have thought of something a little better than that,' he sighed in his mind?

"It suits me."

Shinji turned towards her and saw that her expression had not changed at all. Not sure of what to say anymore he muttered, "Well, I guess I'll take off then."

Walking past her silently he reached the door and was about to turn the nob when she mumbled.

"Goodbye."

Shinji's eyes darted back towards her, but her expression had still had changed as she started opening cupboards. Well, at least she had opened up a little. Turning the door nob, he walked out into the pouring rain.

"So? How did it go?"

"Huh?"

"I mean talking with Rei. How did it go?"

"How was it supposed to go," mumbled Shinji back at Misato?

"I was just curious if you were nervous at all"

"A little I suppose, since I don't know her all that well."

"Well, thats understandable. She doesn't talk all that much with everyone, except for the commander of course."

"The comman-...my father?"

"Yeah, thats what we're supposed to call him at Nerv."

"I always forget that he's an important figure there. So she talks to my father?"

"Yeah, quite animately in fact."

"...I can't imagine anybody talking to my father and enjoying the conversation."

"Thats because you've never tried yourself."

"Can't deny that. Well, I'm going back to sleep."

"Huh? Why?"

Shrugging, Shinji said, "No reason. Just nothing else to do today."

"Admit it. You're just waiting till Asuka gets home."

"Am not! I just...don't have anything else to do today is all."

"Hai, Hai. Keep telling yourself that."

"Ah, Urusai."

Again.

Shinji sat bolt upright in his bed. After a rather reluctant argument with himself, he decided to move the futons back to their respected room, including Asuka's. Now he was in his room, in his own futon, with his body entangled in the blankets. The dream that had woken him up had not been pleasant. No, words couldn't even describe it.

Spinning around, he first looked out the small window and was shocked to see that night had already fallen. Turning the other way, he glanced at the clock that was on his small dresser. It read seven-thirty. Something seemed to click in his head. Seven-thirty?

At the sudden realization at how long he had been sleeping he quickly jumped up and threw open the door. Darkness greeted him. Apparently he was the only other person in the house. Misato must have gone out not long ago and...Asuka. Where was Asuka?

Walking into the living he quickly flipped on the lights and glanced around. He didn't see any changes since he moved stuff back to there rightful place. Even the couch didn't seem like anybody had been on it since morning.

Next second a blue flash seared in front of the window and made Shinji jump. It seemed that it was still raining, and had worsened.

Furthermore, it was late at night and still Asuka hadn't come back. 'Well, maybe she had left a message,' Shinji told himself.

No message. Looking at the cordless phone he instantly knew that she hadn't called as there wasn't a blinking light. Now he was starting to get worried.

'Well, I suppose she could have gotten sidetracked while with her father and-'

Somebody knocked on the door.

Shinji spun around so quickly that he cricked his neck and at the same time froze. If it was Misato or Asuka why would they bothering knocking on the door. Unless Misato had locked it before she left and now Asuka was standing there infuriated that she was locked out.

Gathering himself as he walked towards the door, he at first thought of opening it without worrying who it was, but decided on the safer course of action. This wasn't the most friendly neighbor hood in Tokyo-3 Shinji had learned.

"Ah...who is it."

"...Me..."

Shinji tore the door open so hard that the hinges threatened to snap off. Breathing heavily, as though he had just ran a mile, he was looking at a soaking wet Asuka who's face was currently aimed at the ground. Only now did Shinji remember what she had left in. This morning no one would have guessed that the weather would have turned out so nasty. The sun was out without a trace of clouds in the sky. Four hours later the sky looked like someone had painted it grey.

Asuka had been in such a hurry that morning that she had thrown on a pair of jean-like shorts that went down to her knees, while she wore a white sleeveless shirt with a pair of sandals. Certainly not the type of clothes you'd want to walk around in the rain with.

Her strawberry colored hair was messy, and plastered all over her face. She was shivering uncontrollably and seemed to have tears running down her face. It didn't help that her shirt was completely see through, revealing the white bra underneath.

Shinji stood in the warmth of the apartment, while Asuka stood on the doorstep in the freezing rain. The two contrasts couldn't have been more different.

Unable to say a word Shinji took a few small steps forward until he was directly in front of her. He could feel the warm breath as it tumbled out of her mouth and landed on his face.

Opening his mouth to the smallest degree, one would have thought he was a ventriloquist as he whispered, "Hey...Asuka..."

Her shoulders seemed to tremble violently at the sound of his voice. Slowly shifting her head to look up at him, she opened her mouth a fraction of an inch and whispered back, "S-Shi-Shin-shinji...Shinji!...Shinji!...SHIN-"

Shinji cut her off before she was able to continue. Wrapping one arm around her waist and clasping his hand in hers, he pulled her forcefully through the door with such ferocity that he was afraid he might have pulled her arm out of its socket. To anybody that was watching this it would have looked like they were dancing.

Quickly slamming the door he turned to the dripping wet Asuka where a puddle had started to form beneath her. He had over a hundred questions to ask her, each one more reluctant than the last. But he knew he'd have to eventually. First though he had to get her out of those wet clothes.

"C'mon...lets get you out of those wet clothes first. You must be freezing."

Asuka didn't acknowledge that she heard him, nor did she even seem to recognize where she was. Maybe she thought she was still out in the rain.

Taking matters into his own hands he grabbed both her hands this time and steered her towards her own room. Moving the door open with his foot he pulled her gently into her own room and had her sit on her futon while he searched for something warm.

"Uh lets see...hmmm...this will do I suppose," he mumbled to himself after settling on a large red sweater and a long pair of pants. Though things didn't go as smoothly as he wished.

After grabbing a towel from the bathroom and wrapping her wet hair in it he encountered a problem. Asuka didn't seem willing or able to change out of her clothes. Shinji wasn't sure, nor did he want to know what had triggered this helplessness. But he certainly had a good idea and could feel the blood pounding in his ears as he thought about killing the man.

After turning over many ideas in his mind he decided to just go with the most blunt option...and help her into her clothes. Finding a long black sock in his room, he tied it securely around the back of his head so that it would cover his eyes. He was determined to keep her dignity in tact.

After much hassle while trying to get her shirt off she finally seemed to get the idea and complied with his actions. It was a lot more difficult then he imagined, as he had to do it solely through touch and experiment. Normally he would have been killed twenty times over. Ten for even thinking about doing this, and another ten for even attempting it.

After finally getting her to kick off her shorts, he was rather reluctant to continue with the next step and was extremely glad when she spoke up.

"Enough...I'm not a child."

Sighing in a weary and happy way, he mumbled, "Glad to see that you've come to your-"

"KEEP THAT FUCKING THING ON!"

Shinji was just in the middle of pulling the sock down, so that it didn't cover his eyes anymore, when his hand was grabbed and forcefully removed from the sock.

"What are you-"

"I'm changing out of my underwear damn it! Keep that damn thing on until I say so. And don't even think about look-"

"I don't think you have to worry about me looking. After practically stripping you with my own two hands I think I've had enough for one night."

Shinji heard a sharp intake of breath then and flinched as he thought he was about to get slapped across the face. Though no stinging sensation appeared on his face.

After several minutes of hearing her shifting clothes around, Shinji was allowed to take off his rudimentary blind fold.

"About time..."

"Shut it."

Asuka had changed into what Shinji had chosen and was wearing the red sweatshirt and dark blue jeans. It also seemed that she had chosen a long sleeve shirt underneath the sweatshirt, though Shinji could only see the sleeve of it. She still had the towel around her head and was now rubbing her wet hair with it.

"...Hey...lets go into the living room."

"...Why?"

"I want to know why you've come home in the soaking wet rain of course. C'mon, I'll make you some hot chocolate."

"...It's fine."

"No it isn't actually!"

"I thought I told you to let me worry about my own problems!"

"Damn it! Do you know how worried I was! I slept most of the day because I didn't want to face the reality that you might leave."

"...Worried?"

"Yes. So let me help you. No, I want to help you."

"Shin-ji."

Tears started to well up in Asuka's eyes, but she brushed them to the side with the back of her hand.

"Hmm. Okay."

Taking Asuka's hand, he pulled her out of her sitting position, and into the living room. Leading her to the couch, he wrapped a blanket around her shoulders, and hurried off to make the hot chocolate.

After rummaging around in the cupboard he found some cocoa and marshmallows and quickly added the hot milk.

Rushing back to the living room, he was surprised to find that she had turned the T.V. on was now slouching on the couch cushions. Maybe nothing had really happened and she had just decided to walk home. Though he couldn't see any sane parent letting their child walk home in this weather.

"Here," he mumbled while holding out the cup to her.

"Oh...thanks."

Taking it from his hands she immediately took a large swig and immediately burned her tongue.

"Ahhhh! Hot!"

"What'd you expect, lukewarm?"

"...Shut it."

"Before I even thinking about keeping quiet I want to know exactly what happened today. Why did you suddenly decide to talk to your father? Its not certainly not because you mis-"

"Don't say it!"

"Do you?"

"...I don't know! Stop bothering me, damn it!"

"Asuka!"

Asuka turned slowly towards Shinji as he sat down on the couch next to her.

"Are you...lonely?"

"Lonely? Tch, as if thats something I'd even worry about."

"You are, aren't you!"

"No! I'm! Not! Baka!"

"Damn it! Listen to me Asuka! No, look at me."

Asuka had turned away from him and was now watching the T.V. though not really seeing it.

"...I'm not lonely. I don't need help. I don't want help. I can be by myself. I don't need friends. I need only pilot E-"

"...Stop...just stop it all ready."

Shinji cut her off abruptly by wrapping his arms around her middle. At first she tried to push them away, but finally gave in to his assertion.

"...I...didn't want to be alone. ...I wanted to be loved by him again. I wanted to have a family again."

"...Asuka you fool!"

Asuka turned her head towards him angry but was silenced as Shinji tightened his grip around her middle.

"Idiot! What am I and Misato then? Coworkers? Look at who's around you. Touji, Kensuke, Hikari, Ritsuko...me and Misato. What are we to you? Aren't we friends? Even Ayanami is your friend."

Asuka scoffed lightly at the mention of Rei's name. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to have a conversation with her and enjoy it. But she was starting to understand what Shinji was talking about.

"...Asuka...that father of yours could never understand the friendship that everybody has formed with you. So what if you don't have a proper family! I don't either! But I'm able to continue because I have you, Misato, and everybody else by my side. I use to hate everybody...because nobody loved me. I wanted everybody to just disappear so I'd never have to related to anybody else. But, I learned that that was just to painful. ...If everybody was to leave...I don't want to go back to what I once was."

"...Shin-"

"So don't leave! Don't leave with that bastard! Stay here with everybody and continue enjoying your life here! Where you belong!"

"...Shin-ji..."

Breathing heavily after unleashing his pent up thoughts since he knew that Asuka might be leaving, he unwrapped his arms around her middle and turned the opposite direction.

"So don't leave...ever..."

"..."

"Now...why were you outside in the freezing rain, because if it has anything to do with that bastard I'm gonna-"

"Its not what you think. It was my decision to be out there."

"But why were yo-"

"...Because of my father."

"Then it is his-"

"Shut it for a minute and let me talk."

"...Fine..."

"...Okay so I was somewhat glad that I was able to talk to him again. I hadn't talked to him for five years so of course I was happy. He took me out to lunch in his new Mercedes and we went shopping afterwards. Overall I had a good time. Then though he started talking about how he wanted to see me more, like bringing me back with him to Germany. I told him that it was impossible since I was to heavily involved with Nerv here. He said that I could just work at the German branch."

"After that things started to go down hill. It was obvious that he wanted to spend more time with me...but I just wasn't ready for that. After everything that he had done how could I be? Though what really pissed me off was when he introduced me to his new wife. I felt like I was looking at my dead mother."

Shinji opened his mouth, but closed it quickly. He could guess where this was going.

"In short, she looked so much like my mother that it was disgusting. He wasn't happy enough that he had me, his daughter, the splitting image of my mother. He had to go and fuck around with other woman, and I know they were fucking as she was pregnant...four months she has."

A small silence appeared at her words in which Shinji wasn't sure if he should talk or remain quiet.

"After learning that I'd be living with a woman that looked exactly like my mother and a child that would look the same, I decided I had had enough. My fathers personality had not changed in those five years. He may not have touched a bottle of beer in years but he was still the same selfish bastard that I hated. I left them. And guess what? He'd didn't even bother looking for me. He was to busy talking with his new wife about what the baby's bedroom was going to be like and whether it was a boy or a girl. He didn't even care in the end about the daughter that he already had."

Shinji digested everything in his mind, but the same thing still came out. Her father had abandoned her once again.

"...Its unforgivable," he whispered.

"I don't care anymore. I'm done with him. If he comes crawling back to me this time I'll kick him in the crotch and tell him to get the fuck out of my sight."

"Good...he deserves it."

"...Ah I'm tired now, after all this talking."

"Well, your futon is in your room again."

"Speaking of my room, what made you think you had the right to help me dress?"

"...That was because you didn't seem capable!"

"Whether I was or not, doesn't matter. Pervert!"

"God your so-"

The front door opened.

Shinji and Asuka both turned their heads towards the sound of the door and heard the shuffling of feet across the wooden floor.

"Misato?"

"Oh Shinji I'm so glad that you're here...Oh Asuka good your here also. Listen we have a problem."

"What?"

"Well...while walking back to the apartment from my car...I-I met Asuka's father."

Shinji felt Asuka's entire body seize up next to him and instinctively reached out and grabbed ahold of the hand closest to him.

"What did you say," whispered Shinji?

"Asuka's father is outside the front door and demanding to see Asuka. He said something like he's taking her away, and that she's better off not staying here anymore. Hang on...I'll contact Nerv and get him arrested-"

"No...I'll take care of this," whispered Shinji calmly. His voice held venom in it.

"Shinji he's an adult. What do you plan to do?"

"...What I should have done yesterday."

"SHINJI WAIT!"

Standing up hurriedly before Misato could stop him, he didn't even realize that Asuka was still holding firmly onto his hand. So before he knew that she was next to him, as he was opening the front door.

"About time," said a snarling voice.

Shinji froze. No...it wasn't.

Reality was to cruel.

Shinji was looking back at the subject of his nightmares for the last week.

Asuka's father had a long, tan, overcoat on over the slacks and dress-shirt that he was wearing. In addition he had a hat on, pulled low over his eyes, so that Shinji could only see the whites of his eyes in the lack of light. His dreams had finally come to fruition. How could he have been so stupid to not realize this sooner?

Taking a rather hesitant step backwards, he felt pressure on his left hand and looked around to see Asuka leaning up against him, with both her hands holding onto his. It seemed to give him new strength as he glared murderously back at his enemy. With the blooding pounding in his ears, and his entire body shaking angrily, he managed to get out a few simple words.

"Leave. Asuka doesn't want to stay with you."

"I think thats my decision and no one else's, kid."

"No...you're wrong. Its Asuka's decision above all else. And she has decided to stay here."

"I'm her father! I make the rules! And I'm telling her to return with me to Germany!"

Shinji felt Asuka shiver next to him and had to restrain himself from not breaking her father in half.

"I'll say it again. Leave."

"And I'm saying that I don't take orders from a kid like you! You will return my daughter to me-"

"Father!"

Shinji and Asuka's father both turned their heads to the strong voice of the frightened girl clutching her friends hand.

"I'm no longer your daughter. You don't have one. You lost the privilege to call me your daughter a long time ago. Leave! I don't want to have to listen to your sniveling bitching anymore."

Asuka's father was rendered speechless for a minute before lashing out in anger. His face twisted into a sickening grimace as he retorted, "Tch, spoiled brat. Fine be that way. Stay here for all I care, I never cared for you anyway. In the end you're just like your mother. A slu-"

...Snap...

Shinji's fist collided directly against the side of his face, instantly shattering his jaw, and connecting with his temple. His bottom and lower jaw overlapped each other quickly with the sound of two rocks being ground together. His lower jaw unhinged from the top and seemed to dangle their effortlessly, tearing apart the bottom lip and ripping the roots of his teeth out in the process. Blood spewed forth from his opened mouth as the top part of jaw bit down on his tongue, ripping off a piece of it in the process. The slimy substance slid out of his mouth and onto the ground. The force of Shinji's blow had even broken apart some of the cartilage in his noes, making him bleed from the nostrils.

Above all else it was the hit to the temple that seemed to do the most damage. Shinji had swung with all his might and had struck a part of the human body that was...rather sensitive. He blacked out almost instantly as the blow to the cranial lobes made blood drip from the ears. The blow had additionally cracked part of the skull.

The entire thing transpired in less then three seconds as Shinji struck and now looked down at the man which he wondered if he had just killed. A pool of blood was slowly starting to from beneath him and the smell of it was already starting to linger in the air.

Shinji felt a strong throbbing sensation in his hand and looked down to see that he had split open the knuckles in his right hand; the one he had swung with.

"Shinji..."

Shinji wheeled around to see a wide eyed Asuka looking at him while Misato had her mouth wide open behind her.

"...Sorry...I couldn't let him talk about you like that. He deserved it."

"Shinji," said an exasperated Misato. "You might have killed him."

"He'd deserve it." His words were ice.

Rushing over to the man laying on the ground, Misato grabbed his wrist and managed to find a weak pulse.

"He's alive."

"I'll fix that really quick," mumbled Shinji as he walked over to the almost dead man, but something grabbed onto his wrists.

Turning around he saw Asuka had one hand on his wrist, while the other was resting on his shoulder.

"Its enough. He'll be lucky to be able to talk after this. I don't want you to have to go to jail because of something like this. He won't go to jail? Will he, Misato?"

"No, he shouldn't. I'll arrange stuff with Nerv and have them claim it was self defense. Considering your fathers record, it'll be believable. Though Shinji...what you did...I still can't-"

"I'll listen to it later."

Turning around, Shinji walked by a wordless Asuka, and walked into his own room before sliding the door closed.

Misato eyed the door heavily before looking back at the man on the ground. Shinji seemed to be showing more signs of aggression lately, making her wonder if piloting Eva Unit 01 was creating these mood swings.

Really, he needed to learn to grow up.

Shinji rolled over onto his side. His clock read midnight.

Rolling back around he had a sudden urge to vomit. He had just been reliving the nights events, and was still surprised that he had almost killed Asuka's father. He could remember the feel of his fist as it collided with the side of his head and the feeling the as skull as it cracked. It still sent a shiver down his spine. Against all his willpower he had still resorted to violence. Sure he had thought of it, but had never really intended on beating the shit out of him. Even so, he would have done it again most likely, because of what he had said to Asuka.

Earlier that night, just before Shinji dropped off to sleep, he remembered Misato talking through his door. She said that Asuka's father had been taken to a Nerv hospital and examined. In order to repair his jaw he would need screws inserted into the bone to hold his jaw in place, not that it would do any good in the first place. The blow to the cranial lobes had apparently done some damage to his brain. All he could do so far was drool and shit himself; talking seemed next to impossible. Big change from the man that was once a big CEO just a few hours ago.

Well, he considered himself lucky. If he really had killed the man, he didn't think Misato would even be able to gloss over it. She had already spent some time (and money) creating eye witnesses that would testify in court if they had to, saying that it was all self defense.

He should be happy, but he wasn't. He didn't think that anything productive had come out of his paralyzing a person. He was even slightly worried that Asuka might be mad at him. Above all else he hoped this last part wasn't true.

"I really screwed up," he mumbled into the night.

Sighing heavily he turned around, and laid on his stomach with is head resting under the pillow. He was just thinking about turning his SDAT on and forgetting everything when something surprised him.

He heard the door sliding open.

In his desperate attempt to scramble around to see who it was, he heard somebody hissing through the small gap in the open door.

"Don't move...don't say anything."

The voice almost made him yell.

"Asu-"

"Quiet, baka."

He blinked several times to try to see any sign of her outline behind the door, but it was just to dark.

After an abrupt silence, Asuka spoke up. "Hey...is it okay if I stay here for a while?"

"I thought you didn't want me to say anything," Shinji mumbled.

"...What?"

"Nothing. ...Do as you please."

"Hmm. K'ay."

Shinji rolled back the other way then and closed his eyes. It's not like she needed his permission if she wanted to stay outside his door.

He completely misunderstood her intensions and realized too late as she slid the door open all the way.

"Wha-What are you?"

Before he was able to turn around, he heard a soft thud land next to him and felt something soft brush up against his back briefly. Next he heard the rearranging of blankets and realized that she had been way too prepared with her own blanket and pillow.

"Asuka, what are you do-"

"Don't look over here...stay facing that way."

"...Okay, but why..."

"...I don't honestly know...I just woke up and found myself walking over here with a blanket and pillow. A-Anyways, d-don't get any weird i-ideas. Now keep quiet, I'm going to sleep."

"No...but this is..."

"What?"

"...Nevermind..."

"Hmph."

The two lapsed into silence soon. Only now was Shinji self-conscious of what was going on. He was sharing a futon with Asuka. Every guy in his class would give an arm and a leg for this opportunity. He had know idea if she was lonely or what, but was relieved that she still appeared to be on speaking terms with him. But something still nagged at the back of his mind.

Disobeying her demands he rolled over to look at her and sucked in his breath as he realized he was a mere centimeter away from kissing her. It would have been funny if one of them had sneezed at that point. Asuka appeared to have expected something like this and was obviously waiting for him to do exactly what he just did. Though she didn't seem at all put off that they had almost kissed, rather, she seemed to be enjoying the close contact.

"So? You want to say something right?"

Shinji turned his head the other way so he was able to breath again.

"Well, yeah," he muttered.

"So what is it?"

"...Are you mad at me."

"...Huh? What kind of a question is that? Why would I be mad?"

"...For what I did to your father."

"What, almost killing him? Course I'm not. He deserved it and this means I never have to worry about him again. I should be thanking you."

"...He still is your father though."

"Tch, I don't have a father. I've got friends, a guardian...and you."

Shinji didn't quite understand why he wasn't included in the friends category.

"Were you worried about something so trivial as that."

"...Yeah."

"Huh...you can be really stupid sometimes. Forget it. I'm not mad...and being here should clarify that."

"I suppose thats true."

"Don't expect this to happen again."

"I never even expected it to happen once."

"Liar."

"Fine, Fine. I dream about this all the time. Happy?"

"Not particularly. Now quiet already. If you can't sleep then go on the couch. I don't want you to be tossing and turning only to wake me up."

'Who was the one that woke who up again?' Shinji thought in his head.

"Anyways...night Shinji..."

"Oh...night."

In the end...he wasn't able to sleep...and passed the rest of the night away listening to his SDAT. Asuka slept the night away in his room, tightly wrapped in Shinji's blankets.

I had a lot of fun typing this chapter because its been in my head, floating around, since the start of summer. I have a strong hatred for rapists and guys that abuse woman in general. I guess I let my own feelings sorta flow out from Shinji in this chapter. I can honestly say that I could not be unbiased if I was asked to preside as a juror at a rapist trial.

P.S. I'm posting this at a Home Depot.