This was one overly popular story back in it's day, but many people complained about the ridiculous number of chapters, so I decided to re-post it with a different chapter length. Also it gives a chance for those who haven't read it to give it a try. I said I had stopped writing but there is a chance that I will continue this story later in the summer. Some editing has been done to the story so it makes more sense, but mostly people won't notice. Anyway, to anyone who hasn't read it, hope you enjoy it…
*******************
-Chapter 1-
---
"Sir!" Shigero exclaimed in alarm. "I am reading a high speed object travelling on a direct course towards Earth!"
The expression on the Commander's face remained un-changed. "An Angel?"
"Negative." Makoto looked at some of the readings and fluctuations he was receiving. "It has no distinguishable pattern."
"Very well." The Commander stood up. "I want this object tracked and all possible data on it collected!"
"Yes sir!"
---
A burning fireball plummeted towards the Earth, spiralling and spewing orange flames as it broke through the atmosphere and smashed against the solid ground.
The smoke slowly cleared up, revealing a small, smooth metallic sphere lying in a large crater. Steam bellowed out of tiny opening as a small hatch began to move.
The dark shape that emerged from inside moved as quickly as the wind. A child-like giggle could be heard as it headed towards the towering metropolis of Tokyo 3.
---
Two people dressed in school uniform could be seen walking through the busy streets of Tokyo 3. The red headed girl exhibited a dominant presence as she gracefully slid across the pavement. The brown haired boy on the other hand, strutted meekly a few paces behind her, evidently, heading in the same direction.
"Hey Baka!" Asuka called out as she looked back to the boy trailing behind.
"Y-Yes Asuka?" The boy stuttered out, sounding guilty although clearly having done nothing wrong.
"Do you know what day it is today?" She asked him, sounding annoyed.
"Tuesday?" He asked meekly, sounding unsure.
"You really are a Baka!" She shouted at him in exasperation. "It's Valentine's Day you idiot!"
Shinji's expression darkened slightly, he was now in step with her at least. "And, what's that got to do with me?" He asked in a flat voice.
"Oh nothing." Asuka replied. "I was just thinking that you might have someone special you'd like to share the it with."
'That did not sound like Asuka' Shinji thought to himself, but the look he received, with the slowly intensifying glare told him to answer quickly.
"There's no place in my life for that kind of thing." Shinji answered truthfully. "I've got my own problems to take care of."
That served as a closing statement to their conversation, as the two Eva Pilots spend the rest of their walk to school in silence.
Unknown to both of them, the dark shadow loomed overhead, as if eavesdropping on their conversation. The child like giggle was heard again as it vanished out of sight.
---
-Later that day-
The apartment door burst open announcing the return of the loud-mouthed red headed pilot, soon followed in by Shinji.
Asuka carried with her an impressive amount of Valentine cards and boxes of chocolates, which was no surprise. The strange thing was that Shinji had a pile with him that gave Asuka's a run for her money.
They both lay their presents on the table and began to arrange their cards and chocolates, or in Asuka's case: arrange the chocolates and bin the cards.
"I'm the most popular girl in school!" Asuka blurted out. "None of these perverts deserve to even lay their eyes on me!"
"Well, if the pile I have before me is anything to go by-" Shinji paused for a second rubbing his hands together, "-then I guess I'm the most popular guy in school."
Asuka knew he spoke in logic, but she was still disgusted by the idea.
"What-ever." She told him as she stood up. "I'm gonna go take a shower." She walked towards the bathroom but paused before entering. "Peek and you'll be sorry you ever met me!"
With that she shut the door behind her, leaving a disgruntled Shinji alone in the Kitchen.
---
The third child was currently sitting on the sofa, passively watching a show on TV when Asuka entered the room. His expression fell because inevitably she would disturb or annoy him in some way.
"What are you watching Baka?"
"Just some silly talk show."
"Hand it over." She demanded as she loomed over him.
He looked puzzled for a moment, but then followed her gaze to the object presently located in his hand.
"I won't ask you again." She said in a menacing voice.
Reluctantly and somewhat grudgingly, Shinji handed over the remote control for the TV, stood up and retreated towards his room. The words: "Spineless Baka" following him as he exited the living room.
Asuka settled down and started skimming through the channels in search of something she would hopefully enjoy.
---
On the outside of the apartment building, the strange dark shadow had settled on their window porch and was currently spying on the occupants of the apartment.
'There's definitely something between those two, but they're so blind not to see it.' It thought to itself as it surveyed Asuka. 'Luckily, that's where I can make a difference.'
A small, semi-transparent arrowhead appeared out of thin air and soared straight through the open window and towards Asuka.
'Leave it all to Cupid!'
---
Asuka was starting to get bored with the TV, but then she felt a small prick somewhere on her body, followed by a pleasantly warming sensation. She quickly stood up and looked around the room, but found no one.
As she sat back down on the couch, she was flooded by some peculiar thoughts and overcome with a foreign feeling. That's when she stood up and headed for Shinji's room.
---
Shinji was lying on his bed, listening to his SDAT player as usual, when he heard a light knock on the door.
He stood up straight just in time to see his door being pushed lightly aside. Soon Asuka showed her face and regarded him as if for the first time.
She had a funny look in her eyes.
'Damn I'm good!' Cupid though to himself as he surveyed the scene from just outside the window.
---
A blue sports car skidded in to a parking space in front of the apartment block that served as a home for the two Eva pilots. A disgruntled major got out and made her way towards the entrance to the building, eager to get some rest after a hard day on the job.
*******************
Asuka stood by the door and regarded Shinji, who was now sitting up in his bed and was looking at her with a questioning expression.
"Err, Shinji." She began in an uncharacteristically meek voice. "Do you mind if I come in?"
Shinji looked unsure for a second, but when he saw the non-threatening expression on her face, he answered with: "Not at all."
"I just wanted to talk." She muttered quietly as she walked towards Shinji's bed and sat down next to him. She turned to face him and spoke:
"Shinji, do you hate me?"
The question surprised Shinji.
'Of course he didn't hate her, how could he? Sure, she was annoying at times, but in all honesty, she brightened his days up.'
"No I don't." He answered her simply.
Relief showed on her face. The young boy was genuinely confused as to what she was getting at. Asuka suddenly became tense and unsettled, most un-like her usual self.
He somehow found enough strength to look at her eyes, and she stared right back at him, then suddenly, she leaned over and kissed him.
After Shinji recovered his mind and his basic motor functions, he noticed two things about the kiss. One: it was slow, but conveyed untold emotion, and two: it had a distinct salty taste.
His eyes sprang open so that he could get a look at her as she kissed him, and noticed that she was crying. It looked as though she was putting everything that she was in to the kiss.
Asuka pulled back, and with a teary visage latched on to Shinji as though holding on for dear life.
"Shinji!" She gasped. "I've been so stupid!"
Shinji on the other hand was paralysed. 'Just some Hentai dream I'm having.' He quietly told himself.
Asuka pulled back slightly so she could look at him in the face.
"Shinji, I-I love you." She said without breaking his gaze.
That was just too much for the poor boy. His brain was working on the damage control by now, but it looked like it wasn't holding up well.
---
Misato quietly walked in to the apartment. "I'm home!" She announced, but got no reply.
'Where have those two gone off to now?' she asked herself as she began looking round the apartment.
---
Asuka was very surprised when Shinji fainted right before her. Luckily, he simply fell back on his bed. She bent down over him to check if he was okay, unfortunately, that was the exact moment when Misato walked in to the room.
"Asuka!" She screamed as she looked at the scene before her. "What are you doing?!"
The purple haired woman rushed over to Shinji and when she saw that he was unconscious she turned to look at Asuka demanding an explanation.
"What's going on here?!" She yelled at her.
---
'Better keep an eye on these guys.' Cupid thought to himself as he watched the drama unfold before him.
---
Shinji slowly came back in to consciousness. He blinked a few times to clear his vision and get a better look at the two shapes that stood over him. As he regained his sight fully, he saw that Asuka was looking at him with tears in her eyes, and Misato was also there, although her expression was indistinguishable.
"What are you guys doing in my room?" He asked them both.
"We were waiting for you to wake up." Misato answered.
"Oh good." Shinji looked relieved as he sat up in his bed. "I just had this crazy dream."
Asuka wiped a few of her tears away and smiled, taking a gentle yet firm hold of his hand.
"I can assure you it was no dream." She told him quietly.
When she said that, Shinji's eyes rolled upwards and he passed out for the second time that day.
Misato sighed and turned to Asuka.
"I think we should leave him alone for a bit."
Asuka looked at her as though she was crazy. "There's no way I'm leaving Shinji alone when he's in this condition!" She yelled at her.
Misato sighed again and proceeded to drag the kicking and screaming girl out of his room.
---
Misato and a distraught looking Asuka sat at the kitchen table. No one was saying anything. They both heard a door opening behind them and a ghostly pale Shinji walked in to the kitchen and took his usual seat. Still, no one made a sound.
Misato decided it was about time she got some answers as to what was going on.
"Okay you two, tell me what's happening."
Shinji looked up at her and said: "I really don't know."
Asuka had had enough of this by now. She leapt out of her chair and ran around the table to Shinji, and promptly sat on his lap putting her arms around his neck. He was literally frozen solid at this point.
Misato stood agape at what she just witnessed.
"Asuka! What the hell is going on?!" She screamed at the German girl, who looked very happy to remain where she was at the moment.
"Isn't it obvious, Misato?" Asuka smiled as she spoke to the major. "Me and Shinji are deeply in Love!"
It was Misato's turn to faint this time, and a resounding thud echoed around the kitchen as she hit the floor.
"What's her problem?" Asuka asked Shinji.
He however, had lost the ability to speak, and simply stood there, imitating a goldfish as he tried to put together a few words but no sound came out.
*******************
As usual, Shinji woke up first and went in to the kitchen to make breakfast, not wanting to endure any of Misato's so called cooking. He also wanted to pre-occupy himself so he wouldn't have to think about what happened yesterday. It was just too damn strange. Asuka: the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, in love with him? Hah! He wouldn't be surprised if this was some sort of cruel joke she was playing on him, but something in his mind told him that what she said was genuine.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice the girl in question as she sneaked up on him. Shinji jumped in surprise as she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"How's my Shinji this morning?" She whispered in to his ear.
"F-Fine." He stuttered out as she snuggled her face against his neck.
"Mmm" She smiled in content.
Someone made a throat clearing sound from behind and both children turned around to see Misato with a disgusted look on her face.
"I still don't believe this." Misato told them as she reached in to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers. She then sat down at the table as Shinji, who was still being held on by Asuka put a plate in front of her.
Eventually, Asuka let go of him but kept on grinning like a giddy school girl who'd just been asked to the dance by the boy of her dreams.
Soon enough, Shinji placed a plate before her and then sat down carrying one for himself.
It didn't go unnoticed by Misato as the younger of the two women kept on stealing glances at her young male charge.
"That's enough!" She suddenly shouted dropping the fork down on her plate with a loud clatter. "Asuka, stop this right now!"
Asuka looked genuinely puzzled. "What do you mean?" She asked the purple haired woman.
"Stop pretending you love Shinji!" She shouted before she could consider what she was saying.
Asuka looked really hurt by that comment, but just because she was going soft on Shinji, it didn't mean she would let Misato push her around.
"And I suppose you know anything about love?!" Asuka shouted back at her guardian. "I love Shinji more then anything in the world!"
At this point in time Shinji had stopped eating and was listening to what Asuka was saying. If what she was saying was really true, she could give him what he's never had since his mother's death.
"What about Eva?!" Misato yelled at Asuka, confident that this question would expose her true intentions.
Asuka simply shrugged and said: "It's just a job."
When that revelation struck, Misato stopped dead in her tracks. "Are you sure you're alright?" She asked the German girl, this time concern evident in her voice.
"I've never been better!" She exclaimed and then turned to Shinji who was sitting as still as a rock. "C'mon Shinji! We'll be late for school."
Asuka grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the apartment, pausing only for him to put his shoes on.
Misato just stood dumbfounded at the table. 'What the hell is going on?'
---
'Why, I do believe everything will turn out juuuuust fine' If the strange dark shadow that was Cupid had lips, they would have been curled up in to a smile.
---
Currently, Shinji and the enamoured Asuka were in the elevator, travelling down to the ground floor.
Shinji risked a glance at Asuka and noticed she had a really hungry look in her eyes. He yelped as she literally jumped on him and pulled him in to another extremely passionate kiss. This time however, he managed to return it.
When the elevator door opened, two flushed teenagers walked out, both blushing immensely. The rest of the walk to school was rather uneventful, apart from the fact that Asuka was leaning against Shinji, holding his arm in the same way she used to with Kaji. The only difference was the stunningly content smile plastered on her face.
"Shinji?"
"Hmmm?"
"I love you." She said simply. Shinji couldn't help but smile. 'Maybe things would turn out alright.'
---
Shinji and Asuka walked in to the class.
"Hey Shinji, how's it going my ma-Oh my God!" Touji screamed as he pointed his finger at Asuka who was hanging on to Shinji's arm. "What are you doing, Devil Girl?!"
"What the hell?!" Kensuke shouted as well.
The rest of the class turned to see what the commotion was about, and an uncontrollable amount of murmuring emanated from all the groups of people situated in the room as they saw the reason behind the outburst.
Hikari shoved her way to the front of the class and stood before Asuka and Shinji.
"Shinji, what is this?" He just shrugged at the question. Hikari then faced Asuka with a look that demanded an answer.
"Isn't it obvious?" Said a dreamy eyed Asuka as she stared at the object of her affection. "Me and Shinji are an item now!"
The sound of two people falling was heard through-out the room and everyone turned to see an unconscious Touji and Kensuke lying next to their desks. Cupid who was standing outside the window sighed when he saw them. 'What is up with these people?'
Hikari looked close to fainting, but being the class rep, she was used to weird situations like this.
"Okay guys, you've given us all a scare, you can stop pretending now." Hikari honestly thought that Asuka was playing some sort of trick that she had coaxed Shinji in to helping her with.
The red headed girl looked deeply offended at her friend. She was also angry that one of the few people she was on good terms with hadn't taken her seriously.
"Well, if that's what you think, then I guess you don't know me all too well." Asuka replied coldly and shunted hew way past Hikari, dragging Shinji along.
She isolated two seats at the back of the class and sat next to Shinji. That's when the ice queen herself: Rei Ayanami walked up and stood before them.
"What do you want Wonder girl?" Asuka demanded when she saw her.
"I wish to speak with Ikari." Rei replied monotone.
Before Shinji could answer for himself, Asuka cut in.
"Oh no you don't!" She yelled at her. "I'm not going to let you fill his head with any of your funny ideas!"
"I just want to have a conve-"
"I said NO!" Asuka yelled even louder then the last time interrupting her. "Get lost!" Shinji buried his face in his arms.
Before Rei could say anything else the teacher came in and she retreated back to her seat on the other side of the class by the window.
*******************
As usual, the lesson was a boring one. The sensei blabbered on, and on, and on about his childhood before: "the tragedy known as second impact."
Shinji had fallen asleep long ago, and was snoring lightly using his folded arms as a pillow. He was currently turned facing towards Asuka's desk.
Asuka herself was still awake. Awake for one purpose, and one purpose only. She wasn't paying attention to the class, or to the hundreds of messages that kept on appearing on her computer, demanding to know: "what's going on". She was simply watching Shinji as he slept.
'He's so cute!' She thought as his brow furrowed for a moment before he resumed his peaceful sleep again.
In the meantime, there was an entirely different presence keeping a watch on the whole class. The being known as Cupid had taken the shape of a cardboard box that was situated atop one of the shelves at the back of the room (yes he can shape shift). He surveyed the class, and read their emotions. Currently no one was thinking about love, so he just lay back (or just stood there), and waited until he could act.
The bell soon rang, and Shinji bolted up. The first thing he saw when he regained his senses was a smiling Asuka. Although he still wasn't used to this, he had to admit it was better then her shouting and hitting him all the time.
He stood up and both him and Asuka walked out of the class with the rest of the students to get their lunch, leaving only Rei and another boy who most people knew as Goro in the class. Cupid was also there.
Rei was oblivious to anything around her as usual, and just stared out of the window. It seemed as though the boy was nervous about something. Cupid immediately felt something from him. 'He likes the girl with the red eyes!' He thought happily.
Goro approached Rei and pulled a chair from an adjacent desk and sat in front of her. She didn't even turn to look at him.
"Um, Ayanami?" He began.
Slowly, almost grudgingly, Rei finally turned to him, but her expression was one of indifference.
"Rei, I know we haven't really spoken before." He gulped. "But I really like you and the whole mysterious girl thing."
Rei thought about this for a second. "Is there a point to this?" She asked him in a very flat voice.
"Um." The boy gulped again. "I was wondering if maybe we could go out and see a movie together or something?" He finished that last part very quietly. Rei did not look impressed, in fact she didn't look anything.
"If I'm ordered to I will." She replied finally. The boy's expression fell.
"So that's a no?" He asked, dreading the worst.
"For now it seems so." She answered him, and then turned back to her window gazing.
The boy sighed, pain clearly showing on his face as he stood up and walked out of the room.
'Now that wasn't very nice!' Cupid thought angrily. 'She needs to learn a lesson in love!'
Another semi transparent arrow appeared out of thin air. Cupid, or rather the cardboard box, took aim, and the arrow soared through the air directly towards Rei.
'Easy money' Cupid thought to himself, but to his horror, just before the arrow reached its target, it ricochet off of and invisible wall. 'What in the world?'
Again, to Cupid's horror, something he did not expect happened. Rei: the girl he was aiming for, stood up, turned around and looked straight towards him.
"You are exposed." She said. "Show yourself."
'Uh oh, better do a runner!' He thought desperately, but when he tried to teleport he found himself being locked in his place, un-able to transport himself. 'An AT field?'
"I won't ask you again." Rei said, this time in a surprisingly menacing voice, considering whom it was coming from.
Cupid felt the AT field around him shimmer and then disappear, and he floated off the shelf and towards the girl. Half way through the flight the cardboard box transformed back in to it's dark shadow form.
Rei now stood face to shadow with Cupid.
"Who are you?" She asked him.
"I'm Cupid." The shadow replied.
"I see." Rei fell silent for a moment. She had read about Cupid in books, but did not believe him to be a real entity.
"You were foolish to try and manipulate me." Rei told him.
"Yeah, now you tell me." The shadow said with a somewhat sarcastic tone.
"You manipulated Pilot Sohruy?" Rei enquired.
"Yes I did." Cupid replied, feeling somewhat proud of his handiwork.
"You should not have done that." Rei told him. "Shinji will be hurt deeply when he learns her feelings are not real."
Cupid could see where she was coming from, but he had justified his actions long ago.
"I wouldn't worry about that." Cupid told her. "I didn't make Asuka love him. I simply unleashed the feelings she kept secret."
"Pilot Sohruy has feelings for Ikari?" Rei asked in surprise.
"That's right. She holds a great deal of love for him in her heart." He paused for a second as though to collect his thoughts. "She kept it hidden even from herself, I simply let her see it."
Rei thought about this for a moment. "It still doesn't justify the manipulation of other's emotions." She said finally.
"Hey, I'm only doing my job." Cupid said somewhat angrily.
"You are not an Angel?" She asked, although she already knew the answer.
"Those guys that go around wrecking cities?" Cupid sounded offended. "Hell no! I bring love, not destruction!"
"What are you then?" Rei demanded.
"Just that." He replied simply. "A bringer of love."
The bell rang and Rei turned around for a second to see if anyone was coming, but when she turned back, Cupid was gone. He had gotten away. Somewhat cross with herself she went back to her seat and resumed her window gazing as though nothing un-usual had ever happened.
Soon enough, the students started flooding back.
When Asuka and Shinji finally entered, the whole class was filled with whispering again.
"Look!" She suddenly shouted at everyone. "Me and Shinji are going out! There's nothing more to it!"
Although Shinji had never said anything of the sort, he didn't really want to burst her bubble.
Asuka turned back to him and smiled. "Well, let's go and take our seats!" She exclaimed happily.
"Sure Asuka." Shinji said.
The last two people to enter the class were Touji and Kensuke, who shot extremely dirty glances at the pair at the back.
*******************
Apart from the public displays of affection by Asuka, and the fact that Touji and Kensuke had avoided him, Shinji's day had been pretty much normal.
Currently, him and Asuka were walking back home with their hands intertwined. Shinji had agreed to hold her hand after she pleaded to him, and he just couldn't say no. This also brought about a new question: What does he do about his current relationship with Asuka?
It was just so confusing. She had gone from one extreme to another. One minute she couldn't stand to look at him, the next she won't leave him alone. He supposed that Asuka had always had over the top emotions, so it wasn't really that weird, but it just seemed so unreal.
He made his mind up to at least try and return some of the feelings. He had liked the girl ever since he met her, but he can't honestly say that he loved her. He would do his best, and hopefully he would develop the same feelings for her.
---
The apartment door opened and the two young Eva pilots stepped in.
"Hey guys, welcome home!" A voice called from within one of the rooms.
"What's Misato doing back so early?" Shinji asked his read headed companion.
"I don't know." Asuka replied. "Maybe she got some time off."
"Hey Asuka!" Misato called out from the kitchen again. "There's someone here that wants to see you!"
"What's this about now?" Asuka asked no one in particular as she and Shinji walked towards the sound of Misato's voice.
"Hello, Asuka."
"Kaji!" She exclaimed happily.
"How are things?" He asked her with a smile.
"Things couldn't be better!" She told him cheerfully. What Misato thought was weird was the fact that Asuka hadn't flung herself at the man like she usually did when he was around.
"I'm glad to hear it." The man then turned to Shinji. "And how are you today?"
"I'm fine." Shinji said as he turned to look at Asuka. "It's been a bit weird though."
"Oh I can imagine." Kaji informed them. "Misato told me about the change in Asuka."
Asuka frowned at this. "Will you guys stop analysing me?! I haven't changed!"
"Actually Asuka," Misato interrupted her. "You've done a total 180 on Shinji."
Asuka didn't respond to this. Kaji, feeling a bit sympathetic, chose to take Asuka's side and tease the good Major for a bit.
"Then again Misa-chan," he said thoughtfully "maybe Shinji's just more of a ladies man then we thought."
"Don't call me Misa-chan!" Misato snapped at the unshaven man. Kaji just smiled.
"Well I'm glad some things haven't changed."
"You'd be glad if I don't decide to beat you to a pulp!" Misato seethed through clenched teeth.
Both Shinji and Asuka had lost interest in the two adults by now. Their arguments were nothing new.
"What-ever!" Asuka said loudly. "Me and Shinji are going to watch TV." Both teens walked out of the kitchen and went to the living room.
Kaji immediately dropped the façade and turned to Misato, this time with a more serious expression.
"I see what you mean."
"What do you think is going on?" Misato inquired, her own anger subsiding.
Kaji didn't answer for a moment. "Short of sleeping together, I don't know what could have brought about this change."
Misato looked stunned. "I'm gonna have a talk with Asuka about this!"
"I think I might have friendly chat with Shinji too. It ought to be good for him." Kaji added.
---
Both teens were sitting on the couch watching some silly talk show. Surprisingly, it was a program of Shinji's choice. Asuka was resting her head against his shoulder, not really watching the TV. She had the same content smile on her face that she had during the walk to school.
"Hey you two!" Misato shouted from the kitchen. "Me and Kaji want to have another talk with you!"
Grudgingly both teens went back in to the Kitchen. Misato led Asuka in to her room, whereas Shinji followed Kaji in to his own.
Kaji told Shinji to sit on the bed as he pulled out the chair under the desk and sat down across from him.
"Shinji, I think we need to have a talk." Kaji said calmly.
"What about?" Shinji asked him, really not knowing what the older man had planned.
"I'm gonna teach you bout the birds and the bees." Kaji told him with a wide grin. Shinji started stuttering something out but it wasn't making any sense.
---
In Asuka's room, the major was trying the same thing but with the German girl instead. Un-like Shinji, Asuka wasn't just going to sit back and let someone lecture her like she was some sort of idiot.
"And why are we having this talk?" She demanded.
"Because frankly I don't trust you two anymore!" Misato shot back.
---
Cupid stood outside the apartment and alternated between the two room's windows so he can keep an eye on what was happening. He found the whole situation very funny.
---
"And that's why I think you should watch yourself from now on." Kaji finished.
Shinji just stood there, red faced, not saying anything. They could both hear Asuka shouting in the other room.
*******************
Currently, the occupants of the Katsuragi household were sitting at the kitchen table quietly, eating the dinner that Shinji had prepared along with Asuka's help.
Yes, Asuka had helped Shinji cook.
Kaji had left after his talk with the young Eva pilot, which left him alone in the apartment with an annoyed Misato and a very angry Asuka. He was glad that none of the anger had been directed towards him; on the contrary, she would still smile sweetly whenever he interacted with her.
"So." He decided to loosen the tension a bit. "Are you guys enjoying your meal?"
"It's great Shinji!" Asuka answered happily. "You sure know how to cook!"
Misato just grunted in reply, obviously still unhappy at her young charges. She had been convinced that they had probably slept together, which would atone for Asuka's new attitude towards Shinji.
"Misato, is something wrong?" Shinji asked her, wanting to know why she was acting like this.
"Oh no." She answered sarcastically. "Nothing's wrong. I've just been a bit blind lately."
"What do you m-" before Shinji could finish what he was saying; Asuka silenced him by placing her hand on his. When he looked at her she just shook her head. He sighed and went back to his meal. Of course, none of this went unnoticed by the Major.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." The purple haired woman had difficulty restraining herself from lashing out at her roommates, but now wasn't the time anyway. "Tomorrow morning you have some sync tests, so you'll miss a day off school."
"Big deal!" Declared Asuka. "So what if I miss a day off from that waste of time you people call school?"
"Not all of us have finished collage you know." Shinji said quietly. Asuka quickly regretted her words and walked around the table to embrace Shinji.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. "I wasn't thinking about what I was saying." Shinji just nodded dumbly as he tried to return the hug.
Misato observed the whole scene from across the table. 'This just isn't right.'
"Anyway, you two better go to bed." She said, but then winced when she realized the double meaning. "In your own rooms I mean!" she added hastily.
Both children just stared at her for a moment, a slight tinge of pink on Shinji's cheeks.
"You're such a pervert, Misato." Asuka declared.
"Shut up, Asuka!" The major snapped. Both Teens were surprised by her sudden outburst.
"There's no need to get angry." Shinji pleaded. When it looked like it wasn't getting anywhere, he quickly stood up and collected all the plates. He would wash them tomorrow.
After the table had been cleared up, Shinji and Asuka retreated to their rooms, but not before Asuka gave her new love a sweet goodnight kiss.
'I'll miss him.' The German girl thought to herself as she lay down in her bed.
---
Outside of the city, a NERV research team worked hard, too busy for sleep, excavating the site where the small metallic sphere had impacted.
"Easy there!" One of the personnel shouted as the surprisingly heavy object was lifted in to a large NERV transport.
"All remains of the unidentified object have been recovered." The man supervising the excavation spoke in to a cell phone.
"Good work." The voice on the other line was unmistakable. It was Gendo Ikari. "Get it back to HQ and begin your research."
"Yes Sir!"
"Remember, all findings are to be classified." With that closing statement, the line was disconnected.
---
Shinji awoke to the sound of Misato shouting at him from outside his door. He still wasn't fully awake so he couldn't really understand what she was saying. As he blinked his eyes open and tried to get up, he found himself pinned to the bed by a strange weight. When he looked down, he saw that Asuka was resting against his chest, hugging him tightly whilst smiling in her sleep.
'Oh crap' Shinji thought.
"Shinji! How many more times am I going to tell you to get up?!" Misato shouted at him from outside the door.
When he didn't answer, she decided to open it, and what she saw inside didn't please her one bit.
"Caught in the act!" she shrieked.
"Misato! It's not what it seems!" Shinji yelled worriedly. The redheaded girl began to stir and opened her eyes.
"Wassumatter?" She mumbled half asleep.
"Get up right this instance young lady!" Misato yelled at her.
Asuka turned and when she saw Misato at the doorway she began to get worried.
"Guten Morgen, Misato." She said, hoping to lighten the situation.
"What's so good about it!" The Major screamed at them both.
There was no escape from this one.
---
The drive to HQ was incredibly quiet. The chewing out Shinji and Asuka had received was particularly severe.
From the way Asuka understood it, she would no longer be able to spend any time with Shinji. Although she feared the idea, she was also extremely angry with Misato for imposing it.
She was just about to say something when Misato beat her to it.
"I don't want to hear another word from you Asuka. You're already in enough trouble."
She was about to retort but a look from Shinji told her not too. She just took his hand in her own, fearing it might be the last time she can do this.
*******************
"Harmonics are all stable." Maya informed Ritsuko.
"So, how are the kids doing?" Misato asked her.
"Well, these sync ratios are the highest they've ever been." Maya replied.
"Really?" Misato asked in surprise.
Ritsuko decided to tease Misato for a bit.
"Well, I think it might be tied up with the rumours I've been hearing." She said as she grinned at her old time friend. "Maybe Shinji and Asuka finally let loose on some tension that's been building up."
"Shut up!" Misato yelled at the blond haired doctor. "I want to hear no more of it!"
Everyone in the control room laughed at the two women.
"Ritsuko, could you step out for a moment." Misato asked sweetly. "I need to talk to you about something."
Both women stepped out and left the rest of the bridge bunnies alone.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Makoto asked one of his two associates.
Shigero just shrugged. Maya didn't make an effort to answer.
---
Both women now stood in one of NERV's many corridors.
"What do you want Misato?" Ritsuko asked the purple haired woman.
"Listen." She began. "I want you to run a physical on Asuka."
"So the rumours are true!" Ritsuko exclaimed in surprise.
Misato's expression fell a bit. "I don't know what to think."
"Don't worry about it." Ritsuko told. "Shinji's a responsible boy."
"I hope." The Major replied stoically. "Just do what I asked."
"No problem. They've got a physical coming up anyway." The Doctor replied with a smile. After that, both women went back in to the control room.
---
The techs turned around to see Misato and Ritsuko coming back in to the room. The Doctor went straight to one of the mikes and spoke in to it.
"Okay guys, you can get out now. The test is finished."
---
Misato was driving Asuka and Shinji back home. Although the sync tests had taken a lot less time then she had originally anticipated, she decided to let them have the rest of the day free.
"So, we're off the hook?" Asuka broke the silence with this hopeful question.
"I didn't say that." Misato replied. "I simply haven't thought of a suitable punishment for you two yet."
Shinji was sitting in the front seat silently but thought that Misato wasn't being fair. He hadn't done anything! However, if Asuka was going to get punished, he wasn't going to let her bear it alone.
The boy was startled when a hand from behind reached out and started stroking his hair. He turned his face slightly and saw Asuka smiling at him. He could do nothing other then return the smile.
Misato smiled as well. She didn't agree on their new relationship, but she had to admit it was rather cute.
---
Deep within central dogma, a select few scientists supervised by Doctor Akagi were hard at work investigating the small probe that had crashed earlier that week.
"This is amazing." She said in disbelief.
"What is amazing Doctor?" Ritsuko turned around and came face to face with Gendo Ikari.
"This." She pointed to a section of the small sphere that had been opened by the technicians. "The energy source matches that of-"
"-The Angels." Ikari finished for her.
Ritsuko nodded. "That's right. It is a fully functional non-bio S2 engine."
"Amazing." Another voice echoed behind them.
"Professor, what do you make of this?" Gendo asked as he turned to the older man.
"Can we use this to our advantage?" Fuyutsuki asked the blond woman.
"I believe it is possible we can adapt this to our technology, but-" She trailed off for a second.
"But what, Doctor?" Gendo asked her, his short patience wavering.
"Something was in there." She told them in a quiet voice. "And we can be sure it's going to come back."
Fuyutsuki was taken aback by this revelation; Gendo on the other hand remained impassive.
---
It had been a few hours since Misato had dropped Shinji and Asuka off back at her apartment. The German girl was currently in the shower, which gave Shinji some time to himself.
He was sitting on the living room couch quietly doing his homework when he heard the bathroom door open, meaning that Asuka had finished showering. What surprised him was the fact that she casually walked in to the living room with only a towel draped around her body. When she saw Shinji she smiled and walked towards him.
"Shouldn't you get dressed, Asuka?" He offered weekly as she sat down next to him. Steam radiating from her wet body.
"Maybe later." She answered with a smile.
'Maybe?' Shinji thought to himself slightly unnerved by what she said.
He tried to get back to doing his homework, but soon a shadow started blocking out the light. He looked up and saw that Asuka had moved from her original seat and was now looming dangerously close over him.
"A-Asuka?"
"Shinji." She whispered seductively.
"Um, what are you doing?" He asked meekly.
She didn't answer him, but instead started moving closer to him. Her wet strands of hair were brushing against his face, causing him to blush.
She moved ever closer, so close in fact that he could smell the sweet sent of her shampoo and body lotion. The poor boy was close to fainting again, but just before he did the doorbell rang and he jumped up from under her.
'Saved by the bell!' He thought gratefully as he rushed to the front door.
When he opened it he saw Hikari standing on the other side.
"Hello Shinji." She said.
"Hi, Hikari." He greeted her back. "What brings you here?"
"I wanted to talk to Asuka." She told him.
"Okay." He moved aside. "You can come in."
Her and Shinji walked back in to living room to find that Asuka wasn't there.
"She's probably putting on some clothes." He said after a while.
Shinji noticed the funny look Hikari was giving and quickly said: "She just came out the shower! That's what I meant!" He finished the last part blushing brightly.
---
On the other side of town, Rei sat quietly in her apartment, completing several homework assignments for school.
As she wrote the answer to a question down, she suddenly felt a presence behind her and turned around to see who it was. To her surprise, she had once again come face to shadow with 'The bringer of Love.'
"Hi!" He said cheerfully.
Rei didn't answer for a moment.
"Why have you come here?" She enquired.
"I wanted to talk to you."
*******************
Asuka stepped in to the living room dressed in her yellow T-Shirt and low cut shorts to see Hikari and Shinji quietly waiting for her. She was disappointed that she had been prevented from having some fun with Shinji, but was also curious as to why her friend was paying her a visit.
"What's up?" She asked as she sat down next to Shinji so she was facing Hikari.
"Listen Asuka." Hikari looked down for a moment. "I'm sorry about yesterday."
"Huh?"
"When I thought you and Shinji were playing a trick." She whispered. "I should have taken you more seriously."
"Oh." Asuka looked surprised for a moment, but then remembered how angry she had been. She thought she might yell a bit more, but then she saw the painfully sorry expression on her friends face, so that idea went out the window. "It's okay." She said finally.
Hikari looked relieved, but then chose to speak again. "So, now that we've put that behind us, how would you like to go shopping with me tomorrow after school?"
"That's a great idea, Hikari!" Asuka smiled. "But only one condition."
Shinji, who had remained quiet up until this point in time, started getting unnerved by the Red Heads mischievous smile that was now directed at him.
"Shinji has to come with us!" She finally said.
"What?!" Both Hikari and Shinji yelled in unison.
And to add to Hikari's further displeasure, the German girl started moving closer to Shinji until she was literally sitting on top of him.
"You don't mind do you Shinji?" She whispered in to his year.
He couldn't answer.
---
Ritsuko Akagi walked in to Gendo Ikari's dark, gloomy office and approached his desk, handing him the latest data reports on the recent find.
"Good." He finally said after skimming across some of the data. "This will be most useful."
Ritsuko was about to say something, but the cold-hearted Ikari beat her to it.
"Very well." He looked up and smirked at the woman. "You're dismissed, doctor."
Seeing that it was now pointless to say any anything else, Ritsuko turned on her heels and exited the office.
---
Back in Ayanami's apartment, Cupid was greatly anticipating to hear what Rei had to say about what he had just asked her to do.
"Very well." She said finally.
"So you'll help me?" He asked hopefully.
"Yes, but I will not deceive others or go out of my way to assist you." She told him stoically.
"Yes!" Cupid yelled happily. "You don't know how much this means to me!"
Rei didn't say anything for a moment, but then she turned to the door and began to walk towards it.
"Come with me." She told him without turning.
"Where are we going?" He asked her, wondering what she had planned.
"There is someone else who can help us." She informed him. "It would also be best if you found a way to conceal yourself."
Cupid though about this for a moment, and then an idea sprang in to his mind. He transformed himself in to a hat, which perfectly matched Rei's eye colour, and floated on to her head.
"Hope you don't mind." He said. Rei didn't answer. "You look good!" Cupid told her as they passed by a mirror on the way out of her apartment.
'Red.' She thought to herself. 'The colour I hate.'
---
On the other side of town, Touji and his spectacled comrade were deep in thought about a devious plan of their own. They wanted to get back at Sohruy for taking their friend away from them, and also get back at Shinji for betraying them like he did.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Kensuke shouted at his friend.
"Well, what do you propose we do?" Touji asked him exasperated.
"I have an idea." Kensuke told him quietly, an evil smile spreading across his features.
---
Back in the Katsuragi household, Hikari had left the two pilots alone, meaning that Asuka could still have some fun with her new "boyfriend". Currently they were both involved in a good old game of 'Kiss Chase,' the only difference being: Shinji was not running away from a kiss, but to preserve his chastity.
*******************
And so begins another normal school day!
Kensuke and Touji observed with somewhat disgusted expressions on their faces as Asuka literally slobbered all over Shinji as the sensei continued on with his stories.
"Look at her." Touji whispered sourly.
"Hey man, chill out." Kensuke whispered back at him. "We'll put the plan in motion soon." At this, the spectacled boy began to type something in to his computer.
The boys it turned out weren't the only ones that had problems staying awake during their Sensei's long, boring lectures. The girls had similar problems, and a girl that goes by the name of Sakuya was no such exception. She was tops in the looks department, but also had a somewhat radical personality and was willing to try new things. This made her rather desirable amongst the male student body. Currently she was sleeping peacefully resting her head on her desk.
Unfortunately for her, she was stirred awake from her peaceful relief by an annoying beeping sound on her computer. Someone wanted to engage her in a private conversation. Seeing as anything was better then listening to the old man at the front, she decided to go along with it and clicked 'Ok.'
---
[Animan] Hello?
[Sakuya] Who's this?
[Animan] It's Kensuke.
[Sakuya] What the heck do you want?
[Animan] Just to talk.
[Sakuya] What about?
[Animan] You like Shinji, don't you?
[Sakuya] Not that it's any of your business, but yeah, I do.
[Animan] And what about Asuka?
[Sakuya] That bitch! I was planning on asking him out, but then she comes in and ruins it all!
[Animan] That's just what I needed to hear.
[Sakuya] What are you up to?
[Animan] Well, to cut a long story short: Touji and Me are really pissed off at her display with Shinji.
[Sakuya] Ugh, tell me about it.
[Animan] So, we've decided to do something and put an end to it.
[Sakuya] What do you plan to do?
[Animan] We've thought of a plan to break them up.
[Sakuya] Really?!
[Animan] Yes. But we'll need your help.
---
Sakuya paid close attention to her monitor as Kensuke explained the details. From the grin on her face it would seem that she approves.
---
[Animan] So, you'll help us?
[Sakuya] Definitely, I need to get back at that Bitch Sohruy anyway.
[Animan] Good, good, that's what I want to hear.
[Sakuya] We can do this today. Shinji and me have clean up duty.
[Animan] Really? That's perfect!
---
Sakuya smiled to herself. This really was perfect.
---
The school day passed relatively quickly. Only a few students remained in the class now.
"So, Shinji!" Asuka smiled brightly. "You ready to come shopping with us?"
"Actually, Asuka." Shinji looked uncomfortable for some reason. "I checked the schedule today, and it seems I'm on clean up duty."
"What?!" Asuka was suddenly angry. "Hikari get over here right now!"
"What is it?" She asked her red haired friend as she approached.
"Why did you put Shinji on clean up duty the one day we were going to take him shopping?" She yelled.
"Oh no!" Hikari looked surprised at the news. "I forgot! I'm sorry, Asuka, but this stuff is planned months in advance."
"Well then, I'm not going!"
"Asuka, you can't just change your mind like that!" Hikari didn't look happy.
"Yeah, you should go and have some fun." Shinji added.
"You okay with that?" She asked Shinji looking concerned.
"Yeah, I'll be fine!" He smiled at her. 'I never wanted to go in the first place.' he though to himself. "Besides, if I skip on the work I'll just have to make up for it later."
" I guess." Asuka didn't look convinced, but her friend's pleading eyes made her think otherwise. "Oh, alright." She finally said.
"I guess I'll see you later then?" Shinji asked her.
"I won't be long." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Well, bye then!" With that, both girls turned and exited the room, leaving Shinji alone with Sakuya.
"We may as well get started." He told her and they both began to tidy the desks and clean the boards.
They were done pretty quickly, the only thing left to do now was water the flowers.
"Can you manage it from here alone?" Shinji asked Sakuya, eager to get home and relax for the evening.
"Yeah, sure." She replied. "Hey, before you go!"
Shinji stopped and turned around to face her. "What is it?"
Before he had a chance to react, the girl closed the distance between them and forcefully planted her lips on his. Shinji was so stunned that he failed to notice the camera flashes from outside the window.
It wasn't long until the boy regained his senses, and as soon as he did he pushed her away.
"What the hell are you doing?" He demanded.
"What did it look like?" She asked him obviously annoyed at the interruption.
Shinji just shook his head. "What-ever." He didn't turn to look at her as he walked out of the classroom and began to make his way home. He wasn't sure, but all the attention he was getting from Asuka had probably made him more confident in situations like these.
---
In the meantime, Hikari and Asuka were looking around one of the biggest clothes stores in all of Tokyo 3.
"Hey Hikari!" Asuka yelled at her friend from across the store. "What do you think of this?"
Hikari made her way to her feeling slightly embarrassed about the way her friend had shouted.
"But those are clothes for a boy!" She said in a voice that suggested her friend was crazy.
"I know that!" Asuka said loudly back to her. "It's for Shinji!"
"Oh." Hikari's cheeks reddened slightly.
"Well, do you think he'd like it?" Asuka queered.
"Yeah, definitely." Hikari told her confidently. "I think it would go well with his eyes."
"That's what I was thinking as well." Asuka said thoughtfully. "Well, I'll get it then!" She finally said somewhat excitedly. In truth she was imagining the way Shinji would react to her present. 'He'd probably kiss me!' She smiled at the thought.
Hikari just stood by and watched the emotional display on Asuka face. She went from a smile, then to a smile with dreamy eyes and finally a smile with a blush. She didn't want to know what the Red Head was thinking about.
---
On the other side of town, two of the three Stooges were discussing the success of their plan with the third person involved.
"Well, we got the pics." Kensuke showed the photos to Touji and Sakuya.
"Are you sure about this, man?" Touji was having doubts. "I mean, isn't this blackmail?"
"It's just a few photos Touji." Sakuya told him. "Besides, from the way Asuka treated me when I tried to talk to her once, I think she deserves this!"
"Oh, there's no doubt Asuka deserves it." Touji spoke thoughtfully. "But we're also going to hurt Shinji."
"Oh relax man." Kensuke finally spoke. "If it all goes right, the only change will be Shinji's girlfriend."
Sakuya blushed at the sheer bluntness of the statement.
---
A few hours later, Shinji was sitting alone in the apartment watching Television along with Pen Pen. Misato had phoned him earlier telling him she'll be late because something had popped up at work.
Shinji noted that it was getting rather late and Asuka had still to return.
---
Just outside the apartment, Asuka stood face to face with Sakuya, a girl she particularly disliked.
"What do you want?" She said after the girl didn't move out of her way.
"I've been waiting for quite a while." She answered. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Well I don't!" Asuka snapped. "Shinji's upstairs and I don't want to keep him waiting."
With that, Asuka shoved past the girl and walked towards the door.
"I wanted to talk to you about Shinji." Sakuya told her from behind. That sentence made the German girl stop in her tracks and look back at her.
"What about Shinji?" She asked her.
"Actually, I think it would be better if you had a look at these." She held up a bunch of photographs. They were too small for Asuka to see from where she stood, so she made her way over to Sakuya and grabbed them from her hand.
When she looked at them, he eyes widened in shock.
"Yep." Sakuya said triumphantly as she observed the Red Head's reaction. "He is a damn good kisser. I can see why you like him so much."
It was too much for Asuka to take. She dropped the shopping bags down on the floor as she struggled to keep the tears from flowing out.
She slowly turned around and walked in to the apartment and towards the elevator. He mind was in such distress that she forgot all about the expensive clothes she purchased as she rode the elevator up to her floor. It took her all her might to keep herself from collapsing on her knees.
*******************
Rei was walking through the streets of Tokyo 3, Cupid keeping her company.
"Hey Rei, I've got something to ask you." Cupid broke the quiet.
"What is it?"
"Exactly why are you helping me?" He asked her, never really getting to grips with her true intentions or motives.
"You brought Ikari happiness." She said simply. "He means a lot to me." Pausing for a moment, she continued. "I like to see him smile."
"Maybe I should have hooked you two up instead, eh?" Cupid put more thought in to the idea.
"No." Rei told him firmly, interrupting his thoughts. "It is not meant to be."
Deciding not to question her any further, Cupid fell silent again, resuming his function as a hat.
---
Touji and Kensuke sat on a park bench. It wasn't long before the person who they were waiting for approached them.
"It's done!" Announced Sakuya.
"Excellent!" Kensuke exclaimed. "How did she take it?"
The girl chuckled at the question. "Not well."
"That bad, huh?"
"She started crying." Sakuya said gleefully. Kensuke looked surprised.
"Hold on a second." Touji interrupted the two. "Are you saying that the Red Devil actually started crying?"
"Yeah!" Sakuya replied happily. "You should have seen her face!"
The two boys fell silent at the news.
Touji soon turned to Kensuke and spoke. "Crap, dude."
Kensuke nodded, a look of dread on his face. "Shinji's in trouble."
"What?" Sakuya looked puzzled. "What's wrong now?"
"We went too far." Kensuke told her with a frown.
"Surely you don't regret doing it?" Brief anger flashed across her face, but Touji lifted his hand up, stopping her before she could say any more.
"You don't know the Devil like we do." He said.
"Shinji-" Kensuke paused for a moment to emphasize his point. "-is a dead man."
The two boys stood up and turned to Sakuya.
"We gotta go." They both said at the same time and they both rushed away. Sakuya now stood alone next to the park bench, the look on her face indistinguishable.
"Idiots." She murmured quietly as she started heading home.
---
Shinji heard the door to the apartment open, meaning that Asuka had returned. She had taken longer then he expected she would, but he was relieved that she was back none-the less.
It wasn't long before Asuka came in to the living room looking for him. She saw him casually sitting on the couch.
"Oh, hey!" He said cheerfully. "Took you a long time. What happened?"
She didn't answer. Just stared at him with absolutely no expression on her face. Shinji looked back at her, not quite sure what was going on.
"how?" she finally said, her voice on the verge of breaking.
"What?" He asked, not knowing what she meant.
"w-why?" She asked again, sounding even weaker, now silent tears were sliding down from her eyes.
Shinji stood up and went over to her.
"Asuka, what's wrong?" He asked in concern. "Asuka?"
She didn't answer him, but then:
*SMACK*
Shinji fell back from the impact, blood streaming from his nose and now swollen lip. He looked up to see the girl with a heart-breaking expression on her face, her knuckles bruised and tears falling from her eyes.
She looked down at him, her sadness turning in to intense anger.
"YOU JERK!" She screamed at him, kicking him on the side. She saw him cringed at the pain from the blow. "Damn you." She sniffled.
The hurt boy risked looking up again, but Asuka was gone. He then heard the door to her room slam shut and the lock being applied.
---
Touji and Kensuke walked at a fast pace, although both weren't quite sure where they were heading.
"We screwed up bad." Touji said after a bit.
"No kidding." Kensuke replied, feeling angry with himself. Now that he though about it, what they had done was really stupid.
"I don't believe it!" Touji burst out again. "She actually cares for him!"
They had both honestly thought that Asuka was just using Shinji and that he was too blind to see it.
"Me neither." Kensuke though that the idea of the Red Devil liking someone other then herself was just absurd.
"God, this feels rotten!" Touji yelled yet again. Not even Asuka deserved what they had bestowed upon her.
"I KNOW!" Kensuke screamed at him, finally loosing what remained of his temper.
*******************
-Chapter 1-
---
"Sir!" Shigero exclaimed in alarm. "I am reading a high speed object travelling on a direct course towards Earth!"
The expression on the Commander's face remained un-changed. "An Angel?"
"Negative." Makoto looked at some of the readings and fluctuations he was receiving. "It has no distinguishable pattern."
"Very well." The Commander stood up. "I want this object tracked and all possible data on it collected!"
"Yes sir!"
---
A burning fireball plummeted towards the Earth, spiralling and spewing orange flames as it broke through the atmosphere and smashed against the solid ground.
The smoke slowly cleared up, revealing a small, smooth metallic sphere lying in a large crater. Steam bellowed out of tiny opening as a small hatch began to move.
The dark shape that emerged from inside moved as quickly as the wind. A child-like giggle could be heard as it headed towards the towering metropolis of Tokyo 3.
---
Two people dressed in school uniform could be seen walking through the busy streets of Tokyo 3. The red headed girl exhibited a dominant presence as she gracefully slid across the pavement. The brown haired boy on the other hand, strutted meekly a few paces behind her, evidently, heading in the same direction.
"Hey Baka!" Asuka called out as she looked back to the boy trailing behind.
"Y-Yes Asuka?" The boy stuttered out, sounding guilty although clearly having done nothing wrong.
"Do you know what day it is today?" She asked him, sounding annoyed.
"Tuesday?" He asked meekly, sounding unsure.
"You really are a Baka!" She shouted at him in exasperation. "It's Valentine's Day you idiot!"
Shinji's expression darkened slightly, he was now in step with her at least. "And, what's that got to do with me?" He asked in a flat voice.
"Oh nothing." Asuka replied. "I was just thinking that you might have someone special you'd like to share the it with."
'That did not sound like Asuka' Shinji thought to himself, but the look he received, with the slowly intensifying glare told him to answer quickly.
"There's no place in my life for that kind of thing." Shinji answered truthfully. "I've got my own problems to take care of."
That served as a closing statement to their conversation, as the two Eva Pilots spend the rest of their walk to school in silence.
Unknown to both of them, the dark shadow loomed overhead, as if eavesdropping on their conversation. The child like giggle was heard again as it vanished out of sight.
---
-Later that day-
The apartment door burst open announcing the return of the loud-mouthed red headed pilot, soon followed in by Shinji.
Asuka carried with her an impressive amount of Valentine cards and boxes of chocolates, which was no surprise. The strange thing was that Shinji had a pile with him that gave Asuka's a run for her money.
They both lay their presents on the table and began to arrange their cards and chocolates, or in Asuka's case: arrange the chocolates and bin the cards.
"I'm the most popular girl in school!" Asuka blurted out. "None of these perverts deserve to even lay their eyes on me!"
"Well, if the pile I have before me is anything to go by-" Shinji paused for a second rubbing his hands together, "-then I guess I'm the most popular guy in school."
Asuka knew he spoke in logic, but she was still disgusted by the idea.
"What-ever." She told him as she stood up. "I'm gonna go take a shower." She walked towards the bathroom but paused before entering. "Peek and you'll be sorry you ever met me!"
With that she shut the door behind her, leaving a disgruntled Shinji alone in the Kitchen.
---
The third child was currently sitting on the sofa, passively watching a show on TV when Asuka entered the room. His expression fell because inevitably she would disturb or annoy him in some way.
"What are you watching Baka?"
"Just some silly talk show."
"Hand it over." She demanded as she loomed over him.
He looked puzzled for a moment, but then followed her gaze to the object presently located in his hand.
"I won't ask you again." She said in a menacing voice.
Reluctantly and somewhat grudgingly, Shinji handed over the remote control for the TV, stood up and retreated towards his room. The words: "Spineless Baka" following him as he exited the living room.
Asuka settled down and started skimming through the channels in search of something she would hopefully enjoy.
---
On the outside of the apartment building, the strange dark shadow had settled on their window porch and was currently spying on the occupants of the apartment.
'There's definitely something between those two, but they're so blind not to see it.' It thought to itself as it surveyed Asuka. 'Luckily, that's where I can make a difference.'
A small, semi-transparent arrowhead appeared out of thin air and soared straight through the open window and towards Asuka.
'Leave it all to Cupid!'
---
Asuka was starting to get bored with the TV, but then she felt a small prick somewhere on her body, followed by a pleasantly warming sensation. She quickly stood up and looked around the room, but found no one.
As she sat back down on the couch, she was flooded by some peculiar thoughts and overcome with a foreign feeling. That's when she stood up and headed for Shinji's room.
---
Shinji was lying on his bed, listening to his SDAT player as usual, when he heard a light knock on the door.
He stood up straight just in time to see his door being pushed lightly aside. Soon Asuka showed her face and regarded him as if for the first time.
She had a funny look in her eyes.
'Damn I'm good!' Cupid though to himself as he surveyed the scene from just outside the window.
---
A blue sports car skidded in to a parking space in front of the apartment block that served as a home for the two Eva pilots. A disgruntled major got out and made her way towards the entrance to the building, eager to get some rest after a hard day on the job.
*******************
Asuka stood by the door and regarded Shinji, who was now sitting up in his bed and was looking at her with a questioning expression.
"Err, Shinji." She began in an uncharacteristically meek voice. "Do you mind if I come in?"
Shinji looked unsure for a second, but when he saw the non-threatening expression on her face, he answered with: "Not at all."
"I just wanted to talk." She muttered quietly as she walked towards Shinji's bed and sat down next to him. She turned to face him and spoke:
"Shinji, do you hate me?"
The question surprised Shinji.
'Of course he didn't hate her, how could he? Sure, she was annoying at times, but in all honesty, she brightened his days up.'
"No I don't." He answered her simply.
Relief showed on her face. The young boy was genuinely confused as to what she was getting at. Asuka suddenly became tense and unsettled, most un-like her usual self.
He somehow found enough strength to look at her eyes, and she stared right back at him, then suddenly, she leaned over and kissed him.
After Shinji recovered his mind and his basic motor functions, he noticed two things about the kiss. One: it was slow, but conveyed untold emotion, and two: it had a distinct salty taste.
His eyes sprang open so that he could get a look at her as she kissed him, and noticed that she was crying. It looked as though she was putting everything that she was in to the kiss.
Asuka pulled back, and with a teary visage latched on to Shinji as though holding on for dear life.
"Shinji!" She gasped. "I've been so stupid!"
Shinji on the other hand was paralysed. 'Just some Hentai dream I'm having.' He quietly told himself.
Asuka pulled back slightly so she could look at him in the face.
"Shinji, I-I love you." She said without breaking his gaze.
That was just too much for the poor boy. His brain was working on the damage control by now, but it looked like it wasn't holding up well.
---
Misato quietly walked in to the apartment. "I'm home!" She announced, but got no reply.
'Where have those two gone off to now?' she asked herself as she began looking round the apartment.
---
Asuka was very surprised when Shinji fainted right before her. Luckily, he simply fell back on his bed. She bent down over him to check if he was okay, unfortunately, that was the exact moment when Misato walked in to the room.
"Asuka!" She screamed as she looked at the scene before her. "What are you doing?!"
The purple haired woman rushed over to Shinji and when she saw that he was unconscious she turned to look at Asuka demanding an explanation.
"What's going on here?!" She yelled at her.
---
'Better keep an eye on these guys.' Cupid thought to himself as he watched the drama unfold before him.
---
Shinji slowly came back in to consciousness. He blinked a few times to clear his vision and get a better look at the two shapes that stood over him. As he regained his sight fully, he saw that Asuka was looking at him with tears in her eyes, and Misato was also there, although her expression was indistinguishable.
"What are you guys doing in my room?" He asked them both.
"We were waiting for you to wake up." Misato answered.
"Oh good." Shinji looked relieved as he sat up in his bed. "I just had this crazy dream."
Asuka wiped a few of her tears away and smiled, taking a gentle yet firm hold of his hand.
"I can assure you it was no dream." She told him quietly.
When she said that, Shinji's eyes rolled upwards and he passed out for the second time that day.
Misato sighed and turned to Asuka.
"I think we should leave him alone for a bit."
Asuka looked at her as though she was crazy. "There's no way I'm leaving Shinji alone when he's in this condition!" She yelled at her.
Misato sighed again and proceeded to drag the kicking and screaming girl out of his room.
---
Misato and a distraught looking Asuka sat at the kitchen table. No one was saying anything. They both heard a door opening behind them and a ghostly pale Shinji walked in to the kitchen and took his usual seat. Still, no one made a sound.
Misato decided it was about time she got some answers as to what was going on.
"Okay you two, tell me what's happening."
Shinji looked up at her and said: "I really don't know."
Asuka had had enough of this by now. She leapt out of her chair and ran around the table to Shinji, and promptly sat on his lap putting her arms around his neck. He was literally frozen solid at this point.
Misato stood agape at what she just witnessed.
"Asuka! What the hell is going on?!" She screamed at the German girl, who looked very happy to remain where she was at the moment.
"Isn't it obvious, Misato?" Asuka smiled as she spoke to the major. "Me and Shinji are deeply in Love!"
It was Misato's turn to faint this time, and a resounding thud echoed around the kitchen as she hit the floor.
"What's her problem?" Asuka asked Shinji.
He however, had lost the ability to speak, and simply stood there, imitating a goldfish as he tried to put together a few words but no sound came out.
*******************
As usual, Shinji woke up first and went in to the kitchen to make breakfast, not wanting to endure any of Misato's so called cooking. He also wanted to pre-occupy himself so he wouldn't have to think about what happened yesterday. It was just too damn strange. Asuka: the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, in love with him? Hah! He wouldn't be surprised if this was some sort of cruel joke she was playing on him, but something in his mind told him that what she said was genuine.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice the girl in question as she sneaked up on him. Shinji jumped in surprise as she wrapped her arms around him from behind.
"How's my Shinji this morning?" She whispered in to his ear.
"F-Fine." He stuttered out as she snuggled her face against his neck.
"Mmm" She smiled in content.
Someone made a throat clearing sound from behind and both children turned around to see Misato with a disgusted look on her face.
"I still don't believe this." Misato told them as she reached in to the fridge and pulled out a couple of beers. She then sat down at the table as Shinji, who was still being held on by Asuka put a plate in front of her.
Eventually, Asuka let go of him but kept on grinning like a giddy school girl who'd just been asked to the dance by the boy of her dreams.
Soon enough, Shinji placed a plate before her and then sat down carrying one for himself.
It didn't go unnoticed by Misato as the younger of the two women kept on stealing glances at her young male charge.
"That's enough!" She suddenly shouted dropping the fork down on her plate with a loud clatter. "Asuka, stop this right now!"
Asuka looked genuinely puzzled. "What do you mean?" She asked the purple haired woman.
"Stop pretending you love Shinji!" She shouted before she could consider what she was saying.
Asuka looked really hurt by that comment, but just because she was going soft on Shinji, it didn't mean she would let Misato push her around.
"And I suppose you know anything about love?!" Asuka shouted back at her guardian. "I love Shinji more then anything in the world!"
At this point in time Shinji had stopped eating and was listening to what Asuka was saying. If what she was saying was really true, she could give him what he's never had since his mother's death.
"What about Eva?!" Misato yelled at Asuka, confident that this question would expose her true intentions.
Asuka simply shrugged and said: "It's just a job."
When that revelation struck, Misato stopped dead in her tracks. "Are you sure you're alright?" She asked the German girl, this time concern evident in her voice.
"I've never been better!" She exclaimed and then turned to Shinji who was sitting as still as a rock. "C'mon Shinji! We'll be late for school."
Asuka grabbed him by the arm and dragged him out of the apartment, pausing only for him to put his shoes on.
Misato just stood dumbfounded at the table. 'What the hell is going on?'
---
'Why, I do believe everything will turn out juuuuust fine' If the strange dark shadow that was Cupid had lips, they would have been curled up in to a smile.
---
Currently, Shinji and the enamoured Asuka were in the elevator, travelling down to the ground floor.
Shinji risked a glance at Asuka and noticed she had a really hungry look in her eyes. He yelped as she literally jumped on him and pulled him in to another extremely passionate kiss. This time however, he managed to return it.
When the elevator door opened, two flushed teenagers walked out, both blushing immensely. The rest of the walk to school was rather uneventful, apart from the fact that Asuka was leaning against Shinji, holding his arm in the same way she used to with Kaji. The only difference was the stunningly content smile plastered on her face.
"Shinji?"
"Hmmm?"
"I love you." She said simply. Shinji couldn't help but smile. 'Maybe things would turn out alright.'
---
Shinji and Asuka walked in to the class.
"Hey Shinji, how's it going my ma-Oh my God!" Touji screamed as he pointed his finger at Asuka who was hanging on to Shinji's arm. "What are you doing, Devil Girl?!"
"What the hell?!" Kensuke shouted as well.
The rest of the class turned to see what the commotion was about, and an uncontrollable amount of murmuring emanated from all the groups of people situated in the room as they saw the reason behind the outburst.
Hikari shoved her way to the front of the class and stood before Asuka and Shinji.
"Shinji, what is this?" He just shrugged at the question. Hikari then faced Asuka with a look that demanded an answer.
"Isn't it obvious?" Said a dreamy eyed Asuka as she stared at the object of her affection. "Me and Shinji are an item now!"
The sound of two people falling was heard through-out the room and everyone turned to see an unconscious Touji and Kensuke lying next to their desks. Cupid who was standing outside the window sighed when he saw them. 'What is up with these people?'
Hikari looked close to fainting, but being the class rep, she was used to weird situations like this.
"Okay guys, you've given us all a scare, you can stop pretending now." Hikari honestly thought that Asuka was playing some sort of trick that she had coaxed Shinji in to helping her with.
The red headed girl looked deeply offended at her friend. She was also angry that one of the few people she was on good terms with hadn't taken her seriously.
"Well, if that's what you think, then I guess you don't know me all too well." Asuka replied coldly and shunted hew way past Hikari, dragging Shinji along.
She isolated two seats at the back of the class and sat next to Shinji. That's when the ice queen herself: Rei Ayanami walked up and stood before them.
"What do you want Wonder girl?" Asuka demanded when she saw her.
"I wish to speak with Ikari." Rei replied monotone.
Before Shinji could answer for himself, Asuka cut in.
"Oh no you don't!" She yelled at her. "I'm not going to let you fill his head with any of your funny ideas!"
"I just want to have a conve-"
"I said NO!" Asuka yelled even louder then the last time interrupting her. "Get lost!" Shinji buried his face in his arms.
Before Rei could say anything else the teacher came in and she retreated back to her seat on the other side of the class by the window.
*******************
As usual, the lesson was a boring one. The sensei blabbered on, and on, and on about his childhood before: "the tragedy known as second impact."
Shinji had fallen asleep long ago, and was snoring lightly using his folded arms as a pillow. He was currently turned facing towards Asuka's desk.
Asuka herself was still awake. Awake for one purpose, and one purpose only. She wasn't paying attention to the class, or to the hundreds of messages that kept on appearing on her computer, demanding to know: "what's going on". She was simply watching Shinji as he slept.
'He's so cute!' She thought as his brow furrowed for a moment before he resumed his peaceful sleep again.
In the meantime, there was an entirely different presence keeping a watch on the whole class. The being known as Cupid had taken the shape of a cardboard box that was situated atop one of the shelves at the back of the room (yes he can shape shift). He surveyed the class, and read their emotions. Currently no one was thinking about love, so he just lay back (or just stood there), and waited until he could act.
The bell soon rang, and Shinji bolted up. The first thing he saw when he regained his senses was a smiling Asuka. Although he still wasn't used to this, he had to admit it was better then her shouting and hitting him all the time.
He stood up and both him and Asuka walked out of the class with the rest of the students to get their lunch, leaving only Rei and another boy who most people knew as Goro in the class. Cupid was also there.
Rei was oblivious to anything around her as usual, and just stared out of the window. It seemed as though the boy was nervous about something. Cupid immediately felt something from him. 'He likes the girl with the red eyes!' He thought happily.
Goro approached Rei and pulled a chair from an adjacent desk and sat in front of her. She didn't even turn to look at him.
"Um, Ayanami?" He began.
Slowly, almost grudgingly, Rei finally turned to him, but her expression was one of indifference.
"Rei, I know we haven't really spoken before." He gulped. "But I really like you and the whole mysterious girl thing."
Rei thought about this for a second. "Is there a point to this?" She asked him in a very flat voice.
"Um." The boy gulped again. "I was wondering if maybe we could go out and see a movie together or something?" He finished that last part very quietly. Rei did not look impressed, in fact she didn't look anything.
"If I'm ordered to I will." She replied finally. The boy's expression fell.
"So that's a no?" He asked, dreading the worst.
"For now it seems so." She answered him, and then turned back to her window gazing.
The boy sighed, pain clearly showing on his face as he stood up and walked out of the room.
'Now that wasn't very nice!' Cupid thought angrily. 'She needs to learn a lesson in love!'
Another semi transparent arrow appeared out of thin air. Cupid, or rather the cardboard box, took aim, and the arrow soared through the air directly towards Rei.
'Easy money' Cupid thought to himself, but to his horror, just before the arrow reached its target, it ricochet off of and invisible wall. 'What in the world?'
Again, to Cupid's horror, something he did not expect happened. Rei: the girl he was aiming for, stood up, turned around and looked straight towards him.
"You are exposed." She said. "Show yourself."
'Uh oh, better do a runner!' He thought desperately, but when he tried to teleport he found himself being locked in his place, un-able to transport himself. 'An AT field?'
"I won't ask you again." Rei said, this time in a surprisingly menacing voice, considering whom it was coming from.
Cupid felt the AT field around him shimmer and then disappear, and he floated off the shelf and towards the girl. Half way through the flight the cardboard box transformed back in to it's dark shadow form.
Rei now stood face to shadow with Cupid.
"Who are you?" She asked him.
"I'm Cupid." The shadow replied.
"I see." Rei fell silent for a moment. She had read about Cupid in books, but did not believe him to be a real entity.
"You were foolish to try and manipulate me." Rei told him.
"Yeah, now you tell me." The shadow said with a somewhat sarcastic tone.
"You manipulated Pilot Sohruy?" Rei enquired.
"Yes I did." Cupid replied, feeling somewhat proud of his handiwork.
"You should not have done that." Rei told him. "Shinji will be hurt deeply when he learns her feelings are not real."
Cupid could see where she was coming from, but he had justified his actions long ago.
"I wouldn't worry about that." Cupid told her. "I didn't make Asuka love him. I simply unleashed the feelings she kept secret."
"Pilot Sohruy has feelings for Ikari?" Rei asked in surprise.
"That's right. She holds a great deal of love for him in her heart." He paused for a second as though to collect his thoughts. "She kept it hidden even from herself, I simply let her see it."
Rei thought about this for a moment. "It still doesn't justify the manipulation of other's emotions." She said finally.
"Hey, I'm only doing my job." Cupid said somewhat angrily.
"You are not an Angel?" She asked, although she already knew the answer.
"Those guys that go around wrecking cities?" Cupid sounded offended. "Hell no! I bring love, not destruction!"
"What are you then?" Rei demanded.
"Just that." He replied simply. "A bringer of love."
The bell rang and Rei turned around for a second to see if anyone was coming, but when she turned back, Cupid was gone. He had gotten away. Somewhat cross with herself she went back to her seat and resumed her window gazing as though nothing un-usual had ever happened.
Soon enough, the students started flooding back.
When Asuka and Shinji finally entered, the whole class was filled with whispering again.
"Look!" She suddenly shouted at everyone. "Me and Shinji are going out! There's nothing more to it!"
Although Shinji had never said anything of the sort, he didn't really want to burst her bubble.
Asuka turned back to him and smiled. "Well, let's go and take our seats!" She exclaimed happily.
"Sure Asuka." Shinji said.
The last two people to enter the class were Touji and Kensuke, who shot extremely dirty glances at the pair at the back.
*******************
Apart from the public displays of affection by Asuka, and the fact that Touji and Kensuke had avoided him, Shinji's day had been pretty much normal.
Currently, him and Asuka were walking back home with their hands intertwined. Shinji had agreed to hold her hand after she pleaded to him, and he just couldn't say no. This also brought about a new question: What does he do about his current relationship with Asuka?
It was just so confusing. She had gone from one extreme to another. One minute she couldn't stand to look at him, the next she won't leave him alone. He supposed that Asuka had always had over the top emotions, so it wasn't really that weird, but it just seemed so unreal.
He made his mind up to at least try and return some of the feelings. He had liked the girl ever since he met her, but he can't honestly say that he loved her. He would do his best, and hopefully he would develop the same feelings for her.
---
The apartment door opened and the two young Eva pilots stepped in.
"Hey guys, welcome home!" A voice called from within one of the rooms.
"What's Misato doing back so early?" Shinji asked his read headed companion.
"I don't know." Asuka replied. "Maybe she got some time off."
"Hey Asuka!" Misato called out from the kitchen again. "There's someone here that wants to see you!"
"What's this about now?" Asuka asked no one in particular as she and Shinji walked towards the sound of Misato's voice.
"Hello, Asuka."
"Kaji!" She exclaimed happily.
"How are things?" He asked her with a smile.
"Things couldn't be better!" She told him cheerfully. What Misato thought was weird was the fact that Asuka hadn't flung herself at the man like she usually did when he was around.
"I'm glad to hear it." The man then turned to Shinji. "And how are you today?"
"I'm fine." Shinji said as he turned to look at Asuka. "It's been a bit weird though."
"Oh I can imagine." Kaji informed them. "Misato told me about the change in Asuka."
Asuka frowned at this. "Will you guys stop analysing me?! I haven't changed!"
"Actually Asuka," Misato interrupted her. "You've done a total 180 on Shinji."
Asuka didn't respond to this. Kaji, feeling a bit sympathetic, chose to take Asuka's side and tease the good Major for a bit.
"Then again Misa-chan," he said thoughtfully "maybe Shinji's just more of a ladies man then we thought."
"Don't call me Misa-chan!" Misato snapped at the unshaven man. Kaji just smiled.
"Well I'm glad some things haven't changed."
"You'd be glad if I don't decide to beat you to a pulp!" Misato seethed through clenched teeth.
Both Shinji and Asuka had lost interest in the two adults by now. Their arguments were nothing new.
"What-ever!" Asuka said loudly. "Me and Shinji are going to watch TV." Both teens walked out of the kitchen and went to the living room.
Kaji immediately dropped the façade and turned to Misato, this time with a more serious expression.
"I see what you mean."
"What do you think is going on?" Misato inquired, her own anger subsiding.
Kaji didn't answer for a moment. "Short of sleeping together, I don't know what could have brought about this change."
Misato looked stunned. "I'm gonna have a talk with Asuka about this!"
"I think I might have friendly chat with Shinji too. It ought to be good for him." Kaji added.
---
Both teens were sitting on the couch watching some silly talk show. Surprisingly, it was a program of Shinji's choice. Asuka was resting her head against his shoulder, not really watching the TV. She had the same content smile on her face that she had during the walk to school.
"Hey you two!" Misato shouted from the kitchen. "Me and Kaji want to have another talk with you!"
Grudgingly both teens went back in to the Kitchen. Misato led Asuka in to her room, whereas Shinji followed Kaji in to his own.
Kaji told Shinji to sit on the bed as he pulled out the chair under the desk and sat down across from him.
"Shinji, I think we need to have a talk." Kaji said calmly.
"What about?" Shinji asked him, really not knowing what the older man had planned.
"I'm gonna teach you bout the birds and the bees." Kaji told him with a wide grin. Shinji started stuttering something out but it wasn't making any sense.
---
In Asuka's room, the major was trying the same thing but with the German girl instead. Un-like Shinji, Asuka wasn't just going to sit back and let someone lecture her like she was some sort of idiot.
"And why are we having this talk?" She demanded.
"Because frankly I don't trust you two anymore!" Misato shot back.
---
Cupid stood outside the apartment and alternated between the two room's windows so he can keep an eye on what was happening. He found the whole situation very funny.
---
"And that's why I think you should watch yourself from now on." Kaji finished.
Shinji just stood there, red faced, not saying anything. They could both hear Asuka shouting in the other room.
*******************
Currently, the occupants of the Katsuragi household were sitting at the kitchen table quietly, eating the dinner that Shinji had prepared along with Asuka's help.
Yes, Asuka had helped Shinji cook.
Kaji had left after his talk with the young Eva pilot, which left him alone in the apartment with an annoyed Misato and a very angry Asuka. He was glad that none of the anger had been directed towards him; on the contrary, she would still smile sweetly whenever he interacted with her.
"So." He decided to loosen the tension a bit. "Are you guys enjoying your meal?"
"It's great Shinji!" Asuka answered happily. "You sure know how to cook!"
Misato just grunted in reply, obviously still unhappy at her young charges. She had been convinced that they had probably slept together, which would atone for Asuka's new attitude towards Shinji.
"Misato, is something wrong?" Shinji asked her, wanting to know why she was acting like this.
"Oh no." She answered sarcastically. "Nothing's wrong. I've just been a bit blind lately."
"What do you m-" before Shinji could finish what he was saying; Asuka silenced him by placing her hand on his. When he looked at her she just shook her head. He sighed and went back to his meal. Of course, none of this went unnoticed by the Major.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." The purple haired woman had difficulty restraining herself from lashing out at her roommates, but now wasn't the time anyway. "Tomorrow morning you have some sync tests, so you'll miss a day off school."
"Big deal!" Declared Asuka. "So what if I miss a day off from that waste of time you people call school?"
"Not all of us have finished collage you know." Shinji said quietly. Asuka quickly regretted her words and walked around the table to embrace Shinji.
"I'm so sorry." She whispered. "I wasn't thinking about what I was saying." Shinji just nodded dumbly as he tried to return the hug.
Misato observed the whole scene from across the table. 'This just isn't right.'
"Anyway, you two better go to bed." She said, but then winced when she realized the double meaning. "In your own rooms I mean!" she added hastily.
Both children just stared at her for a moment, a slight tinge of pink on Shinji's cheeks.
"You're such a pervert, Misato." Asuka declared.
"Shut up, Asuka!" The major snapped. Both Teens were surprised by her sudden outburst.
"There's no need to get angry." Shinji pleaded. When it looked like it wasn't getting anywhere, he quickly stood up and collected all the plates. He would wash them tomorrow.
After the table had been cleared up, Shinji and Asuka retreated to their rooms, but not before Asuka gave her new love a sweet goodnight kiss.
'I'll miss him.' The German girl thought to herself as she lay down in her bed.
---
Outside of the city, a NERV research team worked hard, too busy for sleep, excavating the site where the small metallic sphere had impacted.
"Easy there!" One of the personnel shouted as the surprisingly heavy object was lifted in to a large NERV transport.
"All remains of the unidentified object have been recovered." The man supervising the excavation spoke in to a cell phone.
"Good work." The voice on the other line was unmistakable. It was Gendo Ikari. "Get it back to HQ and begin your research."
"Yes Sir!"
"Remember, all findings are to be classified." With that closing statement, the line was disconnected.
---
Shinji awoke to the sound of Misato shouting at him from outside his door. He still wasn't fully awake so he couldn't really understand what she was saying. As he blinked his eyes open and tried to get up, he found himself pinned to the bed by a strange weight. When he looked down, he saw that Asuka was resting against his chest, hugging him tightly whilst smiling in her sleep.
'Oh crap' Shinji thought.
"Shinji! How many more times am I going to tell you to get up?!" Misato shouted at him from outside the door.
When he didn't answer, she decided to open it, and what she saw inside didn't please her one bit.
"Caught in the act!" she shrieked.
"Misato! It's not what it seems!" Shinji yelled worriedly. The redheaded girl began to stir and opened her eyes.
"Wassumatter?" She mumbled half asleep.
"Get up right this instance young lady!" Misato yelled at her.
Asuka turned and when she saw Misato at the doorway she began to get worried.
"Guten Morgen, Misato." She said, hoping to lighten the situation.
"What's so good about it!" The Major screamed at them both.
There was no escape from this one.
---
The drive to HQ was incredibly quiet. The chewing out Shinji and Asuka had received was particularly severe.
From the way Asuka understood it, she would no longer be able to spend any time with Shinji. Although she feared the idea, she was also extremely angry with Misato for imposing it.
She was just about to say something when Misato beat her to it.
"I don't want to hear another word from you Asuka. You're already in enough trouble."
She was about to retort but a look from Shinji told her not too. She just took his hand in her own, fearing it might be the last time she can do this.
*******************
"Harmonics are all stable." Maya informed Ritsuko.
"So, how are the kids doing?" Misato asked her.
"Well, these sync ratios are the highest they've ever been." Maya replied.
"Really?" Misato asked in surprise.
Ritsuko decided to tease Misato for a bit.
"Well, I think it might be tied up with the rumours I've been hearing." She said as she grinned at her old time friend. "Maybe Shinji and Asuka finally let loose on some tension that's been building up."
"Shut up!" Misato yelled at the blond haired doctor. "I want to hear no more of it!"
Everyone in the control room laughed at the two women.
"Ritsuko, could you step out for a moment." Misato asked sweetly. "I need to talk to you about something."
Both women stepped out and left the rest of the bridge bunnies alone.
"What do you think they're talking about?" Makoto asked one of his two associates.
Shigero just shrugged. Maya didn't make an effort to answer.
---
Both women now stood in one of NERV's many corridors.
"What do you want Misato?" Ritsuko asked the purple haired woman.
"Listen." She began. "I want you to run a physical on Asuka."
"So the rumours are true!" Ritsuko exclaimed in surprise.
Misato's expression fell a bit. "I don't know what to think."
"Don't worry about it." Ritsuko told. "Shinji's a responsible boy."
"I hope." The Major replied stoically. "Just do what I asked."
"No problem. They've got a physical coming up anyway." The Doctor replied with a smile. After that, both women went back in to the control room.
---
The techs turned around to see Misato and Ritsuko coming back in to the room. The Doctor went straight to one of the mikes and spoke in to it.
"Okay guys, you can get out now. The test is finished."
---
Misato was driving Asuka and Shinji back home. Although the sync tests had taken a lot less time then she had originally anticipated, she decided to let them have the rest of the day free.
"So, we're off the hook?" Asuka broke the silence with this hopeful question.
"I didn't say that." Misato replied. "I simply haven't thought of a suitable punishment for you two yet."
Shinji was sitting in the front seat silently but thought that Misato wasn't being fair. He hadn't done anything! However, if Asuka was going to get punished, he wasn't going to let her bear it alone.
The boy was startled when a hand from behind reached out and started stroking his hair. He turned his face slightly and saw Asuka smiling at him. He could do nothing other then return the smile.
Misato smiled as well. She didn't agree on their new relationship, but she had to admit it was rather cute.
---
Deep within central dogma, a select few scientists supervised by Doctor Akagi were hard at work investigating the small probe that had crashed earlier that week.
"This is amazing." She said in disbelief.
"What is amazing Doctor?" Ritsuko turned around and came face to face with Gendo Ikari.
"This." She pointed to a section of the small sphere that had been opened by the technicians. "The energy source matches that of-"
"-The Angels." Ikari finished for her.
Ritsuko nodded. "That's right. It is a fully functional non-bio S2 engine."
"Amazing." Another voice echoed behind them.
"Professor, what do you make of this?" Gendo asked as he turned to the older man.
"Can we use this to our advantage?" Fuyutsuki asked the blond woman.
"I believe it is possible we can adapt this to our technology, but-" She trailed off for a second.
"But what, Doctor?" Gendo asked her, his short patience wavering.
"Something was in there." She told them in a quiet voice. "And we can be sure it's going to come back."
Fuyutsuki was taken aback by this revelation; Gendo on the other hand remained impassive.
---
It had been a few hours since Misato had dropped Shinji and Asuka off back at her apartment. The German girl was currently in the shower, which gave Shinji some time to himself.
He was sitting on the living room couch quietly doing his homework when he heard the bathroom door open, meaning that Asuka had finished showering. What surprised him was the fact that she casually walked in to the living room with only a towel draped around her body. When she saw Shinji she smiled and walked towards him.
"Shouldn't you get dressed, Asuka?" He offered weekly as she sat down next to him. Steam radiating from her wet body.
"Maybe later." She answered with a smile.
'Maybe?' Shinji thought to himself slightly unnerved by what she said.
He tried to get back to doing his homework, but soon a shadow started blocking out the light. He looked up and saw that Asuka had moved from her original seat and was now looming dangerously close over him.
"A-Asuka?"
"Shinji." She whispered seductively.
"Um, what are you doing?" He asked meekly.
She didn't answer him, but instead started moving closer to him. Her wet strands of hair were brushing against his face, causing him to blush.
She moved ever closer, so close in fact that he could smell the sweet sent of her shampoo and body lotion. The poor boy was close to fainting again, but just before he did the doorbell rang and he jumped up from under her.
'Saved by the bell!' He thought gratefully as he rushed to the front door.
When he opened it he saw Hikari standing on the other side.
"Hello Shinji." She said.
"Hi, Hikari." He greeted her back. "What brings you here?"
"I wanted to talk to Asuka." She told him.
"Okay." He moved aside. "You can come in."
Her and Shinji walked back in to living room to find that Asuka wasn't there.
"She's probably putting on some clothes." He said after a while.
Shinji noticed the funny look Hikari was giving and quickly said: "She just came out the shower! That's what I meant!" He finished the last part blushing brightly.
---
On the other side of town, Rei sat quietly in her apartment, completing several homework assignments for school.
As she wrote the answer to a question down, she suddenly felt a presence behind her and turned around to see who it was. To her surprise, she had once again come face to shadow with 'The bringer of Love.'
"Hi!" He said cheerfully.
Rei didn't answer for a moment.
"Why have you come here?" She enquired.
"I wanted to talk to you."
*******************
Asuka stepped in to the living room dressed in her yellow T-Shirt and low cut shorts to see Hikari and Shinji quietly waiting for her. She was disappointed that she had been prevented from having some fun with Shinji, but was also curious as to why her friend was paying her a visit.
"What's up?" She asked as she sat down next to Shinji so she was facing Hikari.
"Listen Asuka." Hikari looked down for a moment. "I'm sorry about yesterday."
"Huh?"
"When I thought you and Shinji were playing a trick." She whispered. "I should have taken you more seriously."
"Oh." Asuka looked surprised for a moment, but then remembered how angry she had been. She thought she might yell a bit more, but then she saw the painfully sorry expression on her friends face, so that idea went out the window. "It's okay." She said finally.
Hikari looked relieved, but then chose to speak again. "So, now that we've put that behind us, how would you like to go shopping with me tomorrow after school?"
"That's a great idea, Hikari!" Asuka smiled. "But only one condition."
Shinji, who had remained quiet up until this point in time, started getting unnerved by the Red Heads mischievous smile that was now directed at him.
"Shinji has to come with us!" She finally said.
"What?!" Both Hikari and Shinji yelled in unison.
And to add to Hikari's further displeasure, the German girl started moving closer to Shinji until she was literally sitting on top of him.
"You don't mind do you Shinji?" She whispered in to his year.
He couldn't answer.
---
Ritsuko Akagi walked in to Gendo Ikari's dark, gloomy office and approached his desk, handing him the latest data reports on the recent find.
"Good." He finally said after skimming across some of the data. "This will be most useful."
Ritsuko was about to say something, but the cold-hearted Ikari beat her to it.
"Very well." He looked up and smirked at the woman. "You're dismissed, doctor."
Seeing that it was now pointless to say any anything else, Ritsuko turned on her heels and exited the office.
---
Back in Ayanami's apartment, Cupid was greatly anticipating to hear what Rei had to say about what he had just asked her to do.
"Very well." She said finally.
"So you'll help me?" He asked hopefully.
"Yes, but I will not deceive others or go out of my way to assist you." She told him stoically.
"Yes!" Cupid yelled happily. "You don't know how much this means to me!"
Rei didn't say anything for a moment, but then she turned to the door and began to walk towards it.
"Come with me." She told him without turning.
"Where are we going?" He asked her, wondering what she had planned.
"There is someone else who can help us." She informed him. "It would also be best if you found a way to conceal yourself."
Cupid though about this for a moment, and then an idea sprang in to his mind. He transformed himself in to a hat, which perfectly matched Rei's eye colour, and floated on to her head.
"Hope you don't mind." He said. Rei didn't answer. "You look good!" Cupid told her as they passed by a mirror on the way out of her apartment.
'Red.' She thought to herself. 'The colour I hate.'
---
On the other side of town, Touji and his spectacled comrade were deep in thought about a devious plan of their own. They wanted to get back at Sohruy for taking their friend away from them, and also get back at Shinji for betraying them like he did.
"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!" Kensuke shouted at his friend.
"Well, what do you propose we do?" Touji asked him exasperated.
"I have an idea." Kensuke told him quietly, an evil smile spreading across his features.
---
Back in the Katsuragi household, Hikari had left the two pilots alone, meaning that Asuka could still have some fun with her new "boyfriend". Currently they were both involved in a good old game of 'Kiss Chase,' the only difference being: Shinji was not running away from a kiss, but to preserve his chastity.
*******************
And so begins another normal school day!
Kensuke and Touji observed with somewhat disgusted expressions on their faces as Asuka literally slobbered all over Shinji as the sensei continued on with his stories.
"Look at her." Touji whispered sourly.
"Hey man, chill out." Kensuke whispered back at him. "We'll put the plan in motion soon." At this, the spectacled boy began to type something in to his computer.
The boys it turned out weren't the only ones that had problems staying awake during their Sensei's long, boring lectures. The girls had similar problems, and a girl that goes by the name of Sakuya was no such exception. She was tops in the looks department, but also had a somewhat radical personality and was willing to try new things. This made her rather desirable amongst the male student body. Currently she was sleeping peacefully resting her head on her desk.
Unfortunately for her, she was stirred awake from her peaceful relief by an annoying beeping sound on her computer. Someone wanted to engage her in a private conversation. Seeing as anything was better then listening to the old man at the front, she decided to go along with it and clicked 'Ok.'
---
[Animan] Hello?
[Sakuya] Who's this?
[Animan] It's Kensuke.
[Sakuya] What the heck do you want?
[Animan] Just to talk.
[Sakuya] What about?
[Animan] You like Shinji, don't you?
[Sakuya] Not that it's any of your business, but yeah, I do.
[Animan] And what about Asuka?
[Sakuya] That bitch! I was planning on asking him out, but then she comes in and ruins it all!
[Animan] That's just what I needed to hear.
[Sakuya] What are you up to?
[Animan] Well, to cut a long story short: Touji and Me are really pissed off at her display with Shinji.
[Sakuya] Ugh, tell me about it.
[Animan] So, we've decided to do something and put an end to it.
[Sakuya] What do you plan to do?
[Animan] We've thought of a plan to break them up.
[Sakuya] Really?!
[Animan] Yes. But we'll need your help.
---
Sakuya paid close attention to her monitor as Kensuke explained the details. From the grin on her face it would seem that she approves.
---
[Animan] So, you'll help us?
[Sakuya] Definitely, I need to get back at that Bitch Sohruy anyway.
[Animan] Good, good, that's what I want to hear.
[Sakuya] We can do this today. Shinji and me have clean up duty.
[Animan] Really? That's perfect!
---
Sakuya smiled to herself. This really was perfect.
---
The school day passed relatively quickly. Only a few students remained in the class now.
"So, Shinji!" Asuka smiled brightly. "You ready to come shopping with us?"
"Actually, Asuka." Shinji looked uncomfortable for some reason. "I checked the schedule today, and it seems I'm on clean up duty."
"What?!" Asuka was suddenly angry. "Hikari get over here right now!"
"What is it?" She asked her red haired friend as she approached.
"Why did you put Shinji on clean up duty the one day we were going to take him shopping?" She yelled.
"Oh no!" Hikari looked surprised at the news. "I forgot! I'm sorry, Asuka, but this stuff is planned months in advance."
"Well then, I'm not going!"
"Asuka, you can't just change your mind like that!" Hikari didn't look happy.
"Yeah, you should go and have some fun." Shinji added.
"You okay with that?" She asked Shinji looking concerned.
"Yeah, I'll be fine!" He smiled at her. 'I never wanted to go in the first place.' he though to himself. "Besides, if I skip on the work I'll just have to make up for it later."
" I guess." Asuka didn't look convinced, but her friend's pleading eyes made her think otherwise. "Oh, alright." She finally said.
"I guess I'll see you later then?" Shinji asked her.
"I won't be long." She smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Well, bye then!" With that, both girls turned and exited the room, leaving Shinji alone with Sakuya.
"We may as well get started." He told her and they both began to tidy the desks and clean the boards.
They were done pretty quickly, the only thing left to do now was water the flowers.
"Can you manage it from here alone?" Shinji asked Sakuya, eager to get home and relax for the evening.
"Yeah, sure." She replied. "Hey, before you go!"
Shinji stopped and turned around to face her. "What is it?"
Before he had a chance to react, the girl closed the distance between them and forcefully planted her lips on his. Shinji was so stunned that he failed to notice the camera flashes from outside the window.
It wasn't long until the boy regained his senses, and as soon as he did he pushed her away.
"What the hell are you doing?" He demanded.
"What did it look like?" She asked him obviously annoyed at the interruption.
Shinji just shook his head. "What-ever." He didn't turn to look at her as he walked out of the classroom and began to make his way home. He wasn't sure, but all the attention he was getting from Asuka had probably made him more confident in situations like these.
---
In the meantime, Hikari and Asuka were looking around one of the biggest clothes stores in all of Tokyo 3.
"Hey Hikari!" Asuka yelled at her friend from across the store. "What do you think of this?"
Hikari made her way to her feeling slightly embarrassed about the way her friend had shouted.
"But those are clothes for a boy!" She said in a voice that suggested her friend was crazy.
"I know that!" Asuka said loudly back to her. "It's for Shinji!"
"Oh." Hikari's cheeks reddened slightly.
"Well, do you think he'd like it?" Asuka queered.
"Yeah, definitely." Hikari told her confidently. "I think it would go well with his eyes."
"That's what I was thinking as well." Asuka said thoughtfully. "Well, I'll get it then!" She finally said somewhat excitedly. In truth she was imagining the way Shinji would react to her present. 'He'd probably kiss me!' She smiled at the thought.
Hikari just stood by and watched the emotional display on Asuka face. She went from a smile, then to a smile with dreamy eyes and finally a smile with a blush. She didn't want to know what the Red Head was thinking about.
---
On the other side of town, two of the three Stooges were discussing the success of their plan with the third person involved.
"Well, we got the pics." Kensuke showed the photos to Touji and Sakuya.
"Are you sure about this, man?" Touji was having doubts. "I mean, isn't this blackmail?"
"It's just a few photos Touji." Sakuya told him. "Besides, from the way Asuka treated me when I tried to talk to her once, I think she deserves this!"
"Oh, there's no doubt Asuka deserves it." Touji spoke thoughtfully. "But we're also going to hurt Shinji."
"Oh relax man." Kensuke finally spoke. "If it all goes right, the only change will be Shinji's girlfriend."
Sakuya blushed at the sheer bluntness of the statement.
---
A few hours later, Shinji was sitting alone in the apartment watching Television along with Pen Pen. Misato had phoned him earlier telling him she'll be late because something had popped up at work.
Shinji noted that it was getting rather late and Asuka had still to return.
---
Just outside the apartment, Asuka stood face to face with Sakuya, a girl she particularly disliked.
"What do you want?" She said after the girl didn't move out of her way.
"I've been waiting for quite a while." She answered. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Well I don't!" Asuka snapped. "Shinji's upstairs and I don't want to keep him waiting."
With that, Asuka shoved past the girl and walked towards the door.
"I wanted to talk to you about Shinji." Sakuya told her from behind. That sentence made the German girl stop in her tracks and look back at her.
"What about Shinji?" She asked her.
"Actually, I think it would be better if you had a look at these." She held up a bunch of photographs. They were too small for Asuka to see from where she stood, so she made her way over to Sakuya and grabbed them from her hand.
When she looked at them, he eyes widened in shock.
"Yep." Sakuya said triumphantly as she observed the Red Head's reaction. "He is a damn good kisser. I can see why you like him so much."
It was too much for Asuka to take. She dropped the shopping bags down on the floor as she struggled to keep the tears from flowing out.
She slowly turned around and walked in to the apartment and towards the elevator. He mind was in such distress that she forgot all about the expensive clothes she purchased as she rode the elevator up to her floor. It took her all her might to keep herself from collapsing on her knees.
*******************
Rei was walking through the streets of Tokyo 3, Cupid keeping her company.
"Hey Rei, I've got something to ask you." Cupid broke the quiet.
"What is it?"
"Exactly why are you helping me?" He asked her, never really getting to grips with her true intentions or motives.
"You brought Ikari happiness." She said simply. "He means a lot to me." Pausing for a moment, she continued. "I like to see him smile."
"Maybe I should have hooked you two up instead, eh?" Cupid put more thought in to the idea.
"No." Rei told him firmly, interrupting his thoughts. "It is not meant to be."
Deciding not to question her any further, Cupid fell silent again, resuming his function as a hat.
---
Touji and Kensuke sat on a park bench. It wasn't long before the person who they were waiting for approached them.
"It's done!" Announced Sakuya.
"Excellent!" Kensuke exclaimed. "How did she take it?"
The girl chuckled at the question. "Not well."
"That bad, huh?"
"She started crying." Sakuya said gleefully. Kensuke looked surprised.
"Hold on a second." Touji interrupted the two. "Are you saying that the Red Devil actually started crying?"
"Yeah!" Sakuya replied happily. "You should have seen her face!"
The two boys fell silent at the news.
Touji soon turned to Kensuke and spoke. "Crap, dude."
Kensuke nodded, a look of dread on his face. "Shinji's in trouble."
"What?" Sakuya looked puzzled. "What's wrong now?"
"We went too far." Kensuke told her with a frown.
"Surely you don't regret doing it?" Brief anger flashed across her face, but Touji lifted his hand up, stopping her before she could say any more.
"You don't know the Devil like we do." He said.
"Shinji-" Kensuke paused for a moment to emphasize his point. "-is a dead man."
The two boys stood up and turned to Sakuya.
"We gotta go." They both said at the same time and they both rushed away. Sakuya now stood alone next to the park bench, the look on her face indistinguishable.
"Idiots." She murmured quietly as she started heading home.
---
Shinji heard the door to the apartment open, meaning that Asuka had returned. She had taken longer then he expected she would, but he was relieved that she was back none-the less.
It wasn't long before Asuka came in to the living room looking for him. She saw him casually sitting on the couch.
"Oh, hey!" He said cheerfully. "Took you a long time. What happened?"
She didn't answer. Just stared at him with absolutely no expression on her face. Shinji looked back at her, not quite sure what was going on.
"how?" she finally said, her voice on the verge of breaking.
"What?" He asked, not knowing what she meant.
"w-why?" She asked again, sounding even weaker, now silent tears were sliding down from her eyes.
Shinji stood up and went over to her.
"Asuka, what's wrong?" He asked in concern. "Asuka?"
She didn't answer him, but then:
*SMACK*
Shinji fell back from the impact, blood streaming from his nose and now swollen lip. He looked up to see the girl with a heart-breaking expression on her face, her knuckles bruised and tears falling from her eyes.
She looked down at him, her sadness turning in to intense anger.
"YOU JERK!" She screamed at him, kicking him on the side. She saw him cringed at the pain from the blow. "Damn you." She sniffled.
The hurt boy risked looking up again, but Asuka was gone. He then heard the door to her room slam shut and the lock being applied.
---
Touji and Kensuke walked at a fast pace, although both weren't quite sure where they were heading.
"We screwed up bad." Touji said after a bit.
"No kidding." Kensuke replied, feeling angry with himself. Now that he though about it, what they had done was really stupid.
"I don't believe it!" Touji burst out again. "She actually cares for him!"
They had both honestly thought that Asuka was just using Shinji and that he was too blind to see it.
"Me neither." Kensuke though that the idea of the Red Devil liking someone other then herself was just absurd.
"God, this feels rotten!" Touji yelled yet again. Not even Asuka deserved what they had bestowed upon her.
"I KNOW!" Kensuke screamed at him, finally loosing what remained of his temper.