Disclaimer- don't own it

A/N This is an idea I was working on while I was writing my other fics. Unfortunately those two got away from me and I had to stop and review them. So to fill the gap, and sate my boredom, i've been penning up some of my other ideas.
MORE THAN LIKELY I'll actually be able to finish this one

Shinji ZERO

Chapter 1

"Rei, eject"

Commander Ikari's words rang in her ears. The 16th angel had penetrated Unit 00 and had begun 1st level contact, an attempt at full take over. Seeing it as her only option she used her AT Field to contain the angel while she activated the Eva's D-Drive, the self-destruct device.

"I can not, if I leave Unit 00 then the AT Field will cease to be, I will not let it"

As she pressed the lever in she was, rather violently, forced to the bottom of the Entry Plug.

From his seat aboard Unit 01 Shinji looked on horrified as Unit 00 doubled over, its core seconds from an explosive overload. Horrified, that was, until he saw the Entry Plug shoot from Unit 00's back, followed a half second later by a massive explosion which rivaled every N2 bomb her had ever seen. He spent the next minuet figuring out the plugs escape trajectory. Once he had is probable location he turned Unit 01 toward it. There lying in a thicket of trees on a mountain side sat Unit 00's Entry Plug. He knelt the Eva down beside of it and ejected his plug. A few moments later, after a dizzying ride down on the descent cable, he was at Unit 00's Plug. As he had after the 5th angel he pulled the plug hatch open with his hands. When the door finally opened he leaned in. To his shock there was no one in the plug's seat.

"Ikari"

He followed the voice to its owner. There at the front of the plug lay a very dazed, but very much alive, Rei Ayanami. Shinji climbed into the plug and retrieved the first aid kit from behind the chair. He then slid back to the front of the plug to tend Rei.

"Are you hurt Ayanami?"

She answered in her usual monotone voice, though he could tell she was in a bit of pain

"Nothing that will not heal in time, however I seem to have dislocated my right shoulder during the ejection"

"Are you sure Ayanami?"

She winced a bit as she sat up

"I…have dislocated it before; it is nothing serious the recovery team will reset it"

Shinji noticed a small cut across her left cheek

"Well at least let me take care of that cut"

He sat the first aid kit down and opened it. He removed an anti-biotic patch from the kit and opened it. He checked the cut before he applied it. It was a bit smaller than the patch so it completely covered it

"Well I don't think you'll need stitches, this should be enough"

He carefully applied the patch. Rei noticed how soft and warm his hand was as he applied the medicated patch.

"You do this often Ikari"

"Yes"

"Why"

"Asuka"

"Pilot Soryu physically harms you"

He paused for a moment, his expression became slightly down

"We use to fight a lot before…but it's gotten even worse now…after the 16th"

This infuriated Rei, though outwardly she showed no signs of it.

"She should be disciplined for this"

Shinji sighed

"No, that would only make things worse; it would give her an excuse to be mad"

Long ago Shinji had become an expert as reading Rei. Though she gave off the air of a person who didn't know of emotion, though in some cases she didn't she knew enough of them to know how not to show them. Shinji had learned to read her subtle actions and movements as well as the occasional eye twitch to determine her mood, and right now she was mad.

"Still Ikari, the major should be told of this"

"No, she has enough to worry about"

Outside the pair could hear the recovery team approaching

"Well I better get back to Unit 01; I'll come to the hospital once I get out of the showers ok"

A millimeter thin smile graced her lips

"I shall wait for you there; I am not sufficiently injured to warrant an overnight stay"

"I don't want to inconvenience you Ayanami"

"It will not be"

True to his word Shinji meet Rei at the hospital once he finished his de-briefing and had his shower. She was sitting in the waiting room still wearing her plug suit, her right arm was in a sling and the medicated bandage that he had applied to her cheek had been replaced by a thin strip of Liquid Stitch, a medicated bonding agent that had replaced conventional stitches for minor cuts a few years back.

Rei was silent as Shinji sat next to her.

"Umm…how are you feeling Ayanami"

"I am well Ikari"

He nodded, after a moment of thought he spoke again

"Umm Ayanami"

"Yes Ikari"

"We're friends aren't we?"

"I believe so, though I have never had a friend before"

"Umm well…could you…if it's not to much trouble"

"What is it Ikari"

"Could you please…call me Shinji?"

"Very well…Shinji"

"Thank you Ayanami"

"Rei"

"Huh"

"I would like you to call me Rei"

"Sure…Rei"

He paused and thought for a moment

"Umm…Rei"

"Yes"

"Would you like me to walk you home?"

"That would be…acceptable"

The walk from the Nerv hospital to Rei's apartment was a rather quiet one. Not a tense quiet but a comfortable one. Neither said a word until they reached her apartment door.

As she reached for the door Shinji finally spoke up

"Umm Rei"

"Yes Shinji"

"Umm…well…you've changed"

She tilted her head to the side

"How so"

"Well umm…you're opening up…somewhat"

She thought for a moment

"Perhaps…well good evening Shinji"

She stepped inside, as she was about to close the door Shinji spoke up

"Umm…Rei"

"Yes Shinji"

"Would you mind if I…came to visit tomorrow"

"That would be acceptable, you my come at what ever time you wish"

"Thank you, Rei"

"You are welcome, good night Shinji"

She closed the door, Shinji turned and headed for home with a slight smile on his face

"Well, it's a start"

Misato sat in her room staring at the phone, waiting for a call she was sure wouldn't come. She sat back and thought of the events of the day.

Rei had managed to eject from a self detonating unit 00 and walk away with only a dislocated shoulder and a few cuts.

She had just had Asuka placed into "protective custody" at Nerv following a suicide attempt, thank god Maya found her in the bathroom. A few more minuets and she would have bled out.

Shinji was surprisingly starting to come out of his self-loathing and level out, he was also becoming increasingly close to Rei. She could only smile at that thought.

Then there was Kaji, she hadn't herd from him in a few days. While that in its self wasn't cause for concern, this time, for some reason she was. And that's what worried her; she had never been overly worried when he would disappear like this.

Than the phone rang

"Hello"

"Katsuragi"

"Oh Kaji thank god, where are you"

"I can't say, I just wanted to let you know I'm still alive"

"Well, when are you coming back?"

"I may not be, listen I just wanted to tell you that…I love you, could you do a favor for me"

"What"

"I've been growing, melons, Shinji knows where they are. I'd appreciate it if you could water them for me"

"Only if you'll promise to come back after this is over"

"I'll try, goodbye Misato"

A few weeks had passed. Misato still hadn't heard from Kaji. The kids hadn't gone to school, seeing as how it was damaged. Rei moved in with Misato and Shinji after her apartment complex collapsed due to structural damage. The kids had gone in for weekly sync tests as usual though this week had been special. The 5th child, Kaoru Nagisa, had arrived and had under gone his first Synchronization test, his scores were exceptional.

Shinji was walking from the test plugs to the locker rooms and shower when he heard a voice behind him

"Hello Shinji"

"Huh, oh…hello Kaoru"

"So are you done for the day?"

"Yes…I was about to shower and head home…would you…like to come over for dinner"

"I would love to, thank you"

"Umm…do you…prefer anything?"

"I shall eat what is placed before me"

"Ok…I hope you don't mind Ayanami, she lives with me and Misato"

"I have not had the opportunity to meet the first child, it will be interesting"

While Shinji showered Kaoru waited outside of the showers. He noticed the 1st child walking down the hall toward the showers

"Hello Ms Ayanami"

"Identify yourself"

"I did not mean to frighten you; I am Kaoru Nagisa the 5th child"

"Why are you here?"

"I am waiting for Shinji, I hope you do not mind but I will be having dinner at your residence tonight"

"Did Shinji or the Major invite you?"

"Yes he did"

"Then I shall trust his judgment"

"I hope we can get along Ms Ayanami"

"We shall see"

After about 20 minuets or so Shinji exited the showers to find Kaoru sitting patiently on the benches, he walked over to him.

"I'm done Kaoru"

"Then shall we go"

"Umm yeah sure"

"I met the 1st child while you were bathing"

"Rei…did you tell her you were coming over"

"Yes, she just wanted to make sure I was invited"

"Oh, umm ok"

Shinji and Kaoru left Nerv HQ. They walked for about 20 min through the remains of Tokyo 3, a section of which had mostly been flattened by Unit 00's detonation. The city itself was not in horrible shape. Just that most of the people had fled after the last battle. Looking at the city now Shinji knew they would return once the final angel had been defeated.

The pair arrived at the Major's apartment. Shinji opened the door; they found Rei at the kitchen table reading and Misato watching TV, well the stations that were still on the air that is. After a moment she noticed the pair

"Huh oh Shinji, did you bring home a guest"

"Umm yeah… Kaoru I'm sure you know Misato"

"Yes I am aquatinted with the major"

Misato nodded

"Yes we've meet Shinji, so will you bee joining us for dinner"

"Yes Shinji has invited me to attend"

"Well, I'm sure tonight will be fun"

Rei, who had just joined her roommates in the living room, nodded and commented

"Yes im sure this will be both an informative and interesting engagement"

A/N well the big event of the story won't take place until next chapter. I just wanted to get the things with Rei surviving and Kaoru's appearance out of the way.