Neon Genesis Evangelion Higher Learning Strike Fiss, 2000 Fifth Lesson: In wine, there is truth. "So, what do you do?" Kaoru asked casually, working on his second rye. "Top secret." Misato winked. Her smile was looking very inviting, and she knew it. She was already almost leaning into him on the bar stools, so Kaoru decided that it was a good thing, since she might fall off if she wasn't. Plus, it wasn't exactly an unpleasant feeling. "Let me guess then." He grinned, closing his eyes. "You work in an underground lab where you and your fellow mad scientists build weapons of mass destruction to destroy all your foes!" Misato blinked, sitting straight up. "I was kidding." He laughed. A large sweat drop appeared on her slightly disheveled hair, and she laughed too. "You had me for a second there." She smiled. "I thought for a moment I'd have to kill you." "Aww, but where would the fun in that be?" he offered. "Am I to assume you are offering something that is more fun?" Misato asked casually. "After all, killing you might be kinda fun." She flashed her teeth at him. Kaoru grinned, then sighed. "Well, all I can really do right now is offer a drinking partner. How does that sound?" "Good start." Misato raised her glass, and they clanged their drinks together. After a sip, though, her smile had returned to super-kawaii. "But, in this day in age, you have to keep up with a lady's demands, you know." The light from the bar flickered off his glasses as he blinked. "Uh..." She put down her glass and raised her hand up to his face, gently taking his chin between her finger and thumb. "You could start by kissing me." She whispered, leaning over his body. Their lips brushed up against one another, prompting a slight gasp from Kaoru. It was nice...very nice...soft...hot... She leaned back slightly. "I...I'm sorry." She whispered, still smiling. "I...you remind me of someone. I don't know...I can't explain it." He shook his head. "No...it's okay." He smiled back. "I'd be lying if I said I didn't like that..." "Would you like another?" she asked sweetly. Any thoughts in his head to the contrary could not make it past the alcohol. "Yes..." he leaned closer. She held up her hand, gently plucking off the glasses from his nose. "There..." she smiled, then met him half-way in another kiss, this one a little deeper. Halfway through the kiss, though, Misato looked into his eyes. Something within her sparked. It was not the spark she was expecting. The spark was the LAST thing she had been expecting. Suddenly, she backed away. Kaoru saw her eyes. "Oh...I...I'm sorry..." he whispered. She nodded slowly. "No...it's my fault..." she shook her head quickly. "I think you remind me too much of someone." She swiveled her seat around to face the front. "Sorry..." He shook his head. "No...it's really okay." He smiled, taking her hand. To her surprise, he planted a soft kiss on the back of it. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Misato." He took his glasses and put them back on. "You're leaving?" she asked...still disappointed, even though the kiss did end on an awkward note. "I have some work to do tomorrow." He nodded. "Have to tutor a few of my students." He bowed slightly. "Perhaps I'll see you around?" She smiled warmly and nodded. "I hope so." He reached into his pocket and left some money for the bar tender. "For her bill too." He smiled. Misato shook her head and smiled. "Who says Chivalry is dead." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you." "Who knows. Maybe I can teach a Chivalry Class." He winked, then turned. "Good night, Misato." "Good night." She sighed, watching him leave. As soon as he was gone, she gasped. "What am I DOING?!!" a whimper. "He was...so..." she sighed happily. "Nice..." The bartender noticed her distress and poured her a double. "Ugh..." she sighed, downing it. "I must be as big an idiot as Asuka to pass up a guy like that..." "Did you just say 'fucking'?" Asuka laughed. "I did NOT just say 'fucking'!" Shinji replied in a wobbly voice that sounded like it was trying to be serious, but it failed. Asuka grinned and put her head on his shoulder. "Shinji, you're fun." "Thanks." He smiled, ignoring the tickling her hair was doing against his neck. "I've never been called 'fun' before." He sighed, leaning his head on top of Asuka's head. "Have you ever been called cute before?" Asuka asked quietly. "No." Shinji frowned. "That too." "Well, I think you're cute." Asuka said. "Thank you." Shinji smiled. "You're very cute." She blushed, but took the challenge. "Oh yeah?" "Yeah." "Well then, you're very VERY cute!" she giggled, unintentionally nuzzling against his neck. Shinji thought for a moment, trying to top that. "Oh...oh YEAH?" "Yeah!" Asuka laughed. "Well, I think Kaji is an idiot." He stated proudly. "Because you are the most beautiful woman in Tokyo 3." She sighed. "No I'm not." Shinji would have stood up and laughed, but all he could manage was a laugh. "Impossible!" Asuka leaned away from him and frowned, finally able to hold her head still. "You're just trying to be nice." She sighed. "You are a sweet baka, but you are still a baka." "No I am not. Kaji is the baka!" Shinji defended. Suddenly, Asuka sat up, grabbed the collar of his shirt and looked right into his eyes. Tears were forming in hers. "No." He swallowed hard. "Asuka...?" "YOU are my Baka." She said softly. A tear finally did escape the corner of her eye, and she sniffed. "Not Kaji. YOU are..." she smiled slightly, letting his collar go. "My Baka Shinji." She forgot all about her hands still pressing up against his chest, though. Shinji's mind was whirling around itself as he began to breathe a little deeper. "Oh...okay..." She gently wiped away her tears. "This is the second time I've cried today..." she said sadly. "All because of that playboy Kaji." She lowered her head slightly. "At least...you are my Baka...even Wondergirl can't take that away from me." She said those words almost too softly for him to hear. What was left unsaid was 'at least I hope not.' Shinji was at a lost for words. His whisper was almost below her level of hearing. "A...Asuka..." She felt his heart beating, and for a moment, forgot who she was. "Oh..." she blinked, looking into his dark blue eyes. "Uh...do...you want me to move?" she asked. "Only..." he took a deep breath. "Only if you want to..." She nodded...and didn't move for several heartbeats. More than a several, actually. "Feel up to another drink?" Asuka whispered. Probably the only Child that wasn't thirsty for one thing or the other that night was Rei Ayanami. It wasn't because of her surroundings. In fact, Shinji had once told her how the taste of LCL made him need to drink something like water right afterwards to get rid of the smell. Rei was used to it, though. She didn't mind it. Not even the calming eyes of Commander Ikari as he watched Rei's body float in the LCL. Her limbs and hair were floating slightly, feeling less of the gravity than they were used to. He stood like that, watching her. Not in a lecherous way as one may think a man would watch a perfectly beautiful young woman. Rather almost protectively. If one didn't know better, they looked to almost be having a staring contest. Neither had lost yet. Only the hum of the Dummy Plug system around them gave any indication that time was indeed moving. Suddenly, almost to Gendo's surprise, Rei blinked. "Commander." she whispered. Rei rarely spoke during these times, and Gendo felt himself frown. "What is it, Rei?" "How much longer will I be required to stay here?" she asked softly. Her voice distorted slightly by the liquid around her. "Until the project is finished, Rei." Gendo stated. Something wasn't right. She should have known this. "Understood." Rei whispered. "But how much longer tonight?" "Tonight?" Gendo found himself asking. "I would like to sleep soon." Rei whispered. The echo of her words rebounded off the wall for some time. Perplexed, Gendo was neither mad, nor worried. "Why do you ask, Rei-chan?" She paused for a long time. THAT made him worry. "I have plans tomorrow." "Plans?" Gendo returned almost immediately. "I will require sleep to prepare." she stated simply. Gendo sighed. "Rei, whatever plans you have are nothing of..." "They are school related." Rei explained, hopefully. "Is it not your wish I participate in school?" Gendo really had no reply for that. He really didn't care either way. But having her in school usually satisfied her occasional urge to live a life outside of NERV with the others. "It is Saturday, tomorrow." Gendo stated. Rei nodded. Her eyes never blinked. "Homework is to be done away from school, hai?" "Hai." Gendo blinked. "Then I must leave soon. I have homework tomorrow." Rei said. Her voice was unwavering and her eyes deadly bright. A long minute of silence between them now. Only the hum. Finally, Gendo nodded, and his gloved thumb hit a remote control in his pocket. "Then we will finish for today, Rei." he said with a small sigh. Rei nodded, neither smiling or frowning at his unenthusiastic response. "Hai." she whispered as the LCL began to drain in the tube. "You will bring me your report card this semester." Gendo said. He had never really cared before, but a tingle at the back of his brain said he should start... just in case. Rei simply nodded. "Hai." Somehow during the night, Shinji and Asuka had managed to wobble their way outside onto the balcony to enjoy the night air. Remembering...somehow...that this was all part of the homework assignment, they had passed from the 'woozy' stage of being drunk to 'philosophical.' "I think I know what everyone was talking about." She said, resting her head on the cool metal railing for support. "What's that?" Shinji asked, looking out at the stars. "Right now, my head is buzzing." She laughed. "But I know it's not sound...but at the same time, it is." Shinji giggled. "Shinji?" she said suddenly. "Mmm?" "What do you think of the Asuka in your mind?" He blinked, looking over to her. She was looking back at him with a soft, caring expression on her face that he had only seen once or twice before. Each time he did, he wasn't sure if he should run, or go with it. "I think she's too drunk right now." He smiled. "Or she wouldn't be asking me that." He swallowed hard. "Or looking at me like that." Stunned, Asuka looked away, back over the balcony. Shinji tried to act casual, but was just as nervous. Finally, though, she turned back and smiled. "Now I know why Misato gets drunk all the time." "Oh?" "So she can say what's on her mind." Asuka hiccupped. "Like I'm about to do right now." Yep. This was one of those times Shinji should have ran. He looked to the door quickly. It was just far enough away that he wasn't sure if he could make it in time. "Uh...you don't have to if you don't want to..." "I want to kiss you, Shinji." Shinji literally fell down. His arm gave way on the balcony, and he fell back against the hard wooden deck with a loud THUMP! Pain didn't even register on his backside, though. His heart was beating too fast for him to notice. "A...Asuka-chan?" Her eyes were wide from watching him fall, but their corners began to curl as she smiled again. "Don't you want to kiss me?" "Yes..." he whispered before he could change his mind. How could he not say yes? He had been thinking about it all night. In one way, shape or form, his thoughts had been focusing on how very inviting her lips were. "Very much..." She blinked. Perhaps, not quite expecting him to say yes. However, she was already edging towards him. Finally, she knelt down just in front of his feet, and began to crawl over to him, oblivious to the view she was offering Shinji what was behind her shirt. "Really?" she asked, crawling over his body. He nodded, then let out a gasp as she sat down on his waist. Asuka had still been wearing her skirt from school, and he could feel her bare legs pressed up against his sides. She was smiling at him, looking right into his eyes as she lowered herself down. "Asuka?" he gasped. "A...are you sure you want to...?" Asuka brushed her long hair out of the way and nodded. "Hai..." she whispered against his lips. There was a new sensation as Shinji felt her kiss him. A soft, pebbly warm texture at his lips. Before he could question it, her tongue gently slid across his. As it retreated, his tongue followed, offering the same. Shinji tried to ignore how badly he was shivering, and kissed back with all his conviction, knowing that this might be his only chance. Asuka accepted all of it, however, and did the same. Her eyes lidded heavily as she gently suckled on his mouth. It wasn't long until she pressed her full weight against him, no longer shy to accept his body warmth. A small moan escaped her lips as she felt his hands come up around her. "Shin-kun..." she whispered. He had to swallow the taste of her mouth in order to regain speaking abilities. "H...Hai?" She was looking into his eyes now. They were heavy with desire. If he hadn't been drinking, he probably would have been able to get drunk just on the way she was gazing at him. "Why didn't you kiss like that before?" there was a smile teasing her lips. "No air." He replied, swallowing hard. With a content sigh, she gently lowered her head onto his chest, listening to his heart beating. "Thank you, sweet baka." "For what?" Shinji asked, but didn't get a reply. His arms were still around her, protecting her. She felt safe. Like nothing could hurt her ever again. So long as it was just her and Shinji. Asuka couldn't help but think what this night meant to her. Or to him. It was scary, but she didn't worry about the changes now. There would be time for that later. For now, she was just content to listen to him breathe. Shinji was in heaven. Asuka cuddled up on top of him, in a position that was actually comfortable for once. His mind was whirling, but all that didn't matter. Not tonight anyway. He realized, sadly, that in the morning, there would be repercussions. However, he tried to enjoy it as it lasted. "I am the baka Shinji in your mind." He whispered, looking up and out at the stars. "And I am the baka Asuka in your mind..." she whispered back, very sleepily. Minutes passed of blessed silence. Something that, admittedly, was very rare between the two. Then, there was an unpleasant sensation filling her head as Shinji moved and picked her up, and she grumbled in protest. "Mmm, don't wanna move...baka..." He really didn't want the night to end, but the repercussions would be bad enough without Misato finding them snuggling on the balcony with booze on their breath. "Misato will be back soon." He whispered, then grunted as he struggled to pick her up and keep steady. It was quite a feat. While Asuka wasn't any heavier than he was, she was also a bit taller than Shinji, and was very lazy at the moment. Her arms wrapped around his neck for support as he carried her into the apartment. "Mmmph." She mumbled against his cheek, giving him a small kiss as they walked. "You want to get drunk again on my birthday?" she whispered into his ear. "Okay." He replied, making his way down the hall, ignoring the damp area on the carpet where the sake was already drying up. So long as Misato didn't decide to walk on it before morning, she probably wouldn't notice. Asuka smiled and nuzzled her face against his shoulder. "Hentai...are you going to make out with me?" Shinji almost dropped her in surprise. "W...uh...no!" "Oh." She pouted. "Okay." He finally stumbled over to her bedroom and deftly opened the door with his hand reaching under Asuka's skirt, prompting a giggle as she felt his cheeks blush. "Sorry..." "It's okay..." For once, her room was fairly clean, and he managed to lower her onto her bed without tripping over anything in the dark. As he tried to pull away, though, her arms didn't want to move, and he fell onto her, not expecting the resistance. "Wah!" he gasped. Asuka opened her eyes and looked down. He was looking up at her from her chest, right in between her breasts, who were right against his hands. Both of them blushed furiously. Asuka could feel something warm inside of her stir in her stomach. It was not the alcohol. "Sh..." she whispered...not even able to finish his name. Though surprised, Shinji didn't mistake the tone of voice. Or how her stomach tensed up under him. Or how he could feel her pulse quicken once more. Or how uncomfortable his pants seemed. "Asuka..." He was expecting a slap. Hell, he was almost hoping for it. It never came, though. They just looked at each other. For a very...very long time. Neither was sure what to do. "I'd..." he finally slid off her, kneeling down besides her bed. "I better go..." Asuka nodded slowly, but there was clearly regret in her eyes. "Okay..." Shinji stood quickly, but regretted it immediately as his pants bound up against his front. "EEGH!" A gentle laugh came from Asuka as she realized what the problem was. "Baka..." He looked very embarrassed. "M...ah..." he looked down. "It...expanded..." "Goodnight, Baka Shinji." She whispered as he pulled the covers on top of her. "Thank you..." "Goodnight, Asuka-chan." He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. She smiled and watched him go, gently shutting the door behind himself. Any further thoughts, though, were cut off as she drifted off to sleep moments later. To be continued.... ---------------------------------------------- Fiss here! As has been pointed out, this is the EXTREME WAFF part of Higher Learning. ^_^ I apologize to anyone who is waiting for the darker parts. Only one more WAFFy scene, I promise. Then we can introduce some angels! Whee! e-mail: strikef@bigfoot.com website: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/9110 Archive if you want! Just send me a message if you haven't already. Strike Fiss, Ninja Crowbotics 2000. Khattam-Shud, EOF.