________________________________________________________________________ I see you've actually come back to read more of my fic. Well that shows me that someone actually liked it. Start disclaimers alpply. EVA, it's orignal plot, and the characters aren't mine...they're copywrite their owners yada yada. I wanna thank my pre-readers who helped me a lot: Axel Terizaki author of "Child of Love" and more Cherri author of "Evangelion Totally Screwed" Koala Killer author of "It Only Takes One Night" Enjoy! ________________________________________________________________________ "Lil' Asuka Home Maker" Chapter 2 By: Chibineptune8 [Angie] ________________________________________________________________________ Hikari: Asuka? Asuka? Asuka are you listening? The half asleep german suddenly popped back into reality, only to realize that her friend was shaking her and calling out her name. Hikari looked at Asuka with a concerned expression on her face. She watched as Asuka had struggled between dreamland and reality. She had drifted off to sleep several times during their conversation. Hikari: Are you sure you're feeling okay? Asuka[yawns]: Yeah...I'm fine...I just need some sleep. That's all. Asuka yawned about three more times and blinked hard a few times, hopping to aid in keeping herself from falling back asleep. Then she noticed something out of the cornner of her eye. Someone was approaching them. Someone...with blue hair. Rei: Pilot Sohryu...I wish to ask you a question. Asuka: Spit it out Wondergirl! Rei: Where is Ikari? Asuka: He's at home...sick...in bed. Rei: Ikari is not well. Pilot Sohryu...please give him my regards. Asuka: Yeah yeah. Whatever. Hikari: Shinji's sick? Oh that's too bad. Maybe we should make him a get well card... Touji[butting in]: Make who a get well card? Hikari[turning to face him]: Shinji...he's sick. Kensuke: Oh, so that's why he's not in school. Asuka: Where did you think he was? Kensuke: Well I dunno...you EVA pilots lead strange lives. You're not ALWAYS here. In all this, Rei seemed to have reclaimed her seat. Sitting quietly at her desk staring out the window. Asuka Yawned once more and rubbed her eyes. She always wondered what was so interesting out there that made Rei stare like that all the time. Touji[mock sympathy]: Hey Asuka...What's wrong? Shinji's coughing keep you awake all night or something? I've been her for a whole 45 seconds and you haven't insulted me yet. Asuka: It JUST so happens that I have to car of that BAKA! Cooking and cleaning...ya know! Touji: Oh my God! The little princess got her fingers dirty doing something for someone else?! Shocking?! Kensuke: Hell has offically frozen over! Asuka: Oh shut up you idiots! Hikari[to Touji]: Suhuhara-kun! Touji: Sorry. The bell rang. Signifing the end of the lunch period. Time to get back to Sensei's boring lecture on the second impact. Which he seemed to nothing about. Asuka simply layed her head on the table. She figured if she wasn't going to learn anything, she could at least get some sleep. Afterall, later she would have to do more work. It had only been 3 days! How was she going to get through a wjole week of this?! At the moment she didn't care. Sleep was her top priority. Nothing else mattered. ____________________________________________ The school day was now offically over. Time for all the students to go home, relax, do whatever. But not Asuka. She dreeded going back to the apartment beacuse she knew what she would have to do. Any normal person wouldn't mind doing what she had to do...but this is Asuka we're talking about here. She wasn't used to doing all the chores and all the cooking and taking taking care of someone. She had always been alone. Only taking caring of herself. She sighed as she exited the school and headed toward home. She even had to turn down going to the mall Hikari...which was something she really wanted to do. Asuka walked alone. Well...Shinji wasn't there, Hikari was off with Touji [going to the mall], Kensuke was too stupid, and she certainly wasn't going to ask Rei to walk with her. Asuka hated walking home by herself. She felt like she was being watched. Asuka walked along the sidewalk towards Misato's apartment. It was a nice day. Not too hot, not too cold. Just right. There was a gentle breeze floating through the air. Asuka swung her arms playfully as she widened her stride. It seemed that she was begining to forget about all that she had to do when she got home. What Asuka didn't realize was that there was a bunch of construction workers watching her from the other side of the street. She just kept on her way, swinging her arms, walking happily. Construction worker 1: Hey guys! Look over there! Construction worker 2: Yeah! She's a real cutie! [calling to Asuka] Hey school girl! Care to teach me and my friends a few good lessons? Construction worker 3: Yeah! We're a real bad bunch! Construction worker 2 [to his friends]: Hey guys...do they still give whippings in school? Asuka[under her breath]: Hentai! This was demeaning! How dare they say such things to her! Asuka though about saying something to the, but desided against it. Instead she just just cluched her brief case to her chest and walked faster. And faster. And faster, until she realized she was running. She kept up her speed until she could no longer hear the cat calls coming from the perverted old men. After about 15 more minutes of walking, Asuka finally made it to the apartment. She got in the elevator and sighed as it started it's accend. Finally stopping at the 7th floor. She pulled her key card from her brief case and slid it through the lock. She then entered and briefly looked over the apartment. Not much of a mess. Asuka: I'm home! She took off her shoes and continued on in. Asuka[thinking]: Everything seems to be pretty clean...I guess I'll get started on my homework then start the cooking...I'll check on Shinji first. She walked to his room and proceeded to knock on the door. No answer. Asuka: Shinji? Shinji it's me. Can I come in? No answer. Asuka: Shinji if you don't answer me I'm just gonna come in anyway! Still no answer. She began to get impatient and decided to just go in. He was laying on his bed, eyes closed. At first she thought he was sleeping, but hen realized he had his SDAT player's earphones in his ears. She gently tapped him on the shoulder, startling him. He abrubtly opened his eyes and realized it was Asuka. Even more shiocked to see that she didn't yell at him like she normally does. He sat up and took out the earphones. Maybe ha had missed the yelling. After he did have it up very loud. Shinji: Asuka?! Asuka: Hello baka. How are you feeling? Nope...no yelling. Shinji: Okay I guess...a lot better than before. Asuka: Good...Did you eat the luch I left for y- She looked over to the table where she had set the sandwhiches earlier. One bite was taken out of them. Asuka[flatly]: You didn't. Shinji: I started to...but I just wasn't hungry. Asuka[mock angry]: Or did you just not like them? Shinji: No, no! It was good...but I just wasn't hungry. I swear...they were good. Asuka[giggling]: It's okay third child...I was just kidding. Geez you can't take a joke can you? Shinji: Well I umm... Asuka[sighing]: Quit while you're ahead Shinji. ____________________________________________ Asuka had finnished her homework, ar at least as much as she could. She still wasn't good at reading the kanji and didn't bother Shinji for help. She looked at the clock. Almost five, and Misato would be hime soon. Time to start dinner. But, she had no idea what to make. she rumaged through the fridge for something to eat. Just some beer, old apples, milk, jelly, and some left over curry. Asuka[sighing]: Looks like I'll have to go to the store. She trudged, unhappliy, down the hall towards her room. She didn't feel like going out shopping, it was a waste of her time. All she wanted to do was get all the dirty work out of the way so she could rest. God knows she needed it. This was just delaying treasured sleep. She slid open her door and not exactly quietly either. She got the attention of the now very shaken Shinji, who was a minute ago trying to sleep. She found her purse and exited. As she turned the corner she ran right into Shinji, causing her to fall right on her butt. Asuka[angrily]: Hey! Dumkopf! Watch where you're going, geez! Shinji[helping her up]: Sorry. Asuka: What are you doing out of bed anyway? Shinji: Seeing what you were doing... He noted that she had changed into her yellow sundress and clutcher her pruse in her left hand. Shinji: Going somewhere? Asuka: We need food. I'm going shopping...we need food. Shinji: Can I come? Asuka: What?! No! You're sick! Shinji: Yeah but I've been couped up in this apartment for three days straight! The only person I have to talk to during the day is Pen-Pen and he doesn't make for good conversation if ya know what I mean! It's driving me crazy! Please?! I NEED to get out...please?! He griped onto her dress and did the pathetic little begging routine. This wasn't usual for him...so she figured he was sincere. She freed herself from his grip. Asuka: I suppose I could take pitty on you. Shinji: ... Asuka: Are you sure you wanna go? Shinji: Yes...and besides, I'm feeling a lot better than I was earlier. Asuka: Uh huh. Spare me the excuses third child and go put something desent on. And be quick! You're wasting my time here! Shinji[bowing, happily]: Thank you. ____________________________________________ Asuka: Hey Shinji! Bring the cart down over here will ya? Shinji slowly rolled the cart over to Asuka. He was glad to be out of the apartment for a while, but was still feeling a little groggy. Asuka[yawns]: Hurry it up will ya? Shinji: You look awfull tired Asuka... Asuka: And you look awfull sick, what's your point? Shinji: Nevermind. Shinji watched as Asuka struggled to reach a jar from one of the top shelves. Her delicate fingerstips barely grazed the bottom of the jars glassy outer shell. She couldn't get a hold of it. Dispite her being on tip-toe, she couldn't reach it, the jar was just up too high. Shinji wondered how high her skirt would go up if she reached any further. He flet a nose bleed coming on, and shook the thought out of his head. He decided he would help her instead of gawking at her. He walked up behind her, in order to reach it he had to lean against her a bit...asking her to move would just be committing a crime. He raised up slightly on his toes and grabbed the jar from off the shelf. Asuka: I could have gotten it! Shinji: Uh huh. **Shinji had never actually realized that he was taller than Asuka. It had to be at least by two inches. It wasn't much...but it was enough for him to reach the jar. She stood about eye level with his nose. Asuka: Just put it in the cart! Shinji[saluting her]: Yes ma'am! ____________________________________________ Asuka and Shinji walked silently side by side, groceries in hand. Asukas attention was fixed on the road ahead, while Shinji's was fixed on her. The breeze gently whipped her hair around, slightly obstructing her view. As she remived the locks of hair from her eys Shinji studied her features. The way her hair shinned in the dim sunlight. The way her eyes sparkled. The way her skin seemed to glow with the setting sun. The way her cheeks always had a slight rosy hue to them. The way her lips looked like two rose petals. The way- Shinji[thinking]: What am I talking about?! This is Asuka! The same annoying girl who bitches at me for everything I do! I can't feel this way about her...can I? Well...why not? She is beautiful after all. And the way she's been acting towards me for the last three days is not the same Asuka I know... It was true. He had always thought she was pretty. But in the past three days he felt a sudden attraction to her. He continued to stare at her. Although now fully aware of his actions, he reduced his stare to quick glances. He wasn't he only one aware of what he was doing... Asuka[thinking]: Why is he staring at me like that? Is there something on my face? Asuka shifted her gaze toward the ground. There were a lot of thoughts running through her head right now. Asuka: Shinji? Shinji: Hmmm? Asuka: Why...why are you staring at me like that? Shinji was taken back by her question. Shinji[blushing]: Well...uh...I ummm....I... Asuka: Yes? She stopped and was now standing right infront of him. Staring in his eyes. Shinji continued to stummble with his word, until he finally spit it out. Shinji: Well..it's...uh...it's cause...it's...I uh....oh what the hell...it's cause you're beautiful okay? Asuka's face was now a brilliant shade of crimson, even redder than Shinji's was. There was a long, awkward pause. Asuka finally decided to break the silence. Asuka[laughing nervously]: No really! Do I have stuff on my face or something? Shinji: No...I meant it Asuka. Asuka: ... Shinji[softly]: You really are beautiful. Asuka[blushing harder]: Do you...do you really think so? Shinji: Y-yeah. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. Asuka was silent for a moment. She didn't really know how to react. She soon found the perfect thing to say. Asuka: Well in that case...Thank you third child. ____________________________________________ Dinner had been a little awkward. Asuka felt a little uncomfortable around Shinji now, and the silence only added to the feeling. They all ate in silence. Misato would try to start up a conversation evey once in a while, but they never went anywhere. Asuka ate quickly, cleaned up her dishes...along with the dinner dishes, then retreated to her room. Shinji ate quickly as well and cleared his plate from the table, then went to his room as well. Misato sat at the table, dumbfounded, alone. Not even a single insult was thrown between the two teens. Something was up. And she had to find out what. Misato[from behind the door]: Shinji? Shinji can I come? Shinji: Sure. Misato slowly slid open the door. She walked over to Shinji who was laying face up on his bed, facing the ceiling, arms folded behind his head. She took a seat at the foot of his bed, he shifted his gaze toward her. Misato: What's going on? Shinji: Huh? What do you mean? Misato: You know perfectly well what I'm talking about! Is there something wrong between you and Asuka? You two were awfully quiet during dinner... Shinji[coughs]: Oh that... He sits up to face Misato. She had a worried look on her face. It wasn't really something for her to be so concerned about. And he had to make sure she knew that. Shinji: Well...earlier...I...uh...I...umm...I sotra...kinda... Misato: Well...c'mon... Shinji[blsuhing]: I...I told her she was...was...b-beautiful... Shinji looked away. He could feel his cheeks warm as his blush increased. Misato: Oh...is that all... Shinji: It was just a little awkward...ya know? Misato: I bet she was a little more un-easy than you were. Shinji: Why do you say that? Misato: I'm sure you're the first person to tell her that. Shinji[looking at her]: What?! I don't think so! I'm sure plenty of guys have told her that. I mean LOKK at her! Misato[places a hand on his shoulder]: But I'm sure none of them cared. Shinji looked at her with wide eyes. She got up and slowly left the room without another word. Shinji stared at the as it closed behind her. Shinji[to himself]: That....can't be. Someone had to have...cared... ____________________________________________ It was late. Probably around 2 am. Shinji woke up with a coughing fit. His temperature seemed to be changing a lot, and it was at it's high point. He couldn't sleep. He felt terrible. He got up to get some tissues. As he made his way back to his room he stopped in front of Asukas'. He decided to check on her. as he approached the door he had second thoughts. If she were to wake up while he was in there, who knows what she would do to him. He would take the risk. When he opened the door he found Asuka, curled up i the middle of her bed. She had her back to him. He walked closer to her. She almost slept in a tight ball, as if confining herself from the rest of the world. He got even closer. He looked at her face. So peaceful, so beautiful. It was a change from the tense position she slept in. He brushed his fingers across her cheek. She started to stir. He pulled back. At first he thought he had woken her up. But it turned out she was just getting settled. He stared at her. He loved the way the pale moonlight played across her delicate features. Then he leaned over and kissed her...on the forehead. Shinji[whispering]: Sleep well. ____________________________________________ Asuka: I can't believe this! Why do those damn angels have to attack us at such and early hour?! Asuka yelled over the blaring sirens. Her and Shinji sat in the back seat of Misato's car. Misato pressed on the excellarator as much as she could. They had to get to NERV headquarters, and fast. They were already down one pilot, so it was going to be a tight battle. Shinji: Misato...why am I going? you know I can't pilot... Misato: Beacuse NERV is the safest place for you to be, whether your fighting or not. You'll stay with me in the control room. Shinji: Oh...I see. Asuka[sighing]: This isn't fair...I was catching up on my sleep and then these stupid...ARGH!!! It's not fair! Shinji: Life's hardly fair, Asuka. Asuka: Oh what do you know! Shinji: ... Asuka: You hate piloting! And now you don't have to! You just get to sit and watch! Even sleep if you want! Misato: Will you stop it! This is your job! Whether it be 2am or 4pm, you have to fight! You protect us! Face it Asuka! Stop thinking about yourself for once and have some consideration! Misato's words seem to hit Asuka hard. She didn't say another word. Shinji looked over at her. Her expression was of sheer sadness. She looked like she could cry. Misato's words were full of truth...and Asuka knew it. ____________________________________________ Rei: Ikari-kun. Shinji: Oh...Ayanami. Shinji was leaning against the railing over looking EVA 01's cage. He was in some sort of remenisant trance. Rei snaped him right out of that. Rei: Pilot Sohryu informed me of your illness. Will you be piloting today? Shinji: No...I'm afraid not. Rei: Afraid? Why are you afraid? Shinji: It's jut a figure of speech Rei. Rei: Oh. I see. Shinji: ... Rei: ... Shinji: ... Rei: Ikari...I wanted to tell you... Shinji looked at Rei. It was strange. He caught the slightest bit of tension in her expression. She seemed nervous. Like she couldn't find the right words to say. Shinji: Go on...say it. Rei: I think what I'm trying to say it... Shinji: ... Rei: Get well soon...Ikari-kun. Shinji[surprised]: T-thanks...Rei. Rei: You're welcome. With that she gave a slight bow and walked away. She was already in her plug suit and ready to go. He followed her to the control room. ____________________________________________ Misato: Are you ready? Rei: Hai. Asuka: Roger! Misato: All right then...launch eva's! Makoto: Launching! The two giant mechas were launched from their catipults. Once out onto the geofront, they spotted the angel. It was strange looking. It sort of looked like a human but was almost white with one large yellow eye in the middle of it's forehead. Yet, no nose and mouth were present. Maya: Major! Target confrimed! Misato: Okay...[to Rei and Asuka] did you guys hear that? Rei[over the comm]: Hai. Asuka[over the comm]: What do we need to hear it for? We can see it just fine! Misato: Asuka! You'll take lead...Rei you back her up! Got it? Asuka: Got it! Rei: Yes...I do. Misato: Asuka...ready your prog knife...Rei we're sending you a rifle, understood? Asuka and Rei: Yes. Asuka: Am I going to use close combat procedures? Misato: Looks so. Asuka: All right! The angel started to make it's move, charging right for Asuka. It's right had morphed into an axe. Misato: Asuka! Look out! Asuka: I see it! Asuka pulled her progs knives out, ready to attack. The angel was getting close. It raised it's raised arm over it's head. It swung it's axed hadn down with tremendous froce. Shinji: ASUKA!!!!! Shinji closed his eyes. He didn't want to see what that monster would do to her. Moments passed. He heard no screams. No signs of pain from the red-headed german. He opened his eyes. There stood EVA 02, in one peice. Just before the angel could attack her, she used her prog knife to slice off it's axed limb. Asuka: That was close... Just then the angels missing limb regenerated itself. Slowly morphing back into a hand. Shinji: Asuka Watch out! The angel! It's--! It was too late the angel streched out one of it's rubbery arms towards EVA 02, pinning it to the ground. Asuka struggled to make her EVA move, but the angel was too strong. The angel wrapped both arms around the eva's torso and squeezed. Asuka felt it crushing her rib cage, she was finding it hard to breath. Asuka[in pain]: Hey...get him...off-a...me! Asuka screamed in pain as the angel sent eletric charges thoughout the eva's body. Her body convulsed as she felt the shock of the electricty. Shinji: ASUKA!! NOOOOO!!!! Misato do something! Misato: Rei! Fire at the angel! Now! Rei: Hai! Rei grabbed the rifle and proceeded to fire rounds at the angel. Soon it's attention was on EVA 00. He loosened his grip on EVA 02 and headed toward Rei. The bullets seem to slow it down a bit, but that's about all they did. That allowed EVA 02 time to regain itself. Misato: Rei! Continue fire! Rei: ... As Rei continued to fire on the slowly approaching angel Asuka stood ready. She felt a lot of pain. But her drive for revenge was stronger. That thing had almost killed her...there was no way she was going to let Rei kill it. Her pride got the best of her, once again. Asuka[to herself]: Damn you! I'll get you for this! [to Rei] Keep firing Wonder Girl! I've got a plan! Rei silently oblieged and continued to fire. Asuka found her prog knifelaying on the ground. She picked them up and prepared her attack. Then Shinji popped up in one of her comm windows. Shinji: Asuka? Are you sure you know what you're doing? Asuka: Don' worry about me Baka-Shinji! I'm unstopable! Sei ein guter Junge! Sit back, relax, and watch me beat the crap out of this thing! Shinji: Asuka... Asuka: ... Shinji: Be careful. Asuka[softly]: I will. The angel was starting to gain ground on Rei, and she was slowly running low on rounds. Asuka took this as her chance. She charged at the angel, screaming out a battle cry, she stabbed her prog knife right into it's core. The angel roared in pain then exploded. She had done it. The angel was dead. ____________________________________________ Asuka stummbled out of the entry plug. She was really feeling the damage from the attack. Her sides hurt, like the angel had cruched every bone in her rib cage. She felt a sting on her lip. She tasted the blood in her mouth. She raised her hand to her lips and winced as her finger came in contact with the wound. She wasn't too badly injured. More than likely just a few brusies and cuts, nothing more. But it sure felt like more. That was the onlt thing she hated about eva. You felt their pain. Battle scars, she told herslef, meerly permenant matals of her triumph. Something to be proud of. Asuka[to herself]: I need to get out of this suit. Body dripping with LCL, she headed for the locker room. There she found her clothes waiting for her. She deiced to take a shower, it might make her feel better. The warm water left good against her skin. Soothing her cuts. Then she felt a pain in her right side. She looked down only yo be greeted with a gaint bruise that spread across the whole right side of her torso. Asuka: Some battle scar... ________________________________________________________________________ To be continued... ________________________________________________________________________ Authors Notes: Hehehe ^_^! That line Asuka use, "Sei ein guter Junge..." is german for "Be a good boy". Hehehe. Just thought I would use my german for somethingood. **And the part with Asuka being shorter then Shinji...I know that's not true. Infact...in the series...she's taller than him. But this is MY series and I'll do as I please. Hehehehe...it won't be metioned later...so don't worry about it ^_^. Stayed tuned for the next chapter of LAHM! Ja ne! ~Chibineptune8 chibineptune8@netscape.net http://i.am/asuka_8/