AN AMNESIC ANGEL... by Axel Terizaki ICQ # 34301980 ASUKA's Notebook -=THIRD MEMORY=- Background: Asuka seems to show some sort of attachment and affection for Shinji. Being amnesic, she seeks for support from someone, and she chooses to trust Shinji, as unbelievable as it seems. In addition of that, her first afternoon at school, just after her accident, has been a big mistake... What will happen at her first harmonics test since her accident? Will she synchronize well with her Eva-02? Why have I ended the previous chapter on a cliffhanger? Why do I HAVE to study that bloody Spanish at school!!!? --- CAPTION: THE THIRD MEMORY CAPTION 2: The Source Of One's Mind --- That night had been very long for Shinji, hearing Asuka sob about her mother all night had been a very exhausting experience. He held her closely but gently in her sleep. After almost one hour of sobbing, she finally fell asleep again, probably tired of crying. Shinji then thought that the right time to fell asleep too had come. However, he woke up again in the early morning, as Asuka had the same nightmare once more... Misato, who had returned from H.Q. in the middle of the night, was a little worried to hear Asuka's sobbings coming from Shinji's room in the early morning... Misato : "I'm not gonna outburst like yesterday..." She silently entered the room, and saw a still sobbing Asuka in Shinji's arms. She was burying her head in his chest. Misato (softly) : "Shinji-kun... What's going on here?" Shinji : "I think she had really bad nightmares this night... As you can see." Misato looked down at Asuka. She looked like a fragile and hurt animal, trembling like a leaf. She was holding Shinji by his nightshirt, as if her life depended on that. Apparently, she wasn't aware that Shinji and Misato were talking. Misato : "Yeah, I see..." Shinji : "The only thing she said for now is 'mama'..." Misato immediately shruddered at that word. Misato : "'Mama'?" Pause. Misato : "Oh... That's not very good..." Shinji : "What's that deal about her mother, Misato-san?" Misato : "Shinji-kun. I once promised Asuka that I wouldn't tell anyone..." Shinji, after a short pause : "Then, I'll respect her choice. Sorry for asking." Misato : "So, I don't think that... she'll be able to do harmonics tests today... will she?" Shinji : "Yeah. I don't think she'll be able to perform them. And me neither." Misato, sarcastically : "Perfect. Absolutely perfect. It's wonderful. I'm dead." In her mind, she saw a furious Ritsuko waiting for her with a double-barelled shotgun at the entrance door of an elevator... Shinji, sadly : "I'm sorry Misato-san..." Misato : "Don't say that, it's not your fault. I'll prepare myself some instant food and I'll go back to sleep. I'm really really tired by now..." "If you need something, tell me, okay?" Shinji just nodded. Misato, while leaving the room : "Good luck, Shinji-kun." The door to his room was now closed. A few seconds later, Shinji remembered that Asuka was crying, head buried in his chest. He looked down at the girl he had in his arms. Shinji : "Asuka..." : "Why seeing you like that makes me feel so much pain and sorrow?" And, inexplicably, he felt too the urge to cry a little... Shinji, eyes shedding some tears, slowly but surely : "Why?" Shinji didn't want to free himself from her grip yet. He continued to hold her gently, comforting her. He tried to caress her hair and her back. It seemed to have the desired effect after some time: it calmed her and she finally, for the third time in ten hours, fell asleep. Shinji got the reward for his efforts, as she released little by little her grip and as she whispered his name during her sleep... Shinji fell asleep too when he felt enough relieved that Asuka was looking so peaceful... And, well, he had to make up for his lack of sleep too... --- Asuka's dreams. Asuka was in her red plugsuit and was in front of a woman with a blurred face. Asuka : "Stop that! That's nonsense! I won't allow you to do anything else!" Voice/Blurred faced-woman : "You're hurting both of us by trying to take control over your mind and body back. Don't you see that you're happy, now?" Asuka, angry : "No I'm not! Have you seen how I've acted with baka Shinji!? I won't be able to face him anymore now!" Voice : "I just tricked them by faking an amnesia, not to make them suspicious about anything." Asuka : "That's REALLY nonsense!" Voice : "And? As long as you're happy..." Asuka : "I'm not! I'm not happy!" Voice : "Not since that 'accident' with m..." Asuka, interrupting : "I'M NOT HAPPY, DAMN IT! All the things I wanted to keep from the others, and especially from him... You're all letting them out! You ruined all my efforts..." Voice : "Look at yourself, Asuka-chan." Asuka : "Yeah I looked at myself! I'm SLEEPING in that baka's arms! That can't be! I'm gonna go insane!" Voice : "Haven't you understood yet that this Shinji-boy really cares for you?" Asuka : "No one cares for me! That's nonsense! What would the invincible Shinji would care for, except for himself!? He doesn't give a damn about me! He never took me in his arms! He never tried to protect me! I HATE HIM!!" Voice : "He doesn't care about you because you didn't let him have the chance." Asuka : "Of course I did! Many times!" Voice : "Tssk... It's bad to lie to me, Asuka-chan. That's no way to behave." Asuka : "After what you've done to me I don't see WHY I should behave better with you!" Voice : "This Shinji has a nice butt, you know... You should get more interested in him." Asuka : "Oh stop that... Of course he's the ONLY good boy over there, but he's only a boy! A pathetic and wimpy little boy! Kaji-san's a man. He's better, isn't he?" Voice : "But, Asuka-chan... Aren't you still a little girl too?" That startled Asuka. Asuka : "No I'm not! I'm not! I'm not a little girl anymore! I'm a woman now! I can take care of myself! I did, I'm doing and I will!" Voice : "You sure? It seems not. It rather seems that you ACT like a little girl." Asuka, sighing : "Well, I'm tired of this. Let me see through my own eyes again, now!" Voice : "If you're thinking that, I won't do anything. And besides, I need to show you something important." Asuka : "I don't care. I want to destroy him now after what he has told me!" Voice : "Stop lying to yourself, Asuka-chan... You should accept his love, and give it back to him... And besides, he knows well how to French-kiss, you know..." "That's not negligible for a boy..." Asuka, trembling : "You... NO!!! You made me kiss him!? You made me kiss that jerk!? I can't believe it!!! YOU RUINED MY FIRST KISS WITH THAT BLOODY JERK!! I'm dead! That's it, I must be dead! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I *HATE* *YOU*!!" Voice : "Since you're not that convinced, I'll let you be a spectator, this time, okay? Now I have to go and reassure him. He must be very worried by now..." "He'll comfort us both with his warmth... He knows how to love, Asuka-chan. You should do like him." Asuka : "I'm not baka Shinji! He doesn't care about me! NO HE DOESN'T CARE!" A flash of light stroke her mind once more. We can see some events from the week when they had to synchronize perfectly with each other. [When he tried to kiss her in the night but just pulled back when he saw she was crying... A wimpy little boy would not have pulled back. A wimpy little boy would have taken advantage of her with no respect for her pain, would've kissed her despite her tears. And Shinji did not kiss her. He didn't want to hurt her. He doesn't want. And he never would.] Asuka, softer : "He doesn't..." [And after all the things she did and said to him, he could have returned her the insults and the hits. Instead, he didn't.] Asuka, hysterical : "That's because he's a wimp!! A WIMP!" [Still, he saved her from falling into the volcano. Would a wimp do that?] Asuka : "He followed Misato's order to come and rescue me! He wouldn't have done it otherwise!" [No, he did that without orders from Misato, and possibly against them. By his own will.] Asuka : "NO HE DIDN'T! He did that because..." [Because he cares for her.] Asuka : "No, he doesn't care... How could that baka love me?! After..." [Still, he saved her from sinking into the volcano. Withouth thinking about it. Without thinking about himself or anyone else. Just HER.] Asuka, softly : "...Why?" [Because he loves her.] Asuka, almost a whisper : "...He can't..." [Because he loves her. ] Asuka, shouting desperately : "DAMN YOU, MAMA! GIVE ME BACK MY MIND, NOW!!!" Another flash of light made Asuka's dream world disappear. --- Later, in the real world. When Shinji finally returned to the real world, he saw that Asuka was sitting on his bed next to him. She had her head buried in her knees and was apparently only breathing. Shinji, softly : "Asuka, are you okay?" No answer. Shinji : "Asuka...?" Again, no answer came from the redheaded pilot. Shinji : "I'm sure that you want something to eat. It's already 09:45..." He slowly got up from his bed and headed to the kitchen. He came back with two sandwiches some minutes later. Shinji : "Come on, eat something..." She slowly lifted up her head and took one of the sandwiches in her left hand. She then proceeded to bite into the sandwich. She had a sad look on her face. Shinji : "Do you like it?" Asuka, softly : "Hmmmm..." She was chewing the bit of sandwich she had in her mouth. That action was soon followed by a sound of swallowing. Shinji : "Are you feeling okay?" Asuka : "...Not really." Shinji, a little stunned : "C-could you explain me why...?" Asuka : "I can't Shinji. I'm sorry but I can't." With that she buried her head in her knees again. Shinji : "You trust me, right?" Asuka, hesitantly : "Yes..." Shinji : "Then, tell me more... I'm your friend, you can tell me..." Asuka seemed to think about it for a while... Asuka : "Shinji, I really don't want to share that." Shinji, seriously : "I think that you have a past, like me, that you'll never like. But we have to forget, Asuka... We mustn't look into the past." Asuka, sadly : "Oh, that's easy to say for you..." Shinji : "No, I think it's the same for both of us..." Asuka : "Anyways, I don't want to share that with anyone. Sorry." Shinji : "I'll tell you my story. My past. And you'll tell me yours, then, okay? We'll be at the same point then." Asuka seemed to think about it for a while again. Asuka : "You're just curious to hear about my past, but I don't feel the same way about you, I'm sorry..." Shinji thought that she was right this time. He was only listening to his curiosity. Shinji looked at his feet too, kind of embarassed. Shinji : "I've read once that telling someone you trust about something painful for you was a good way to feel less alone, Asuka." Long pause. Asuka : "Oh well, if you insist... After all, you're a turstworthy friend, Shinji..." : "You're right. I don't see why I should hide things to you!" Shinji smiled at her, and then began to relate his past to Asuka. --- Ritsuko : "I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS!!!" Central Dogma, in the lab used for harmonics tests. Misato, trying to apologize : "Sorry, Ritsuko..." Ritsuko : "Misato, really... You don't understand, do you?" Misato : "Of course I know they HAVE to do these tests, but Asuka just remembered about her mother and she's not in a good condition to pass them." Ritsuko : "You're no doctor, Misato. You can't say that. And why does Shinji has to skip those tests TOO?" Misato : "Well, you know... Asuka feels completely lost. and I don't know why, but she feels that only Shinji can be trusted here." Ritsuko : "Oh, you won't listen to me, will you? I want them here and now! I already delayed that test for them, but I can't anymore! Otherwise, the Commander will be furious!" Misato, reluctantly, and preparing herself to leave : "Okay, okay... I'm gonna get them." --- Back into the apartment. Asuka : "Shinji, it hurts too much inside. I can't..." They were still on his bed, and he had an arm around her shoulder, while she was looking down at her feet. Shinji : "Don't say anymore, Asuka. I think I understand how you feel now... Well, I think I do." Asuka : "...Thank you Shinji..." Shinji : "I regret aksing you this, sorry." She closed her eyes, and rested her head on his shoulder. Asuka, whispering : "As long as it's for you..." Shinji : "You seem tired. You want to sleep some more?" Asuka : "Yes... But, it would be nice, if we could sleep together..." Shinji : "Hey, that's already two nights that you invaded my bed, so I suppose that we are already sleeping together..." However, his mind didn't register the fact that 'sleeping together' was perhaps a little too intimate for the two of them. Asuka : "I mean... Take me in your arms... It feels good..." Shinji, surprised : "Huh?" Asuka, smiling : "Come on! I'm waiting!" He then did as he was told. He slowly took her in his arms and gently put her under the blankets, before joining her under the covers... Asuka, eyes still closed : "Hey, don't stop..." Shinji held her closely but gently in his arms and put her on top of him. She was resting her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Asuka, softly : "Oh... It feels really good, Shinji... I feel so comfortable here..." Shinji : "Same here, Asuka..." "This is so unreal..." In fact, they weren't the only ones feeling really good... Something inside Shinji's pajamas wanted to be noticed too... Asuka, giggling : "Hehe..." Shinji, aware of the situation and a little disturbed by what was happening inside him : "Oh well... Sorry..." Asuka, giggling again : "I don't mind. It's good to feel loved..." Shinji took her hand in his and looked very determinated. Shinji, softly : "Asuka... I've decided something. You know that I always was a spineless little boy, but now I'm gonna take a man's decision..." She looked at him, puzzlement on her face. Shinji : "Oh, sorry. You can't remember that..." Asuka, putting her head back in place : "You're not a spineless boy Shinji. Judging of the way you behaved with me this far, you're not. You took my defense, and you were kind to me. A 'spineless' boy couldn't behave like that." Shinji felt relieved to hear that coming from her. Suddenly, the door of the appartment opened and Misato stepped in. She went immediately to Shinji's room. She seemed exhausted. Misato : "Oh, I am interrupting something, sorry..." Shinji, blushing a bit : "Well, we were resting a little..." Misato : "I'm sorry for interrupting you two right now, but... Shinji, Asuka... We have to go to headquarters, I couldn't cancel these tests." Shinji frowned. Shinji : "Misato-san! Asuka's not ready for that yet. I don't think that it would be wise to make her do these tests!" Misato : "I told you, Shinji... It's not me... Ritsuko must run these tests on you, otherwise the commander will be furious." Shinji then thought about his father and frowned even more. But at his big surprise, Asuka stood up and walked towards her room. Asuka, behind Misato : "I'll be ready in a minute. Misato." Misato, who had not moved at all : "Good, Asuka. I'm sorry to impose you this." Asuka : "Don't worry. I'll try to do my best." Shinji felt relieved to hear that. She had the confidence now. She could do it, after all. Even if deep inside, he felt that something would go wrong... --- Central Dogma, in the lab used for Evangelion Units activation. Ritsuko : "Okay, Shinji, Asuka... Rei has already done that test yesterday, so she isn't here, does that disturb you?" Shinji, thourghout the comm display : "No, not at all. But I thought that we had to do harmonics tests?" Ritsuko : "We'll do them another time. I want to see Asuka in Eva-02 first." Shinji : "But why am I forced to be in Unit 01 as well?" Ritsuko, under her breath : "...Just in case..." And then she closed the comm display. Maya : "Are you afraid of something, sempai?" Ritsuko : "No... It must be nothing. Well, I hope it's nothing. We'll see that soon, anyways." Shinji was in Eva-01 in the cage next to her, while Asuka in her Eva-02 was in front of Ritsuko. Misato was also here to see what would happen. She was incredibly worried about Asuka, judging of all the precautions Ritsuko seemed to take for this activation test, as if she was fearing something... Shinji opened a comm channel to the lab. Shinji : "I'd like to open a private channel to Eva-02. Can I?" Ritsuko, surprised : "A private channel?" Shinji : "Well, I know that all of our communications are public for you and that you record them all on disk. For once, I'd like to talk to Asuka personally." Ritsuko : "Oh well... If you insist." Shinji : "Thanks... And no cheating, please." With that, he closed the channel to the lab and opened up a new one to EVA-02. Misato saw that Ritsuko was monitoring their conversation, even against Shinji's wishes. She decided to do something. She keyed something on the terminal next to her. And a few seconds after, the monitoring of the 'private' channel was off. Ritsuko, angry : "Misato!? Why did you cut the camera!?" Misato : "Have you no shame? They want some privacy here." Ritsuko, frowning : "It's for the test, Misato..." Misato, serious : "I don't care. It's for the children that I'm acting, not for science. They are no guinea pigs. They are human beings." Ritsuko : "Are you aware that I could get you out of this lab just for getting in the way of those tests Commander Ikari ordered?" Misato : "So, they are NOT usual harmonics tests after all..." Ritsuko : "We just want to verify something..." --- Inside the two Evas. Shinji : "Asuka, are you alright?" Asuka, slowly nodding : "Hmmm, hmmm... This thing horribly smells blood." Shinji : "Yeah I know that, but you'll get used to it. Do you feel comfortable?" Asuka : "Except the fact that my head really hurts..." Shinji, lowering his head : "I'm sorry to impose you this..." Asuka : "No, you don't... It's my duty as a pilot, right?" Shinji : "Yes but..." Asuka : "But what?" Shinji : "Sometimes Asuka... I wish that we wouldn't be Eva pilots, without all the responsabilities we have right now, and... I'd like... I'd like to come back from school with you, by my side, holding hands, and... and I we would come back home, eat something together, and finally watch something on TV together, on the couch... But I realize... that if you would fully recover your memories, you would never be like that to me, and the way you acted those last days showed me that Sohryu Asuka Langley was actually a really nice girl." Asuka waited for the end of his speech and giggled a little. Asuka, still giggling : "Hehe, thanks. Okay I'll try to remember this too if I were to recover, don't worry..." Ritsuko, throughout a comm channel : "Have you finished?" Shinji : "Ritsuko-san!! You were listening, weren't you?" Ritsuko : "Don't wory for that, Shinji-kun. A crazy woman was keeping me from listening to your conversation..." Shinji : "Misato-san..." Ritsuko : "Okay, Maya. Begin activation of Unit-01 first." Misato : "Why Unit-01? I thought that we were testing Asuka..." Ritsuko : "As I said, 'just in case'..." Misato : "I'm getting suspicious..." Ritsuko : "Okay. Establish the first connection." Maya : "First connection established." Ritsuko : "Connect the main power source." Maya : "Functionnal voltage has reached the critical limit." Ritsuko : "Good. Prepare for Phase 2 Configuration." Maya : "Pilot in symbiosis with Unit 01. Circuits opened. Pulses and harmonics normal. Synchronization ok." Ritsuko, running her eyes through a screen : "All the nerves have been linked. No problem with the nervous system." Maya : "Calculations reverifications ok. Check-list acheived at 2-5-5-0, list 6. Borderline in 1.8 , 1.7 , 1.2 , 1.0 , 0.8 , 0.4 , 0.2 , 0.1... Borderline reached and passed successfully." Ritsuko : "Eva-01 activated." Misato : "Good..." Maya : "Unit-01 activated and functionnal. Synch rate at 72.4% ." Ritsuko, to Shinji : "Good, Shinji-kun. You have a good synchronization rate with your Eva. Good job." Shinji, slightly blushing : "T-thanks..." Ritsuko : "Maya, proceed with Unit-02." Maya : "Hai." Ritsuko : "Connect the main power source." Maya : "Main power source connected. Activation system operational. Voltage operational. Critical point in 0.5... 0.3... Stage passed." Ritsuko : "Go on with the second activation phase." Maya : "The pilot is entering in symbiosis with Unit 02. System start, phase 2. Synapses inserted." Ritsuko : "Start the connection." Maya : "Pulses transmitted." Ritsuko, looking at a screen : "All circuits are ok." Maya : "Nerve links ok." Ritsuko : "Transmit the power to the brachial muscles." Maya : "Nerve links ok. Check-list acheived at 2-5-5-0, list 6." Ritsuko : "Prepare the third connection." Maya : "Borderline in... 0.7 , 0.5 , 0.3 , 0.2..." A machine is suddenly beeping. Maya : "Asuka's pulses are fluctuating backwards!" Ritsuko : "What?!" --- Inside Unit-02. Asuka : "What the..." The unit tries to activate itself, but... Asuka, screaming : "UURRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!" --- Activation Lab. Maya : "Disturbance in the third phase! Reject from the nervous system! Misato : "You were afraid of *WHAT*?!" Ritsuko : "Yeah, some kind of rejection by Unit 02 of its pilot..." Maya : "Unit 02 going berserk!" Ritsuko, horrified : "Again!? Break all contacts, open up to the sixth fuse." Maya : "Impossible! The signal is denied!" --- Outside the lab, in the test cage. EVA-02 was trying to free itself from the restraints maintaining it. When it finally succeeded, it began to knock its head on the wall in face of itself. --- Inside the lab. Maya : "Unit 02 out of control!" Ritsuko : "Stop everything. Cut the umbilical cable!" Maya : "Sempai! Unit 01 also..." Maya was interrupted when they saw in bewilderment Unit-01 destroying the wall to the right and entering inside Unit-02 cage. Misato : "Shinji-kun!" --- Outside the lab, in the test cage. Unit-01 blocked with some difficulty Unit-02 head with its hand, and tried to make Unit-02 entry plug eject. Maya : "We can't eject the entry plug! Unit 02 is using auxialiary circuits! 35 seconds before de-activation!" Shinji however, didn't listen. He tried his best to remove the armor at the back of Unit-02 neck with only one hand. After a few seconds of struggling, he finally suceeded and Unit-02 entry plug was now visible. But, a few seconds later, the entry plug ejected itself at high speed from Unit-02. Maya : "Auto-ejection triggered!" However, Shinji had the reflex of grabbing the Entry plug as soon as it was ejecting. Maya : "Unit shutdown in ten seconds! 9! 8! 7! 6! ..." Shinji carefully put Asuka's entry-plug on the cage floor and put both hands in front of Unit-02's head, who began to force its way with more and more strength, to stop its advance. --- Inside the lab. Maya : "3! 2! 1! 0!! Unit-02 is silent." Misato : "Why has it rejected her?!" Ritsuko : "I really don't know myself, Misato..." --- Back to the cage. Shinji climbed off his Eva and went in front of Asuka's entry plug. With some strength apparently coming from nowhere, he forced the hatch of the plug to open itself, LCL quickly slipping out of it. Shinji : "NNnggggggggggg.......!" When he entered it, he found an Asuka clinging forcefully to the controls, in a little pool of LCL. Shinji : "Asuka! Are you okay!?" She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her vision was still a little blurred, but she could perceive his face, as if it had some sort of feeling of deja vu... Asuka, weakly : "Sh... Shinji...?" Shinji, smiling : "Come on, I'll take you to the infirmary." Asuka was a bit surprised first, but then came back to her senses. Asuka, smiling warmly : "It's not that terrible you know..." The two teens giggled. --- Later. A NERV Hospital Room. Misato, Ritsuko and Shinji were at Asuka's bedside. Misato : "So..." Ritsuko : "It's an interesting theory I must say... Two 'personalities' in the same body. One from her, the other one from her mother. The shock of the two 'blocked' her memories. What a science-fiction story..." Asuka : "But I can't remember anything yet..." Shinji : "It's still so unbelievable. And I really thought she was amnesic all the time." Ritsuko : "She was and still is. That was a consequence of the encounter of two 'souls', even if they weren't really 'souls'." Kaji chose that moment to come into the hospital room. Kaji : "Hi. May I join you?" Misato : "Yeah, yeah, you can..." He took a chair and sat down in front of Asuka. Ritsuko : "So, I think we won't get back the old Asuka, will we?" Asuka : "I'm sorry, Akagi-san. I really can't remember anything..." Shinji : "I'm sure there's a way..." Kaji, grinning : "Tell me Shinji, are you really wanting to get the old Asuka back?" Shinji looked down and blushed a little. Misato : "Thinking about it, Shinji-kun, I don't think it would be wise... The one we have know is quieter than the old one..." Asuka was listening with a little smile, almost a grin, on her face. Shinji : "Yes but..." Asuka : "Hey, Shinji. I want to go out a little when I'll leave this hospital, will you take me somewhere where we could have fun together?" Shinji became redder than a little while ago. Misato, teasing : "Hey hey hey! Way to go, Shinji-kun!" Kaji chuckled, while Ritsuko stayed her usual serious self. Shinji, to Asuka : "Y-yeah... I think I'd like to." Ritsuko, smiling : "Well, I'm sorry to interrupt you, but I don't think you'll have some fun for now. I have to run some other tests on Asuka for now... Why not delaying your 'date' of one or two days?" Shinji : "Don't do any harm to Asuka, please." Ritsuko : "Well, I'll try. But you will be able to get home tonight, don't worry. But tomorrow, she'll have to be there, okay?" --- The said night, at Misato's apartment. Shinji was looking at the sky from the balcony of his room. Asuka : "May I join you?" Shinji, without looking at her : "Yeah, yeah..." She advanced towards him and placed herself on the balcony too, next to him. Asuka : "I really dislike my room. I feel better in yours. I feel more... calm... More... More in peace." Shinji : "..." She then looked up at the sky too. Asuka : "I like to look at the stars, too, you know... We can see many beautiful things, sometimes." Shinji, nodding : "Hmmm..." Pause. Shinji suddenly looked down at the street below. Shinji : "I'm sorry Asuka." Asuka : "Why do you feel sorry? There is nothing to apologize for!" Shinji : "If I could have, I would have convinced Misato to not let you do this test..." Asuka : "Hey, it would have happened sooner or later! Don't say that!" Shinji : "...You're right..." Asuka took advantage of the little pause in their conversation to rest her head on his shoulder. Shinji noticed this, and got a little nervous. Shinji : "Why am I trembling like that? I don't have... to hide my feelings from her... Not from *that* Asuka..." "Asuka. I... I... don't know exactly b-but...I think I..." Asuka : "Yeah? Come on, say what you have in mind." Shinji : "...I love you, Asuka." Asuka was a bit shocked to hear that, even if deep inside, she was smiling to herself... Shinji : "I want to be with you, forever. Please... Don't tell me you don't feel the same way..." Asuka : "Hey, haven't I told you a few days ago that I trust you? And where am I resting *now*, baka Shinji...?" She looked him right in the eyes. They could get lost in each others gazes if they weren't careful. Shinji however, was too busy looking into Asuka's eyes to notice that she called him 'Baka Shinji'... Shinji, blushing a bit : "I remember... The first time I saw you exiting the bathroom... You were so cute in that towel... It was the last night of our synchronization week." Asuka heard a little voice in her head. Voice : "Come on, Asuka-chan, tell him now..." She thought about it a few moments before looking at Shinji, who was now back to the stars in the Tokyo-3 sky. Asuka, softly, but still with a little grin on her face : "You know, part of me hoped that you would have kissed me that night." Shinji's brain only registred what Asuka had just said a few moments later. He looked back at her. But before he could realize it, she had her two arms around his neck. He wanted to say something, but his lips were too busy to talk as Asuka planted a passionate kiss on them... Asuka, while kissing Shinji : "Thank you, mama..." --- END --- Author's notes: I know some of you are gonna be disappointed of the fic ending there, but it had to be done this way. Anyways, I hope you liked it! One of my pre-readers told me that it was somehow like a trilogy: Introduction, development and conclusion. And when I look back at the two other parts, I think that he's right! Mega-thanks to Alain Gravel, for all the support he gave me in this part. I asked him many times if some things would fit into the story and he suggested me part of the ending scene. Now all of my pre-readers: Al-I-Bus, Alain Gravel, Borderline Case, Cedric Ranson, David Watson, EBJ, Eva_Pilot00, Godsend777, Greg Thomas, Jayson Deare, DJ Lesser, Kaoru Nagisa, Jon Byram, Pheaton, Readiosys Fisher, Sammy Sy, Shinji the 10 O'clock Assassin, Sudhoya'da, Sushi Boy, and Yousef Al-Samshi! Whoa! What a crew! I'm wondering if I have the biggest number of pre-readers in the fanfic world? :-) This fic is archived on the following sites: ASUKA's Notebook (http://asukanotebook.tsx.org) RAAC Archive (ftp://ftp.cs.ubc.ca/pub/archive/anime-fan-works/Evangelion) Everything's Anime -Fanfiction (http://members.xoom.com/cybergig1) In Other Words - A Fanfiction Archive (http://members.xoom.com/otherwords) SDAT - An Evangelion Fanfiction Database (http://w3.to/superdat) And I think that's all (for now!) Thanks for reading! See you soon! Axel Terizaki