This is a sequel to the previous two lemons I have worked on before. Before reading this, you have to consider a few things, though: This text file is not for people who are under 18 years of age. If you belong to this group but still decide to read this, I would not as well as you cannot hold me responsible if you are caught. This also contains some spoilers so I wish the reader to be aware of what he or she is reading. Lastly, you might not understand anything after reading this if you haven't read yet the previous pieces I made before. I am not in any way connected to Gainax or ADV or EVA's great author Hideaki Anno and I don't own Evangelion and its characters, so get your stickin' nose off my aching back. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neon Genesis Evangelion by Gainax Episode 3: A Retrospection by The Lucky Dog 19524 ^_^ The next morning dawned upon Tokyo-3. In Misato's apartment, everyone was up except for one person. "Hey look, Asuka..." called Shinji. The redhead came over and looked at what her housemate was holding--a small stick-on pad. "Oh, then let's not mind her anymore. Anyway, we left her some *well-done* breakfast." She giggled a bit. Shinji got Asuka's point as if he had expected her to say that. They both knew well that their guardian was not a good cook, to say the least. Asuka glanced at the time. "Oh my god!" blurted the Second Child. Shinji stood in his tracks quite stunned, as what Asuka exclaimed sank into his stirred mind. "Let's go, let's go..." muttered Shinji as they raced down the apartment complex. His mind was still far away, thinking back at the events that just seemed to happen to him and the people around him. As they sprinted their way to the Tokyo-3 Municipal Junior High School, Asuka kept glancing at Shinji. He noticed this and glanced back at Asuka, meeting her blue, crystal eyes. For a while they froze, as if peering into each other's minds. "Wh-what is it, Asuka?" Shinji nervously asked, although he knew what was up. It was about last night. "..." Involuntarily their faces turned a pinkish hue. Asuka broke the gaze. "Oh... nothing," she replied as if what she said was true. She was wondering if the matter bugged Shinji, which proved right. The couple continued their way into the school's entrance. When they reached their classroom, many of their classmates were already there. The two walked in, trying to look as normal as possible. In about three minutes the first class would begin, so the two spent the remaining time preparing their things. Meanwhile, Shinji couldn't concentrate on the lesson. His mind wasn't in the working mood as he pondered on the event that happened last night... He could still remember every detail clearly, and if he were to narrate it to somebody he wouldn't miss a minor point. The young Ikari glanced at the auburn haired girl a few desks away in front of him, and he noted her body language. Asuka did seem to act normal, and at this Shinji felt alone in his quandary. At least, she won't trigger suspicion from anybody. The class droned on for what seemed an eternity to Shinji, who tried to push his pointless musings out of his mind to concentrate on the lesson. The Third Child realized he had been already that way since he became the pilot of Eva Unit 01. He was never really fully able to think constructively on his lessons, for he had always thought about his life as a cowardly pilot who kept running away... Shinji tried to pinpoint what was the matter with him, like from whom was he running away? From the heavy responsibility entrusted upon him? From the nagging reality of his past that kept haunting him? From the people around him that he never understood? Shinji's eyes closed as he contemplated with his deep thoughts. He again remembered that fateful moment with the Seventeenth Angel. Kaoru... the name stung him as it echoed in his mind. He remembered the smiling person whom he held in his Eva's monstrous, rather merciless hand, before he crushed his enemy/friend in order to save mankind. Shinji recalled how he spoke to Rei, the way he said he was the same as her. What on earth did he exactly mean by that? The Third Child questioned himself. Were they both angels? Rei, in all her glory as a person, was an angel... but not one of the merciless, hell-driven entities that attacked them every so often. She would belong to the regular ones who were kindhearted, sweet and all. Shinji took a glance at her seat. As usual, her pretty face was staring outside the window. Shinji could not help but recall every bit of encounter he had with her. He remembered how she had offered her life to him during another angel attack. Her life... It seemed so monotonous, yet extraordinary as well for the aura of mystery that kept her away from him. < Away from me? > Shinji's subconscious echoed figuratively. He wondered where that question came from, for it had an underlying assumption that he cannot turn away from. It would have seemed as if he and Ayanami were an item. Shinji recalled the encounter he had with Rei in her apartment... Those glowing, red eyes... the soft, creamy texture of her skin... Later that lunch, Touji and Kensuke was bugging Shinji as usual. But the two looked extraordinarily excited as they approached their friend. Shinji looked up. He had finished his lunch he and Asuka had prepared that morning. "Hmmm?" he queried as the two appeared looking through him. "Tell him, Kensuke." replied Touji, making Shinji shift in discomfort. The military freak nudged Shinji by the shoulders. "Say Shinji, we saw you with Asuka this morning..." Shinji didn't get it. "What about it? Ah-I mean, we always go here together since she moved to Misato's." His two interrogators looked at each other. They returned their focus on Shinji, who had just blinked his eyes. Touji spoke up. "When you two were near the front gate, something happened." He said, letting a sly hint to the young Ikari. "You two suddenly looked at each other and stopped as if time itself did!" "..." Shinji couldn't keep himself from reddening a little as the words reminded him of that awkward situation. But the one he was in now was much worse. He felt like he was melting. "See, that means there's something going on between you two," added Kensuke. The person in the spotlight stood up, flushed. "N-no!" came the denial. Meanwhile, Asuka had been watching the trio all along from the door, being wary that she should not be seen eavesdropping. The auburn haired girl heard it all. < DON'T you tell them that, you idiot! > Her heart raced as she anticipated what would become of the conversation next. The unexpected happened. "Excuse me, Soryu-san." The monotonous voice was quite loud enough to reach the ears of the people in the classroom. Asuka stepped away from the door, looking at the girl with that all too familiar voice. Rei. The attention of the people inside shifted to the two girls standing by the door, one appearing unmoved and walking towards her seat near the window, while the other just stood there, unable to say anything and mouth agape. Eerie silence thundered throughout the room. That afternoon, Hikari joined Asuka in her walk towards home. The former broke the aura of disturbance that surrounded the Second Child. "Say, where's Shinji, Asuka?" Not looking at her, Asuka replied. "I think he's going to watch what Kensuke had been recording lately with Touji." She looked up. "Hey, you didn't come with me to ask just that, didn't you..." "You're right." "What is it, then?" Hikari stopped. Asuka got the hint that they would have to talk it over. Without any word, they headed back to the benches in the school ground. "What is it, Hikari?" repeated the redhead, when they were sitting across each other facing the red sunset. It seemed redder than usual, at least to Asuka who kept on noticing things... another trait that she didn't exhibit before. The Second Child began. "I've been noticing that you've been acting strange lately, Asuka. Why? Is it something about your piloting the Evas?" It took Asuka a moment to digest that one. "Not really, although I have been scoring really poor in the latest sync tests with Unit Two." Hikari stared at Asuka, who looked down her feet. This was so uncharacteristic of the fiery and energetic girl she knew, the one who always wore an array of varying emotions. Asuka had become a solitary, secluded girl in just a DAY. That's just too dramatic a change for someone like Soryu Asuka Langley. She was just too quiet during the course of the day, very far from the bubbly person Hikari talked to and shared her piece of mind every so often. Like Rei... The thought hit her. "You acted strangely in that incident with Ayanami, Asuka. I thought you would let her have your..." Hikari paused, searching for the right word. The sentence was never finished. "I didn't feel like giving her my rash words... a-anyway, she would just ignore it like she didn't hear it or something." Stammering. < What's going on with her? >, wondered the best friend of the girl she was talking to. The Asuka she knew never stammered. Something was definitely wrong here... "Asuka, please let me know... whatever happened to you. I know you have something in there, and you've got to share it with me so you'll feel better." "..." "Come on, Asuka. Tell me!" The Second Child turned to her friend, and grasped her hand. A moment passed before she let a word out. "Hikari, I..." "Yes, Asuka?" anticipated Hikari. "...just had it with..." came the continuation. "...Shinji." Hikari's heart skipped a beat. What on earth did she mean by that? Asuka couldn't have... No, it couldn't be! "Wh-what, Asuka?" asked Hikari. She had to be sure before she gets any stupid thoughts. "I just said it, Hikari. I know you know what that means." Asuka replied softly. Hikari's blood circulation picked up a faster pace. This was a serious matter, if ever Asuka was not joking... < Now why would she do that? >, she thought. Asuka was probably telling the truth. Getting curious, Hikari asked her more about the matter. "Asuka, why?" probed the eldest of the Horaki brood. Taking a deep breath, Asuka tried to explain in the best way she could. It all started during one unusually cold night, which was more than a week ago. It had happened so fast... the Second Child realized as she narrated her situation as the pilot of Eva Unit 02, and the biting stiff air in the room where she spent that fateful night with Ikari. Meanwhile, Ayanami had just come from the locker room to pick up some things. Walking in a steady fashion, the First Child went ahead to the front gate of the school. She was near the gate when at the corner of her eye she spotted something. It was two girls sitting at the bench and having a conversation. Rei looked in their direction and she saw clearly Hikari with Asuka. Seeing the usual, she had just begun to turn away when the two girls had stood up. Rei stared at them thoughtfully, remembering Dr. Akagi's orders. "I don't know, Asuka, but you could become a mother because of that encounter," exclaimed Hikari, standing. Asuka did the same. "I hope not... anyway I-I think I saw Shinji used some protection." "Protection? Where'd he get it from?" questioned Hikari, sounding curious. "Why, wanna use it with Touji?" countered Asuka, letting out a soft giggle. "N-no way!" said Hikari, exasperated. The conversation was turning back to the old days... "Seriously, Asuka. How did you two manage to get one?" The Second Child replied as requested. "I really don't know. Shinji just grabbed it from something lying at the corner of the hallway... oh wait, that means..." "Misato!" exclaimed the girls in unison. For a while not one of them could speak, bewildered at the idea. They did not notice Rei who was now standing by a tree across them. Her red eyes fluttered at the mention of Katsuragi's name. Asuka continued. "Maybe she expected us to do that again-- "Again?!" exclaimed Hikari. "You mean you and Shinji did that twice?" "H-hey not so loud...!" said Asuka. "Somebody might hear us." As the Second Child turned her head, her blue eyes widened in shock when she saw Rei standing before them, not too far away. Hikari's attention also turned towards the girl's direction. She could have heard the whole conversation... Rei remained dormant. "Wh-what're you doing there Rei?!" squeaked Asuka. Only then the blue-haired girl started to move. Towards the redhead. "Soryu-san, Dr. Akagi requests your presence tomorrow at Nerv headquarters at eight A.M. sharp," delivered Rei spontaneously, as if she was on a podium and making a speech. Still Asuka stood like a lifeless statue. Hikari noticed and did the speaking for her. "Ayanami, thank you for notifying Asuka here." "Welcome," replied Rei in her emotionless tone like usual. She had just started to turn back when Hikari followed up at her. "Hey Rei...! Uh, d-did you hear what Asuka and I were talking about?" she managed to ask. Rei stopped walking, but did not turn her head to look back. "No." The two girls just stood there and watched as Ayanami walked away. It was only when she disappeared at the front gate did Hikari turn to Asuka, who was just as bewildered as she was. The sun continued to set in the west and the two friends decided it was time to go home. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- My apologies if this episode did not contain what you were expecting. I decided to straighten up the plot for a while for a more realistic storyline, so just watch out for my follow-up works in the making. Meanwhile, in other cases, I hope you enjoyed reading this, and as well as my first two attempts in weaving a lemon. E-mail me for comments at: ThePRO_19524@yahoo.com __